Yep. Dampeners interrupt the length of the stringbed and it can have these kinds of effects.
I experience the same effect. This only occurs at low tension (mine is at 36lbs). With dampener string bed feels tighter when bouncing a ball against it.
It doesnt stretch anything, it has practically no weight, there is no pressure applied so how can it affect tension? It reduces vibration and affects feel thats all
Mine is rather tight and pinches quite hard the two center main strings as well as squeezing the lower cross string. So physically I think it is reducing the racket string bed area so to speak. I can definitely feel the added tightness in the sweet spot with it on.
I still think it is just a matter of feel and perception. I mean if it could be measured it would solve the mystery.
Well all I can say is without dampener strings can move easily, with dampener the strings if touches can no longer move. It is very reasonable to conclude that that would tighten the hitting area as stings can't flex as much.
They can flex, they just don't resonate afterwards.
Strings that are held in place by something won't flex as much as strings that aren't held in place by that thing...that was my point. Perhaps this thread is erroneously stated as string tension doesn't actually increase since nothing is pulling at strings but the flex in the overall string bed could be affected because of the dampener holding strings in place.
They are slightly hindered in movement at a single junction of strings far away from the actual hitting area.
Yes but my racket head is only 85 so it's not far from the lower sweet spot. Only about 2 inches from top of dampener. The effect is felt at low string tension to begin with. The restriction on string movement of the two center mains is quite pronounced.
Well how can you disagree with me if you haven't investigated it at low tensions? I examined this effect on my other racket strung at higher tension and it is not there so I'm not saying it occurs all the time.
You're right, it doesn't alter string tension per se, but what it does at low tensions is that it restricts movement of loose strings and thus creating a firmer flex in the string bed. So hitting a ball is not as soft and more tense. Simple physics. Strings that are movable will flex more than strings that are held down.
Nope that's not what's happening. The two main strings are pinched by the dampener and can no longer move laterally. Since they are firmly attached to the bottom cross string, that also limits its ability to flex. I suggest you try it out yourself with a racquet strung at 36 or lower tension. No point wondering about it when you can experience it first hand.
You have way overthought this man. The dampeners are not attached to anything laterally which would restrict the movement of the mains.
Funny how the term "simple physics" is mostly thrown around by people who know nothing about physics.
Yep and clearly you don't get it. Typical response from someone who can't provide a sound counter so he goes personal. Nice try Junior!
When the ball moves the strings in the middle of the racquet, the dampener is so far down from the string movement where it doesn't have any impact.
depends on racket head size. Mine is 85 so top of dampener is only about 1.5 inch from lower sweet spot
Well when you think about it, if the dampener is pushing the strings further out than their resting position, then there is a force applied to the strings so added tension is there as the strings are stretched a few mm's further.
