Ultralight AMuscle dampener reduces vibration to improve tennis play

Djokovic, Nadal, Sharapova and Williams – all four of these legends use dampers in their tennis rackets. Dampers, also known as shock absorbers, are small pads made of rubber or silicone that are attached between the strings of the club to reduce vibration. And now they can also be created through additive manufacturing. Italian startup Additive Appliances has created a patented silencer with 3D printing. Called AMbelievable, it is particularly impressive due to its innovative functionality, material, durability and customizability.

The Turin-based startup has set its goal to actively shape the next era of consumer goods. According to them, the consumer goods of the future must be customized, durable and efficient to improve everyday life. And for a young company, one thing is certain: this cannot be done without additives! With the AMbelievable tennis dampener, the startup is launching a product for all tennis players of all levels that improves their game and prevents injuries.

Italian company Additive Appliances specializes in the manufacture of consumer products and launches AMbelievable, an innovative tennis cushion (photos: Additive Appliances)

When the tennis ball hits the strings during the stroke, this creates a vibration that is transmitted through the strings to the body of the racket. The vibration is transmitted to the player’s limbs and can increase their fatigue and contribute to injuries such as the dreaded tennis elbow. Dampers can reduce vibration at certain frequencies, but not all dampers are created equal and often the player has to do extensive testing to find the right material for them. However, some dampers lead to a loss of feel and therefore control of the ball. Some players therefore do without a suppressor and accept the risk of injury. With the AMbelievable Tennis Racket Dampener, Additive Appliances offers a product that dampens only certain vibrations and improves feel.

AMbelievable damping dampens vibration with a special 3D printed geometry

The typical vibration profile of a tennis racket has three main vibrations: low frequencies (100-120 Hz) belong to the body of the racket, medium frequencies (250-350 Hz) and high frequencies (around 650-750 Hz) occur depending on the type and tension of the string. Not all their frequencies are bad. In addition, thanks to AMbelievable’s topology, vibrations can be selectively dampened, which enables a completely new gaming experience. However, frequency dispersion is only one factor here. The damper allows for a more even center of mass and reduces drag, which improves aerodynamics.

AMbelievable damper selectively dampens vibrations (photos: Additive Appliances Srl)

In addition, the AMbelievable damper is 70% lighter than conventional dampers and weighs only about 1 g. This is due to the complex geometry that can only be achieved with 3D printing. The internal structure takes up only 10-40% of the total volume. As for the material, the manufacturer relies on a powder form of elastomer TPU instead of rubber or silicone and SLS 3D printing. The choice of recyclable material goes hand in hand with the company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

As we already know from other sports products, another unbeatable advantage of 3D printing is its customizability. This is also one of the advantages of the AMbelievable silencer. After all, the racket, the suspension and the playing style affect the vibration during hitting. The AMbelievable damper can therefore be tailored to each player with these parameters in mind. Additive manufacturing means that it can be printed to order at any time by filling in the necessary information when ordering. The sheet is currently available around 20. You can find more information HERE.

What do you think of the AMbelievable Tennis Damper? Let us know in a comment below or on our site LinkedIn, Facebookand Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our website YouTube channel.

*Cover photo credits: Pixabay