Dampeners - Tell Me Why You Like or Dislike Them???

WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
I see posts about which dampener is good and which is not but I have not really found any that tell us why you like them or do not.

I'm curious why I don't like them. Seems like everybody and his brother on the court has a dampener but I don't care for them. I feel like I get less feeling off the shots. I need to feel the raw hit of the ball so I don't use a dampener. How does a dampener help you game and why do you like them? Why don't you like them?

I play guitar and I liken it to guitar. To hit the strings you can use your fingers alone or use a pick. I use a pick like most guitarist. Some picks are thick and some are thin and some are in between. I like thin picks or medium to feel the strings. A thick pick you don't feel the string much. I kinda liken this to the racquet. I like feeling the ball vibration and it helps my game some.



Thanks,


James
 
Z

Zefer

Rookie
It's all about personal preference. If you like the way it feels, do it! Some people like a heavily dampened feel, others don't.

If it helps, I use a small dampener in my racquet and .50mm plectrum...
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
I am so sensitive to which strings I use that any change in feel of the strings is a no no that's why I don't use a dampener. I have numerous threads going on strings and racquets. I am not the best player on the court but I can hold my own. With that said I need things just right. So since Babolat stopped making Fine Play Rough I have yet to find a string as good as that on my second racquet or backup. For my first or number one racquet gut is the choice. So now I find that Gosen for my second racquet works well. Since I am kinda picky about everything a dampener changes the equations greatly so I have to go without one.

I don't know what about the rubberband? Agassi made that very famous. I never tried that. Would that dampen a little but not a lot to change things signficiantly?
 
bayoozen33

bayoozen33

Rookie
WilsonPlayer101 said:
I am so sensitive to which strings I use that any change in feel of the strings is a no no that's why I don't use a dampener. I have numerous threads going on strings and racquets. I am not the best player on the court but I can hold my own. With that said I need things just right. So since Babolat stopped making Fine Play Rough I have yet to find a string as good as that on my second racquet or backup. For my first or number one racquet gut is the choice. So now I find that Gosen for my second racquet works well. Since I am kinda picky about everything a dampener changes the equations greatly so I have to go without one.

I don't know what about the rubberband? Agassi made that very famous. I never tried that. Would that dampen a little but not a lot to change things signficiantly?
Click to expand...

Try it and find out since you probably have some laying around where you live or buy a bag of #64 rubberbands for less than 2 bucks. I can't stand hitting without a rubberband because of the ping sound and just feels more solid w rubberband and no worries about it ever flying off.
 
N

new_tennis_player

Banned
What have you got to lose trying one? It costs at most a dollar for a dampener. Or, you could just tie a rubber band around your strings. The cost is next to nothing, and the risk non existent.

if you don't like it...take it off. Done.
 
Jonny S&V

Jonny S&V

Hall of Fame
I like dampeners for the positive mentality if gives me on driving shots, but I hate them when I'm attempting a touch shot. I hit a lot of touch shots, so obviously it's to my advantage to not use one.
 
Z

Zefer

Rookie
WilsonPlayer101 said:
I am so sensitive to which strings I use that any change in feel of the strings is a no no that's why I don't use a dampener. I have numerous threads going on strings and racquets. I am not the best player on the court but I can hold my own. With that said I need things just right. So since Babolat stopped making Fine Play Rough I have yet to find a string as good as that on my second racquet or backup. For my first or number one racquet gut is the choice. So now I find that Gosen for my second racquet works well. Since I am kinda picky about everything a dampener changes the equations greatly so I have to go without one.

I don't know what about the rubberband? Agassi made that very famous. I never tried that. Would that dampen a little but not a lot to change things signficiantly?
Click to expand...
If you're so opposed to any change in the feel of your strings, I suggest you don't try anything. Otherwise I suggest you just give them a try, you don't have much to lose and it's easier/quicker/better than us trying to explain the feel, considering it's all so personal anyway. :)
 
R

ronalditop

Hall of Fame
Some racquets are better to use a dampener on than others. Yours must be of the ones that feels better without a dampener.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
bayoozen33 said:
Try it and find out since you probably have some laying around where you live or buy a bag of #64 rubberbands for less than 2 bucks. I can't stand hitting without a rubberband because of the ping sound and just feels more solid w rubberband and no worries about it ever flying off.
Click to expand...

