Vibration dampener, vibrations and feel

[WilPro]

I have recently strung more racquets and usually I hit them against the heel of my palm after stringing them.
When hitting them against the heel of my palm, without dampener, I almost always feel vibrations. The lighter the racquet the stronger the vibration.

Now that we clarified the vibrations are there, the question is if they are good or wrong.
If they could produce any harm to your hand.

Second thing is the feel. At some point I had a racquet in my bag that had no dampener and to me it felt different just because it had no dampener and I had to put it on or else I was a bit off.

Also I heard people talking about Countervail racquets that reduce vibration and people don't like them because of the feel.

So, the question is whether vibration can harm or if they can increase the feeling. Maybe a bit of a crazy question but interesting to me.

 

[esm]

Yeah I kinda get that. But for me the dampener dampens the “ping” sound then anything else for me.
I used to use dampeners, but I have stopped using it since summer last year, and I kinda like the “ping” sound now. Lol

 

[Deleted member 369227]

Many people claim that dampener only eliminates the "ping" sound, but that's not entirely true. The feel upon impact is different with a dampener but I don't think it can make your racquet "numb" or change its inherent feel (you don't need your stringbed to vibrate for two seconds, to feel how you hit the ball).

Personally, I don't use dampeners on Yonex Ai/DR 98, because quake shut gel does a fantastic job in rapidly attenuating residual vibrations after impact. However, on racquets that produce unpleasant hoop vibrations, I noticed that if I install a high-quality dampener at the very bottom of the stringbed (i.e. touching the grommets/frame) unpleasant frame vibrations are significantly attenuated (and sometimes even eliminated). This is particularly true with a "heavy-duty" dampener such as Babolat Vibrakill, which acts like a "dead blow hammer", due to tiny lead particles inside silicone.

Also, a dampener increases both static weight and swing-weight of the racquet typically by 3-4 points (similarly to head protection tape) and can be used for racquet matching or bringing the racquet closer to desired specs.

 

[Strawbewwy]

Keep in mind that different racquet/string pattern with different string to string distance (sometimes i get a bit OCD, sorry) will affect how well a dampener works.

try rotating your dampeners 90 degrees (ie, tw logo dampener) and on different racquets, it just sounds completely different.

I'm aware there were studies that supposedly proved that it doesn't help tennis elbow, etc, but... being scientifically inclined myself, and haven't seen the study myself, just based on personal feeling, I do think that there's a possibility that the study could've missed some elements to determine conclusions.

at the end of the day i always encourage people to try and if it works for you, go for it, if not, don't use it, don't need to get in a fight over it

 

[Mortsnets]

My hitting partner got a dampener and his slight arm discomfort went away. I never used them with a pro staff 85 but do with RF97A - a stiffer racquet. Tried the Babolat Vibrakill and it killed the feel for me.

 

[Shroud]

Many people claim that dampener only eliminates the "ping" sound, but that's not entirely true. The feel upon impact is different with a dampener but I don't think it can make your racquet "numb" or change its inherent feel (you don't need your stringbed to vibrate for two seconds, to feel how you hit the ball).

Personally, I don't use dampeners on Yonex Ai/DR 98, because quake shut gel does a fantastic job in rapidly attenuating residual vibrations after impact. However, on racquets that produce unpleasant hoop vibrations, I noticed that if I install a high-quality dampener at the very bottom of the stringbed (i.e. touching the grommets/frame) unpleasant frame vibrations are significantly attenuated (and sometimes even eliminated). This is particularly true with a "heavy-duty" dampener such as Babolat Vibrakill, which acts like a "dead blow hammer", due to tiny lead particles inside silicone.

Also, a dampener increases both static weight and swing-weight of the racquet typically by 3-4 points (similarly to head protection tape) and can be used for racquet matching or bringing the racquet closer to desired specs.

How are you getting 3-4 sw points? Sure if its at 12pm but at 6pm??

 

[Deleted member 369227]

How are you getting 3-4 sw points? Sure if its at 12pm but at 6pm??

I just did the measurement of my Yonex DR 98 with and without the Yonex dampener:

Static weight (without dampener/with dampener): 339.9g / 344.2g
Racquet balance (without dampener/with dampener): 31.6cm / 31.7cm
Swing weight (without dampener/with dampener): 328 / 331

My racquet setup is:

- Yonex Tour Grip (AC126EX) replacement grip instead of factory grip
- Yonex Super Grap overgrip
- Babolat head protection tape from 9 to 3
- Yonex Vibration Stopper 5
- Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25mm

As you can see, a 4.3g vibration dampener increased swing weight by 3 points (obviously, the impact will vary depending on the weight of the vibration dampener). I measured the weight of all vibration dampeners I have in the house, and their weight is between 2.1g (Luxilon Legacy) and 5.3g (Babolat Vibrakill). Typical, round silicone vibration dampeners weight 3.0g to 3.2g.

