Who doesnt use a dampener?

[robbo1970]

Apart from reducing that ping sound and creating a slightly deader feel to the string bed, what do these little things really do?

I know thats been asked and answered many times, but my real question is what actual major difference they have?

I usually use a rubber band as I find most dampeners too big to squeeze on to my strings and maybe i'm just lazy (no comments please) but I cant be bothered to keep tieing a new bad on every few matches.

So who here doesnt use a dampener and if not why not?

 

[dak95_00]

I don't.

I don't because:

~I like the vibration feel when I mishit the ball.
~I like the dead thud when I hit the sweet spot; very similar feel to every shot w/ a dampener.
~It makes me feel as though I have more touch w/ the racquet because I can distinguish between a pure hit and a slight miss.
~I feel it is just something else to fidget w/ on the racquet and I don't need the distraction.

That's about it for me. I've used them for brief periods in the past. I just never adjusted to hitting w/ them. My guess is that it is just as hard to make the adjustment the other way too; playing without.

 

[フェデラー]

Me!! The feeling of my strings is just far to nice to waste with a dampener on. I haven't used a dampener in years now, even when I was using all multi or multi/poly. As dak said, the sound can also be a pleasure to hear.

 

[mmk]

After one flew off a while ago, I realized that I felt more connected to the racquet without it.

 

[bcart1991]

Haven't used one in about 15 years.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

~I like the vibration feel when I mishit the ball.
~I like the dead thud when I hit the sweet spot; very similar feel to every shot w/ a dampener.
~It makes me feel as though I have more touch w/ the racquet because I can distinguish between a pure hit and a slight miss.
~I feel it is just something else to fidget w/ on the racquet and I don't need the distraction.

Pretty much the reasons why I hate playing with a dampener, it turns the entire stringbed into a 2x4.

And I like the pingy vibration. It tells me when I've hit it clean or when I've hit it slightly off center.

 

[mikeler]

I have never used a dampener.

 

[raemuel9323]

used to use one, but stopped using it after i changed rackets

 

[tennisplayer1993]

i never used one, i always liked the raw feeling of the racket.

 

[robbo1970]

Cheers guys, really appreciated the feedback and reasons why.

 

[mrw]

never used one.

 

[3fees]

Me, racquet plays more lively without one.

3fees

 

[corbind]

Pretty much the reasons why I hate playing with a dampener, it turns the entire stringbed into a 2x4.

And I like the pingy vibration. It tells me when I've hit it clean or when I've hit it slightly off center.

So then mine must be like swinging a 4x8 as I have been using five dampeners concurrently for the last couple of months. No ping, not much sound, and I can tell if I'm even slightly off the sweetspot based on where the ball goes...

I haven't used a dampener in years now...

I've been using the ones you haven't...

 

[raemuel9323]

I've been using the ones you haven't...

wow thats insane! can you even feel anything? lol

 

[corbind]

wow thats insane! can you even feel anything? lol

Nope...and I much prefer it that way. All gut strings with enough damps to make everything quiet and with as little vibration as possible. Two overgrips folded over to create big "grooves" making it equal about 3 overgrips. It helps suck up vibration as well as my loose grip on the racquet.

I put the five damps on as a joke a couple of months ago and just left them. Turns out I like it and it adds a little bit of weight that's easily removable.

 

[ewberner]

After one flew off a while ago, I realized that I felt more connected to the racquet without it.

Chasing those things all over the courts made me stop wanting to use them. Then, I realized how much better it feels without them. Problem solved!

 

[texacali]

I use one. I had my racket restrung recently and forgot to put one on and it felt strange. I found an ancient Prince dampener from the 90's in an old bag...giant thing which is basically two O-shaped ends connected by a tapered stretch of rubber in between. You weave it in and out of the strings like the Gamma dampener and it hooks on to the last strings on either side. I would think it plays like this set up.

I think most folks would use my racket and think it hits like a piece of wood, but I like it that way AND I like the dull thud when I hit the ball straight on.

So then mine must be like swinging a 4x8 as I have been using five dampeners concurrently for the last couple of months. No ping, not much sound, and I can tell if I'm even slightly off the sweetspot based on where the ball goes...



I've been using the ones you haven't...

 

[Spokewench]

Ive never used one so why start now?

 

[pvaudio]

Used to be religious about them and then rubber bands. Now, nothing.

 

[db10s]

I play with poly and I love the feel, dampeners take that away.

 

[Up&comer]

I generally use one, but what kind doesn't matter to me.