I do have some dampeners. My racquet came with a Head brand dampener and also TW gave me one of theirs. I'll put it on to try out to see if I like it. Maybe I'll try the rubberband you suggest. Maybe that won't be as much of an effect of dampening as a dampener made for that purpose. I'll give it a try. If I don't like it I can take it off.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
new_tennis_player said:
What have you got to lose trying one? It costs at most a dollar for a dampener. Or, you could just tie a rubber band around your strings. The cost is next to nothing, and the risk non existent.

if you don't like it...take it off. Done.
Click to expand...

In the past I did use a dampener but I felt that the feel of the ball the way it hit the racquet help me in my game rather than deadening that but I think you are right I should try a dampener again since it's been some years. Maybe I'll like it.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
ronalditop said:
Some racquets are better to use a dampener on than others. Yours must be of the ones that feels better without a dampener.
Click to expand...

True, my old Wilson PS Tour Classic 6.6 was not great with one of these dampeners. Maybe with my new Head MG Rad MP will do better with one or I'll do the rubberband route as you all suggest. Anyway Agassi uses Head racquets and the rubberband so maybe with Head it would work great.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
Zefer said:
If you're so opposed to any change in the feel of your strings, I suggest you don't try anything. Otherwise I suggest you just give them a try, you don't have much to lose and it's easier/quicker/better than us trying to explain the feel, considering it's all so personal anyway. :)
Click to expand...

True I have nothing to loose. I once used the Wilson "W" dampener and also the Gamma that is a long one that goes across the strings.
 
pug

pug

Semi-Pro
I used one for a while, but now it is like, "why?" If I did use one again I would just go with a rubberband or better yet powerpads.
 
Chezbeeno

Chezbeeno

Professional
I like the feel of the racquet better with a dampener, it seems like I prefer to just feel the ball on the strings as opposed to that feel plus all the frame vibrations, it also just feels like the racquet is more solid and controlled which is the main thing I look for in a racquet
 
GetBetterer

GetBetterer

Hall of Fame
I have to feel my shots, so that through muscle memory it remembers where the ball went when I hit it a certain way, and getting more feel out of that helps, and dampeners...dampen that feel so I can't get it.
 
D

Djlpenguin

Rookie
dampners dampen the string too much for me. i cant feel a thing, which is basicly what its supposed to do. i use a rubber band because it damps withoutr sacrificing feel.
 
bayoozen33

bayoozen33

Rookie
WilsonPlayer101 said:
I do have some dampeners. My racquet came with a Head brand dampener and also TW gave me one of theirs. I'll put it on to try out to see if I like it. Maybe I'll try the rubberband you suggest. Maybe that won't be as much of an effect of dampening as a dampener made for that purpose. I'll give it a try. If I don't like it I can take it off.
Click to expand...

To me, rubberbands feel better than normal logo dampeners. Give it a shot.
 
Jaewonnie

Jaewonnie

Professional
I'm fine with the muted feel of the dampener but I don't use one cuz I hate how it also dampens/lessens the sound.

I want my first serves to make a statement.

Note: If you hit hard enough, the ping won't be noticeable.
 
Last edited:
FLA10s

FLA10s

Rookie
I like them because of that nice "plock" sound you get, other than that i dont think dampeners actually dampen vibration they just change the sound.
 
J

jwbarrientos

Hall of Fame
It's about preferences, personal ones, in my case like the sound with dampeners, not sure reduce vibrations.

Anyhow it could be a placebo, but if it works, works.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
Well you guys you might have sold me on dampeners. I had no one to play yet but I went to the court to practice some serves and hit some forehands and backhands across the court. Of course with no one to return it I was just hitting a ball across the court plain and simple. I actually thought the dampener was good. Now I will know tomorrow when I play my usual opponent. I'll try a set with the dampener.