 

[Shroud]

I just did the measurement of my Yonex DR 98 with and without the Yonex dampener:

Static weight (without dampener/with dampener): 339.9g / 344.2g
Racquet balance (without dampener/with dampener): 31.6cm / 31.7cm
Swing weight (without dampener/with dampener): 328 / 331

My racquet setup is:

- Yonex Tour Grip (AC126EX) replacement grip instead of factory grip
- Yonex Super Grap overgrip
- Babolat head protection tape from 9 to 3
- Yonex Vibration Stopper 5
- Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25mm

As you can see, a 4.3g vibration dampener increased swing weight by 3 points (obviously, the impact will vary depending on the weight of the vibration dampener). I measured the weight of all vibration dampeners I have in the house, and their weight is between 2.1g (Luxilon Legacy) and 5.3g (Babolat Vibrakill). Typical, round silicone vibration dampeners weight 3.0g to 3.2g.

where do you put that thing? at 6pm? Are you using the rdc machine to measure swing weight? Its just weird because if you put in those values in the tw customization tool you get the 4.3g at 16.5 in from the handle. That is a few strings higher than a dampener usually goes.

 

[Deleted member 369227]

where do you put that thing? at 6pm? Are you using the rdc machine to measure swing weight? Its just weird because if you put in those values in the tw customization tool you get the 4.3g at 16.5 in from the handle. That is a few strings higher than a dampener usually goes.

In the middle of the stringbed, why?



Now seriously, what kind of question is that? I put it where it is supposed to be installed:

I don't have a RDC machine, I use a precise scale, GAMMA balance board, and SwingTool app to measure swing-weight (several measurements, just to make sure that the reading is OK).

What exactly is confusing you? The RacquetTune app for iPad predicts an even greater increase of swing-weight by adding 4 grams at 40cm - it calculated 332, instead of 331 which I measured by SwingTool:

 

[Shroud]

In the middle of the stringbed, why?



Now seriously, what kind of question is that? I put it where it is supposed to be installed:

I don't have a RDC machine, I use a precise scale, GAMMA balance board, and SwingTool app to measure swing-weight (several measurements, just to make sure that the reading is OK).

What exactly is confusing you? The RacquetTune app for iPad predicts an even greater increase of swing-weight by adding 4 grams at 40cm - it calculated 332, instead of 331 which I measured by SwingTool:

Like I said there are different results with the TW customization tool and it has the dampener 1" higher to get the same results. So that is why I was asking about placement. Here is what they say with the same numbers

dampener hosted at ImgBB

Image dampener hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

 

[Deleted member 369227]

Like I said there are different results with the TW customization tool and it has the dampener 1" higher to get the same results. So that is why I was asking about placement. Here is what they say with the same numbers

dampener hosted at ImgBB

Image dampener hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

I see... Well, I posted what I measured, and the iPad customization app is pretty much consistent with the SwingTool reading.

Surely, a real RDC machine would provide an accurate reading, but I have no doubt that vibration dampeners slightly increase swingweight.

 

[shadow01]

Curious - what happens to the swing weight if you put it on the top of the string bed?

 

[Deleted member 369227]

Curious - what happens to the swing weight if you put it on the top of the string bed?

This happens:

Actually, it would be a match-illegal, but pretty quick way to test how the racquet would feel and play with such a big swing weight.

 

[Shroud]

I see... Well, I posted what I measured, and the iPad customization app is pretty much consistent with the SwingTool reading.

Surely, a real RDC machine would provide an accurate reading, but I have no doubt that vibration dampeners slightly increase swingweight.

I have those apps. IIRC they should agree because they are from the same person...

Weird that there is something different with the same numbers. I cut an pasted from your post so I don' think I made a mistake, especially after I double checked.

Its interesting because people seem to think dampeners are just about vibes. But you show its a few points of sw so probably some of what people like or don't like about dampeners is probably sw too

I think the RDC machines are calibrated on the method TW uses IIRC...

 

[shadow01]

Actually, it would be a match-illegal, but pretty quick way to test how the racquet would feel and play with such a big swing weight.

that’s what I expected- I never used lead tape - but might try moving my dampener up to see what a difference in swing weight feels like. However- I actually don’t think it’s illegal. Pretty sure you can put as many dampeners as you want outside the top and bottom cross (any maybe even the outer main strings). I could be wrong, but have a vague recollection of reading that at one point in the tennis magazine “rules questions and quarrels” segment.

 

[Deleted member 369227]

@shadow01

You are right! Just checked the "ITF Rules of Tennis":

Case 3: Can vibration damping devices be placed on the strings of a racket? If so, where can they be placed?
Decision: Yes, but these devices may only be placed outside the pattern of the crossed strings.

 

[shadow01]

@shadow01

You are right! Just checked the "ITF Rules of Tennis":

Case 3: Can vibration damping devices be placed on the strings of a racket? If so, where can they be placed?
Decision: Yes, but these devices may only be placed outside the pattern of the crossed strings.

So not outside the mains. Just on the top and bottom - that’s how I read the rule you posted. Agree?

 

[Deleted member 369227]

So not outside the mains. Just on the top and bottom - that’s how I read the rule you posted. Agree?

