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 market2) durability of the soft core is suspect3) added weight may likely throw off your racquet's balanceDespite 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 very well as a shock absorber

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.

This actually works! I was skeptical, but compared to other dampeners, it definitely plays differently. Dampens the vibration for sure! I can't use anything else anymore. Genuinely a great product!

Not only are these over-priced, they are bulbous. It's like playing with an old olive stuck on your racket. If you're going to use a dampener, there are far better dampeners on the market, and everyone single one of them will probably cost far less than these. What a waste!

This is a great brand that consistently puts out high quality tennis accessories. I really like this dampener, and have bought them for all my rackets.

It functions as a dampener but that is it. I have some tennis elbow that is mostly manageable but still bothers me. This dampener did nothing special which is disappointing because the price is significantly higher than the average dampener. I noticed no difference between any $3 dampener and this one.Update: After playing with it for a while, I would say it helps a little bit. If I put a number on it, a 10 to 20 percent reduction in elbow pain. think it is still overpriced for what it is, but I do see some benefit.

I haven’t tried it out yet but I will looks well made and durable!!!Finally tried it out and love it definitely does what it says it does I can tell a big difference especially in my tennis elbow!!!