I never used a dampener until the early '90s. Never saw one in the '80s although maybe they existed but I don't know. So I used them for a few years then found I liked it without the dampener. What got me going with this dampener question was because I bought a new racquet and TW sent me the racquet with one of their dampeners, you know a TW one and since I bought a Head it came with a Head brand. I did not put the TW one on yet but I tried the Head one and it was pretty good. I am not sure because maybe it's all in my mind but I think I had better serves with the dampener when I practiced serving. When I hit a few across the court it seemed better. Took it off did the same then put back on. On turned out better. But like I say tomorrow I'll know more when I play a set.

Now in this whole house I can not find one number 64 rubberband as you suggest. Hard to believe but true. I do have a few rubber bands but they are the wimpier ones. Maybe I'll have to search harder for one and try the rubber band.

Maybe in the past I ended up not liking dampeners because as someone said here that it might depend on the racquet. My Head MG Rad MP is more flexible and lighter than my Wilson Jim Courier so maybe that's why on the Courier I cared not for it but on the Head I tend to think the dampener is good. What do you guys think?

Not sure if anyone mentioned it but do you guys remember the sponge vibration dampener in the early '90s? I did not have one but a friend did and he said although a sponge he could feel a good difference. I don't see those anymore.

I used to have a Gamma, the one that is a long looking worm like thing. They sell them still and I see the reviews are good. Only issues they leak that colored liquid with too much use as I recall.
 
bayoozen33

bayoozen33

Rookie
WilsonPlayer101 said:
Well you guys you might have sold me on dampeners. I had no one to play yet but I went to the court to practice some serves and hit some forehands and backhands across the court. Of course with no one to return it I was just hitting a ball across the court plain and simple. I actually thought the dampener was good. Now I will know tomorrow when I play my usual opponent. I'll try a set with the dampener.

I never used a dampener until the early '90s. Never saw one in the '80s although maybe they existed but I don't know. So I used them for a few years then found I liked it without the dampener. What got me going with this dampener question was because I bought a new racquet and TW sent me the racquet with one of their dampeners, you know a TW one and since I bought a Head it came with a Head brand. I did not put the TW one on yet but I tried the Head one and it was pretty good. I am not sure because maybe it's all in my mind but I think I had better serves with the dampener when I practiced serving. When I hit a few across the court it seemed better. Took it off did the same then put back on. On turned out better. But like I say tomorrow I'll know more when I play a set.

Now in this whole house I can not find one number 64 rubberband as you suggest. Hard to believe but true. I do have a few rubber bands but they are the wimpier ones. Maybe I'll have to search harder for one and try the rubber band.

Maybe in the past I ended up not liking dampeners because as someone said here that it might depend on the racquet. My Head MG Rad MP is more flexible and lighter than my Wilson Jim Courier so maybe that's why on the Courier I cared not for it but on the Head I tend to think the dampener is good. What do you guys think?

Not sure if anyone mentioned it but do you guys remember the sponge vibration dampener in the early '90s? I did not have one but a friend did and he said although a sponge he could feel a good difference. I don't see those anymore.

I used to have a Gamma, the one that is a long looking worm like thing. They sell them still and I see the reviews are good. Only issues they leak that colored liquid with too much use as I recall.
Click to expand...

Buy a pack of #64s, you can find them basically anywhere like Wal-mart, Office supply stores, Target, etc. There's really no point in getting those worms in my opinion, waste of money and even if I could get 50 for free between worms or rubberbands I'd pick rubberbands (if I couldn't resell the worms ;) And I prefer the rubberbands over regular dampeners too because I hit with one a few summers ago and I could kinda feel it in there. With the rubberband you don't even notice it other than the sound change and maybe a bit of feel difference.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
bayoo, all I can say is Walmart here I come. I will try your suggestion for using the number 64 ruberbands. I'm playing tomorrow and I'll compare the number 64 with the Head dampener. Thanks.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
Wait a second, just found in the desk drawer some rubber band that resembles a number 64. Tomorrow I compare the two and decide which I do better with.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
I can just imagine seeing Agassi along with Graff walking into Staples or Walmart in Las Vegas and buying a box of number 64 rubber bands. Now that would be a sight to be seen.
 
bayoozen33

bayoozen33

Rookie
WilsonPlayer101 said:
I can just imagine seeing Agassi along with Graff walking into Staples or Walmart in Las Vegas and buying a box of number 64 rubber bands. Now that would be a sight to be seen.
Click to expand...