No, my understanding is that even this is perfectly legal:

 

[shadow01]

No, my understanding is that even this is perfectly legal:

So even though they are on the cross strings - they are outside the “pattern” of the cross strings? Interesting! Time to try tweaking twist weight also

 

[Deleted member 369227]

So even though they are on the cross strings - they are outside the “pattern” of the cross strings? Interesting! Time to try tweaking twist weight also

Well, that's how I understood "outside the pattern of the crossed strings", but maybe there is an official umpire on this forum to confirm (or refute) this assumption.

 

[shadow01]

So even though they are on the cross strings - they are outside the “pattern” of the cross strings? Interesting! Time to try tweaking twist weight also

So I moved my Wilson “W” dampener up to the top of the racquet as high as it would go. Loved the pop on the serve and plow through on ground strokes. So interesting to me as I never played around with weights on my racquet- but will be doing more experiments now.

 

[EasternRocks]

I just did the measurement of my Yonex DR 98 with and without the Yonex dampener:

Static weight (without dampener/with dampener): 339.9g / 344.2g
Racquet balance (without dampener/with dampener): 31.6cm / 31.7cm
Swing weight (without dampener/with dampener): 328 / 331

My racquet setup is:

- Yonex Tour Grip (AC126EX) replacement grip instead of factory grip
- Yonex Super Grap overgrip
- Babolat head protection tape from 9 to 3
- Yonex Vibration Stopper 5
- Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25mm

As you can see, a 4.3g vibration dampener increased swing weight by 3 points (obviously, the impact will vary depending on the weight of the vibration dampener). I measured the weight of all vibration dampeners I have in the house, and their weight is between 2.1g (Luxilon Legacy) and 5.3g (Babolat Vibrakill). Typical, round silicone vibration dampeners weight 3.0g to 3.2g.

Very informative, thank you. Going to be playing with no dampener and a Kimony Quaker Buster, which weighs 2 grams less than the Yonex Stopper to try and reduce SW points being added from the center of the racquet.

 

[Juggernauts]

So I moved my Wilson “W” dampener up to the top of the racquet as high as it would go. Loved the pop on the serve and plow through on ground strokes. So interesting to me as I never played around with weights on my racquet- but will be doing more experiments now.

Is this legal? Since its location is outside the “pattern” of the cross strings ?

 

[LOBALOT]

No, my understanding is that even this is perfectly legal:

This is inside the pattern of the cross strings. Outside the pattern of the cross strings would be outside the cross strings.

 

[twalkman]

This is inside the pattern of the cross strings. Outside the pattern of the cross strings would be outside the cross strings.

The rule book decision posted above referred to "crossed" strings - not "cross" strings.

 

[LOBALOT]

The rule book decision posted above referred to "crossed" strings - not "cross" strings.

Hummmm. I wasn't aware of that. I don't use one myself.

Thanks for the info.

 

[anarosevoli]

The rule book decision posted above referred to "crossed" strings - not "cross" strings.

Yes, they can be placed on all 4 sides outside the crossed strings.

 

[2ndServe]

I can't be the only that thinks you get more control with a dampner. I know the physics say it doesn't make a difference in control but if my dampner falls off the next show feels a lot controllable. Probably in our heads but it's wildly different to me.

 

[bluey]

Research paper quantifies reduced force at the handle. Presume that is a mass effect, which should also reduce shock-related injuries.

https://efsupit.ro/images/stories/mai2020/Art%20214.pdf

 

[WYK]

I use a #63 rubber band - 1/4 inch by 3 inches. Weighs about a gram, get a 1/4 pound of them for 5 bucks. Keeps the annoying ping at bay. But it also changes the feel slightly.
Dunno what is going on, but I have always used them since I started using poly.

Here's the two main ways I apply them:

 

[Fintft]

Many people claim that dampener only eliminates the "ping" sound, but that's not entirely true. The feel upon impact is different with a dampener but I don't think it can make your racquet "numb" or change its inherent feel (you don't need your stringbed to vibrate for two seconds, to feel how you hit the ball).

Personally, I don't use dampeners on Yonex Ai/DR 98, because quake shut gel does a fantastic job in rapidly attenuating residual vibrations after impact. However, on racquets that produce unpleasant hoop vibrations, I noticed that if I install a high-quality dampener at the very bottom of the stringbed (i.e. touching the grommets/frame) unpleasant frame vibrations are significantly attenuated (and sometimes even eliminated). This is particularly true with a "heavy-duty" dampener such as Babolat Vibrakill, which acts like a "dead blow hammer", due to tiny lead particles inside silicone.

Also, a dampener increases both static weight and swing-weight of the racquet typically by 3-4 points (similarly to head protection tape) and can be used for racquet matching or bringing the racquet closer to desired specs.

I made the mistake of removing my big Wilson dampeners about two weeks ago (to reduce SW by 3-4 points) and now I can feel a bout of TE, even after restringing. Something that hasn't never happened with this racquets (6 months) or in the last 10y.