The Little Dampener That Kept Me on the Court

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Quick answer

Independent studies found traditional dampeners change the sound and feel of the ball but don't reduce the vibration that reaches your arm. The RTP ShockSorb V3 is built differently: a soft Sorbothane core inside a tough plastic shell, about 4 grams, made in the USA. RTP reports that 75% of players who switched felt pain relief (from RTP's own customer feedback, not an independent clinical study). It isn't a magic fix or a replacement for the right racquet setup, strings, tension and technique. It's $22 at My Tennis Wall in Houston Heights.

I’ll be honest with you: I was a skeptic for a long time.

I’ve dealt with tennis elbow before, and I also have this congenital disease in my arm, so arm health isn’t something I take lightly. On top of that, I’m a master racquet technician. I’ve strung hundreds of racquets, and I know what the research says about traditional dampeners: they change the sound and feel of the ball coming off your strings, but independent studies (Hennig 2004, Stroede 1999, and Cheng) found they don’t reduce the vibration that actually reaches your arm. So when people asked me whether a dampener would help their elbow, my answer was usually “not really.”

Then I tried the RTP ShockSorb.

Why I gave it a shot anyway

After stepping away for a year, I picked tennis back up, and after a few weeks on the court, started feeling this “heat” in my elbow. I grabbed an RTP dampener off the shelf, mostly out of curiosity, and was amazed. The first time I played with it, my arm didn’t feel tired afterward. For someone that was skeptical and just getting back into the game, that stood out.

Since then, it’s kept me playing and feeling healthy. It’s now one of the things I recommend most to my customers at the pro shop.

So what is it?

The RTP ShockSorb V3 looks like a regular dampener, but it’s built differently. It has a soft Sorbothane core (a rubbery material made to absorb impact) inside a tough plastic shell. It weighs about 4 grams, so you won’t notice it in your swing, and it’s made in the USA. It slips onto your strings like any other dampener and is designed to stay put.

RTP makes two versions:

• Original: a firmer feel that keeps more “pop,” in black or white.
• UltraSoft: a softer, more cushioned feel, in a bunch of fun colors.

What other players are saying

I’m not the only one who’s noticed a difference. RTP reports that 75% of players who switched to their dampener felt pain relief, and 43% said their tennis elbow or wrist pain went away completely. Those numbers come from RTP’s own customer feedback, not an independent clinical study, but they line up with what I’ve felt and what I hear from customers.

WTA player Quinn Gleason credits the RTP dampener with helping her come back from injury and stay healthy through a full tour schedule.

My honest take

A dampener isn’t a magic fix, and it doesn’t replace a good racquet setup, the right strings and tension, or solid technique. (Stop by and we’ll help with all three!) But for me, the RTP ShockSorb has made a real difference in how my arm feels after a long session.

At $22, it’s a small price to pay for more years of actually playing tennis. When your arm isn’t taking as much of a beating every session, you finish feeling fresher, you recover faster, and the aches don’t pile up into something that keeps you off the court for months. And if you’re just starting out like many of you in our beginners’ track, building good habits now means you get to enjoy this sport for a long, long time.

More on arm-friendly setups:

• Best Arm-Friendly Tennis Strings in 2026
• Tennis String Tension Guide 2026: What Most Players Get Wrong
• When to Restring Your Tennis Racquet
• Racquet stringing at My Tennis Wall in Houston Heights

Where to get one

You can pick up an RTP ShockSorb dampener at the front desk or online at our pro shop: RTP ShockSorb Dampener V3.0 at My Tennis Wall ($22)

Prefer a softer feel? Grab the RTP ShockSorb UltraSoft instead.

Ask me about it next time you’re in. I’m always happy to talk arms, strings, and keeping you on the court.

See you on the court,

Emma

FAQ

Do tennis dampeners reduce the vibration that reaches your arm?

Traditional ones don’t seem to. Independent studies (Hennig 2004, Stroede 1999, and Cheng) found they change the sound and feel of the ball coming off your strings but don’t reduce the vibration that actually reaches your arm. The RTP ShockSorb V3 is built differently, with a soft Sorbothane core inside a tough plastic shell.

What’s the difference between the RTP ShockSorb Original and UltraSoft?

The Original has a firmer feel that keeps more “pop” and comes in black or white. The UltraSoft has a softer, more cushioned feel and comes in a bunch of colors. Both are $22 at My Tennis Wall.

What does RTP report about pain relief?

RTP reports that 75% of players who switched to its dampener felt pain relief, and 43% said their tennis elbow or wrist pain went away completely. Those numbers come from RTP’s own customer feedback, not an independent clinical study. A dampener isn’t a magic fix and doesn’t replace a good racquet setup, the right strings and tension, or solid technique.

Where can I buy an RTP ShockSorb in Houston?

At the front desk at My Tennis Wall, 640 W 6th St in Houston Heights, or online at shop.mytenniswall.com for $22.

Emma Nguyen is a master racquet technician at My Tennis Wall in Houston Heights and has strung hundreds of racquets.