I've noticed a couple more players with rubberbands other than Agassi, Sharapova, and Roddick. Jurgen Melzer also uses a rubberband and that tall dude who played Davydenko in the first rd of Wimby was the other I think.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
Actually I can imagine Agassi living in Las Vegas because that's his home turf where he grew up but it's hard to imagine this German lady named Steffi Graff living there. Maybe next time I'm there I'll run into them at Staples at the rubber band isle. We can talk tennis and office products.
 
fgzhu88

fgzhu88

Semi-Pro
I only use a dampener (rubber band tied in complicated knot around two center mains and bottommost cross) when I accidentlally string too loosely. it psychologically feels tighter
 
fgzhu88

fgzhu88

Semi-Pro
Jaewonnie said:
I'm fine with the muted feel of the dampener but I don't use one cuz I hate how it also dampens/lessens the sound.

I want my first serves to make a statement.

Note: If you hit hard enough, the ping won't be noticeable.
Click to expand...

agreed, nothing sings more beautifully than the sound of a hard, cleanly struck ball on undampened strings. Of course, I mishit so often that I rarely get to hear the tune :)
 
bayoozen33

bayoozen33

Rookie
WilsonPlayer101 said:
Actually I can imagine Agassi living in Las Vegas because that's his home turf where he grew up but it's hard to imagine this German lady named Steffi Graff living there. Maybe next time I'm there I'll run into them at Staples at the rubber band isle. We can talk tennis and office products.
Click to expand...

lol. Stick to the office products because Agassi hates tennis.


(according to his book)
 
drakulie

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
WilsonPlayer101 said:
I don't care for them. I feel like I get less feeling off the shots. I need to feel the raw hit of the ball so I don't use a dampener.
Click to expand...


Ditto.

I don't use a dampener either. Takes away from the feel of contact with the ball. Also, if you are hitting square and thru the ball, you won't get the "ping" sound.
 
WilsonPlayer101

WilsonPlayer101

Professional
Well yesterday at the backboard I did hit with the dampener in the racquet. Served some and hit some forehand and backhand across the court without anyone able to return. I kind of got the feeling the dampener was not so bad. So today I played and tested it out in a set.

What I found was that the dampener was good in many ways that agreed with the positive aspects of it that you who use them had mentioned. I took it out, the Head vibration dampener and tried the rubber band. I was surprised at how well it dampened the vibration even thought it's just a rubber band. It was actually better than the Head dampener. It was not as extreme in dampening. I guess this is because there is less mass of course to the rubber band than there is the proper dampener. So I did that for a bit. Then I took it off and finished the set about 3/4 ways thru without the dampener. I found in the end I preferred to go without the dampener.

I'll just stick to forgo the dampener and play with the string bed being au natural. I will keep some rubber bands in the tennis bag in case I want to revert back to dampening. I'll switch back and forth to really verify what I really like the best.

Thanks for all your help everyone.



James
 
NotAtTheNet

NotAtTheNet

Semi-Pro
Different strokes for different folks. I like rubberbands bc of that nice THAWT instead of ping sound... something rewarding about hearing that noise makes me feel better... it does nothing for the arm, but does wonders on my psychosis
 
I

iOwnYou

New User
LIKE - They reduce the ping noise, which pisses me off attime. They reduce the vibration in my hand [ ofcourse ] which is sometimes annoying because when the vibration hits my hands, my bat often flys out of my hand when the ball is hit in the opposite direction

DISLIKE - They Fly off.
 
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