Do pros use dampeners?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 13, 2026
The results show that on the men's ATP Tour, 58% of the top pros do use dampeners, while 42% do not. And on the women's WTA Tour, a staggering 76% do use vibration dampeners, while only 24% do not.
Do pros use racquet dampeners?
It may interest you to know that most pro tennis players use vibration dampeners to absorb shock and possibly improve their game. According to New York Times, more than 50% of the pro tennis players (male and female) use dampeners regularly during their tour-level competitions.
Why do pros use dampeners?
The sole purpose of the dampener is to reduce the vibrations off the racquet stringbed. Players that like vibration dampeners mainly use it because it decreases the “ping” sound the ball makes at impact. For many players this is more of a mental purpose than a physical purpose.
Does Djokovic use dampener?
The DJOKOVIC DAMPENER consists of silicon and rubber material, which reduces the string's vibrations, enhances comfort, and protects your arm. Used by Novak Djokovic himself, the dampener is exclusively available in white and features Novak's black logo.
Do tennis dampeners do anything?
Why do tennis players use vibration dampeners? The main purpose of a vibration dampener is to reduce the amount of vibration that you feel when a tennis ball hits your strings. This might help you reduce fatigue if you're involved in a long match.
43 related questions foundDo vibration dampeners help tennis elbow?
To answer your question right off the bat, yes, tennis vibration dampeners can help with tennis elbow. If you're not familiar, tennis elbow is when your elbow tendons are inflamed and painful. Usually this inflammation and pain is caused by strain or over use.
How often should I restring my tennis racket?
As a general rule you should re-string each year as often as you play per week. If you play twice per week, you should restring your racket twice per year. All strings gradually stretch and lose their resiliency or go dead, even if you play infrequently.
Does Federer use damper?
Despite the fact that the majority of the top tennis players in the world do use dampeners, surprisingly, the most successful male and female players currently playing on tour, Roger Federer and Serena Williams, neither of them use vibration dampeners in their tennis racquets.
Does Nadal use a shock absorber?
Nadal uses a vibration dampener so that whole stadium doesn't shake and crumble when he hits a groundie.
Which Dampner does Nadal use?
Babolat Custom Dampener
The dampener of choice for Rafael Nadal to match his racquet is the Babolat Custom Damp.
Why do pro tennis players not use shock absorbers?
At most a dampener might affect the sound of the ball hitting the racket and not by much. A dampener does nothing else. A dampener won't make your racket more arm friendly or improve your play. It's purely a marketing gimmick thing.
What tension do pros string their rackets?
Typical tensions range from around 40-65lbs, but most players' tensions fall well within that range of extremes! Generally speaking, professional stringers tend to advise players to string their rackets as low as possible whilst still being able to maintain control of the ball.
What is the rubber thing on a tennis racket?
The short version is that a tennis racket vibration dampener (also known as a tennis racket shock absorber) is a little piece of rubber that gets inserted between a couple strings at the bottom of the head of a tennis racket.
How do string Savers work?
They're small pieces of plastic or similar material that are placed where the cross and main strings intersect. When the strings of your racket strike the ball, they rub together. This friction wears them down and can eventually cause them to break. A string saver acts as a buffer between the two strings.
What tension is Federer's racquet?
An image of Roger Federer's Red Pro Staff RF97 racquet from the Laver Cup in 2018 revealed that Federer's string tension is around 27kgs (59.4lbs) for the mains and 25.5kg (56.1lb) for the crosses.
What is a high Swingweight?
The trend among rackets is that as swing weight increases, power increases. This is because a high swing weight allows the racket to plow through the ball at contact. Less swing weight behind the ball at contact causes the racket to move more on impact, taking less energy out of the ball.
How much does a tennis racket restring cost?
The average cost to restring a tennis racket is $40, but it can range from $15 to $75. Costs are split between labor ($10-25 per racket) and strings ($2-50 per set). Players should string their racket as many times per year as they play per week. Stringers can be found at your local club, sports shops, or online.
Why do tennis players change rackets with new balls?
The reason behind the frequent racket changes made during matches by top professionals is primarily to ensure that the racket performs exactly as they wish, with no variation and little chance of string breakage.
Are lighter tennis rackets better?
Some basic concepts - a heavy racket is more powerful, more stable and transmits less shock than a lighter racket (all other things being equal). A lighter racket is more maneuverable and thus, a player is able to swing it faster.
Does a bigger grip help tennis elbow?
A grip that is either too big or too small for the player's hand is not a factor in whether or not a player may develop tennis elbow, according to a study published in the December issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine.
What string is best for tennis elbow?
Generally, natural gut and nylon (multifilament) strings are the best for tennis elbow because they are the softest, most comfortable, and won't transmit as much shock as synthetic gut and polyester strings.
How do tennis players avoid tennis elbow?
Within the first few days of suffering tennis elbow, a strap can be beneficial. This is a type of brace should be worn below your elbow and can help to lessen the stress to your muscle while you are playing tennis and dissipate the pain throughout your forearm. Adding pressure to your tendon can help reduce pain.
What do power pads do?
Thus came the power pad, this small square of leather pulls the string away from the frame to protect it and allow the stringer to thread the string at a straighter, less acute angle.
How do you put on a tennis vibrating dampener?
Place the dampener in one hand and press it against one of the two strings between which you will place the dampener. Move one string aside with your other hand and insert the dampener. Slide the dampener up or down on the strings to get it to the middle of the area between the throat or head and the first string.