RTP Tennis Racket Vibration Dampener - ShockSorb Original or Ultrasoft V3 The Only Dampener Made for Pain Relief - Handcrafted with Patented Material Sorbothane Made in USA - 1 Pack Limited Warranty

TL/DR: Get this dampener right now if you suffer from tennis elbow!!! [I usually don't write reviews unless the product sucks and want to warn other potential buyers, but this product has prompted me to write my very first, extensive (and glowing) review of an Amazon purchase. Yeah, this dampener is that good.] I bought this about a week ago and have used it almost daily, and I must say, they may be right in their claim that this is the "World's best (tennis string) dampener". It certainly works far better than the usual rubber dampeners, but with some caveats which I'll go into in a bit. But first, a bit about me so you can have a better sense of the dampener's effectiveness. I'm a baseliner that hits with a lot of pace and top spin that's 4.5-equivalent (NTRP), and I use custom-weighted Head Graphene Radical MP with full co-poly string job in the 40s. I stopped playing competitively a while back due to tennis elbow that just won't go away and will flare up after a couple hours of hard hitting, which consequently has limited my playing frequency to twice a week tops (used to play 4-5 times a week before the elbow). To its credit, RTP ShockSorb has all but prevented elbow flare-ups, to such level that I played 3 days in a row without having to put my arm in a sling. Heck, I didn't even have to ice my elbow or take ibuprofen. This is pretty darn amazing, and I am utterly impressed in its efficacy (yes, I'm likening it to a medicine because it's that good!). The RTP ShockSorb, compared to my usual dampener (round Head 'Djokovic' dampener), mutes the string vibration greatly. I don't have any measurement tools, but the seat-of-the-pants is at lest double--maybe even triple--the dampening. It also feels as if the sweetspot is enlarged even though the dampener is mounted on only two center mains. It's not quite as enlarged as 'the worm', but I prefer RTP ShockSorb because, while the level of dampening is similar to 'the worm', you still get just enough feedback on slightly-off-center shots to know how cleanly you're hitting. This is also very evident when you're volleying. One other benefit over 'the worm' is that it won't pops and leak the gel all over your hands and outfit. The core of RTP ShockSorb is soft, almost putty-like, which I'm guessing is what makes it so effective in its dampening ability. Unfortunately, this softness may also be its biggest shortcoming from the durability perspective. Due to the core's soft/sticky nature, it will likely get squished unless you're very careful when installing it, and then once it's on the strings it doesn't want to slide which makes it difficult to move it to the 'proper' posiition. And in my week's usage, I've installed one RTP ShockSorb between several different racquets to test its effectiveness on different string setups, and each time I install/uninstall it, the part of the core that makes contact with the strings looks increasingly worn & torn. This 'wear' is a lot worse when you install/uninstall it on shaped strings, and this is a fairly big concern because my mains are shaped and I cut out my strings every 2-3 weeks. Another concern regarding the soft core is whether it's affected by extreme temperatures and if so, how much. I play mostly indoors, so my playing temperature is relatively steady, but those of you playing in super-hot summer weather (or cold winters later in the year) might have varying experiences (or not). The other caveat is the weight. This dampener is heavy (for a dampener). At least twice as heavy (probably heavier in actuality) as my Head dampener. It's heavy enough that it throws off the racquet's balance when it's installed in the 'normal' dampener install point (pushed up flush against the bottom cross). My sticks are customized to be very head-light because my swing is fast and whippy/wristy, so on the first few days I was struggling with timing because it made the stick less head-light (on a different stock Head racquet with even balance, it actually felt like it became head-heavy). I was struggling to correct the balance with lead tapes but wasn't very successful, and it was frustrating me to the point that I came THIS close to returning it. Then I got an idea one day to push RTP ShockSorb all the way down so it's flush with the neck, and this made the balance less affected and made it easier to re-balance the racquet to the correct balance. So my solution to the added weight: intall it at the bottom of the main strings. The secondary implication here is that, if you're like me and are very sensitive to the racquet's balance, buying and using RTP ShockSorb means you have to make a real commitment because you'll have to re-balance your racquet (and if you lose it in the middle of a match, you can't just sub it with a normal rubber dampener that weighs next to nothing). So to sum it up: 1) this thing absorbs string vibration like nothing else on the market 2) durability of the soft core is suspect 3) added weight may likely throw off your racquet's balance Despite the caveats, this is a super product for suffers of tennis elbow (or wrist, or shoulder). At $15 a pop, I think it takes the crown as the most expensive dampener on the market, but with many high-end strings going for $20+ per pack, I think it's a very worthy investment, especially considering that I get to keep my racquets and not spend time and money on newer models that boast enhanced dampening (which may or may not be true, or may have other caveats like playability for your particular style of tennis). Durability, we'll just have to see. So all in all, big kudos for the team behind this Kickstarter project! Get it if you are elbow/wrist sufferer!

works great. I think the only other one that works as well is luxilon

This actually works by removing any unpleasant feel from my ultra stiff RF01 pro. And I can still feel the ball just fine

At this time, it has only been used a couple of times but my son says it works and feels fine. Will update if/when there is anything to add

I will start by saying that I love the original version of the staffer. It reduced vibrations in a way that helped with my shoulder pain without completely killing the feel of my racket like most dampeners do. However, this new version is absolute trash. It’s almost a gummy consistency and oily and it deforms the second I try to put it on my rings, removing this and reinstalling it more than a couple of times will destroy this dampener. Considering the cost that’s a complete rip off. The first one I bought of this new version flew off of my racket during the first match, I played with it, never to be found again. I don’t know how it flew off because it was very snug on the strings. The second one I ordered deformed so badly the first time I put it on my racket that I when I removed it to reinstall it on another racket it wouldn’t hold. Even the original one that I loved was not worth the price so this terrible awful iteration is absolutely not worth the price. Do not spend your money on this.

Excellent

Came in good time and as expected! Gave as gifts for my tennis friends. They loved it. Especially the one who was recovering from tennis elbow- he felt the difference

I wish I had ordered the RTP dampener sooner. I just restrung my racket, added the dampener and played a couple sets. Noticeable difference in the feel of my ground strokes and serve. My elbow feels great. Thank you!

True and guaranteed when I installed into my racquet the vibration is lessen compared to other dampeners. I am recommending to other tennis players to try and buy this dampener.

This dampener does make a difference in terms of arm health, without negatively affecting your game in terms of feel. Though, intended for stiffer racquets, I use this on my RA 64 one to take the vibration down even further. This is more than just hype. It works, and it’s from a great company which makes a number of items that are made to keep you playing, instead of on the sidelines.

By far the best shock absorber!

After I started using this dampener, my wrist pain was almost gone.

its does the job but not a big differnence as claimed. Though great how the outer shell is hard so even if you miss hit the ball the absorper wont go flying which I really like. not worth spending $43 Aud for what its worth.