Do tennis pros use dampeners?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 18, 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.
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.
Do tennis racket dampeners work?
Tennis dampeners do work but not in the way some tennis players may think. Dampeners will change how the racquet feels and the noise from hitting the ball. However, tennis dampeners do not prevent tennis elbow and other injuries, nor do they improve the longevity of the string and power of the racquet.
16 related questions foundWhat 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.
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.
How do vibration dampeners work?
In essence, all a vibration dampener does is absorb the vibrations caused by the impact of your racket hitting the ball. These tennis dampeners are usually made out of rubber, which is a highly absorbent material.
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.
Does a dampener help with 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 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.
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.
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.
Does higher string tension give more control and spin?
Not necessarily. Because tighter strings produce less velocity, the ball will land shorter in the court. To make up for this, the player might swing harder generating more spin. In this case, it is not tighter strings that produce more spin, but the player's response to tighter strings.
How long does Hyper G last?
Hyper-G posted very impressive scores for tension maintenance in our Tennis Warehouse University String Lab. This bodes well for big hitters who want a poly that doesn't “ bag out ” and lose its magic after a couple sessions. Both testers found this string to last about three weeks before needing to re-string.
What string do most tennis players use?
Polyester strings are the string type that most pros are using on the ATP and WTA tour.
What does Federer string his rackets at?
Roger Federer's String Tension Revealed
What is this? The image above is taken from the Laver Cup from 2018 in Chicago, and as you can see, Federer is stringing his mains at 27 kgs (59.5lbs) and his crosses at 25.5 kgs (56.2lbs).
Should I play with a heavier racquet?
A heavier tennis racket will absorb more of the impact shock. Some players say this actually gives you the benefit of avoiding so much shock to your arm. Typically, heavier rackets can also help you return faster and more powerful shots with less effort.
How do you know if your tennis racket needs to be restrung?
If your strings are fraying or look shaggy, the strings are starting to come apart and you're not going to get as much spin or power when you hit the ball. When your strings get ratty-looking, it's definitely time to restring.
What does HL mean on a tennis racquet?
Balance. This refers to the point at which the racquet balances. This point can be closer to the handle, which is considered “head light” (HL), at the halfway point of the racquet (evenly balanced) or towards the head of the racquet, “head heavy” (HH).
How much is Roger Federer racket?
The cost not only depends on the player but also on the features of the racket. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray use rackets produced by Head, which cost between €250-€280 or around $307-$344. Roger Federer's, Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph costs around €270 or about $344.
How often do pro tennis players break strings?
Most advanced players playing this frequently will break a string every week or two, so no need to re-string until you break unless you have an important tournament coming up, in which case you should have fresh strings in all your rackets.
Can I restring my own tennis racquet?
If your tennis racquet is old or damaged, you can re-string it without having to buy a new racquet. If you don't play tennis that often, it'll be cheaper to pay someone to restring your racquet. However, if you play tennis several times a week, it might be worth investing a few hundred dollars in a stringing machine.
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.