Sometimes, when they believe what they hear or see from the commercials, it is very difficult to persuade them. Some of my tennis mates deeply believe in string damper can help them a lot.
However, this is not the era of Nicolaus Copernicus or Galileo Galilei, the myth can be challenged.
The article about this myth I found in the Internet, I translated it into Chinese.
In case they can find some truth about this tiny damper from the Internet.
Researchers Question Racket Science
網球拍科技探究
A tennis racket accessory designed to prevent 'tennis elbow' does not work and serves no scientific purpose, University of Birmingham research reveals.
Current top ten players Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick both attach anti-vibration string dampers to their rackets - a plastic device invented to reduce racket frame vibration to the forearm in order to avoid injuries. But during a season when tennis equipment sales are particularly buoyant, Birmingham's study shows all dampers really do is alter the sound of the racket and provide players with a 'lucky' charm.
英國伯明罕大學研究揭露：網線避振器(網球拍上設計用來防止網球肘的小配件)，其實並無效用且無科學上的效果。
現今前十大網球員Rafael Nadal和Andy Roddick都有在他們的網球拍上裝上防止網線振動的避振器(一種塑膠製裝置用以減少網球拍傳至前臂的振動以避免傷害) 但當這一季網球用具銷售狀況特別看漲之時，伯明罕的研究表示所有避振器真實的效用只是改變球拍的聲音和成為球員的幸運符。
A study by Dr Francois-Xavier Li and Dr Mike Jenkins reports there is no difference between rackets with and rackets without dampers when it comes to reducing frame vibration transfer to the forearm. Their research concludes that dampers are too small in comparison to the tennis racket to absorb the vibrations.
由兩位博士Francois-Xavier Li和Mike Jenkins的研究執告指出有無裝置減振器的球拍，在減少球拍傳到前臂上的振動上並無不同。他們的研究總結為:減振器相對於球拍來說太小以至於無法吸收振動。
" String dampers do not reduce the amount of racket frame vibration received in the forearm. They remain a popular accessory among tennis players because of their acoustic effects and psychological support rather than any mechanical advantage," said Dr Li, of the university's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences. Dampers act on the racket strings like a light touch of a finger affects the high frequency vibration of a guitar string. The low damaging vibrations pass through, but the high audible though harmless vibrations are stopped.
體育運動科學系的Li博士說：“減振器並無法減少前臂吸收自球拍傳來的振動，多數的球員仍持續使用此一裝置，是因為它能改變球拍撞擊的聲音和心理上的作用更甚於其物理上的優勢”。減振器在球拍上的作用就像手指輕觸吉它弦時所導致的高頻振動，低損振動通過，但是高音頻經由無害的振動而停止。
Invented in 1960 by legendary tennis ace Rene Lacoste, anti-vibration string dampers are a popular part of tennis kit. Andre Agassi famously used rubber bands as a string damper on his racket during his Wimbledon reign while today the likes of Lleyton Hewitt and Martina Hingis are also fans of the damper, along with thousands of tennis players at all levels across the world.
Although there is no scientific basis to support the use of the device, Dr Li is quick not to dismiss the psychological importance of the damper. He said:
由網球界傳奇人物ace Rene Lacoste於1960年發明，減振器一直是廣受歡迎的網球用具。Andre Agassi在他主宰溫布頓時，非常喜愛在他的球拍上使用橡皮筋當作減振器，如同今日Lleyton Hewitt和Martina Hingis和世界上多數不同等級的網球員一般，亦是減振器的愛用者。儘管此一裝置並無科學上的原理支持，Li博士並不急著否定減振器在心理層面的重要性。
"Some professional tennis players may use lucky devices to increase their confidence. However, the colour and the shape of the device, as well as the manufacturer's logo may be more important than any of its claimed mechanical properties."
他說：“某些職業網球員會使用一些幸運裝置以增進其自信心，然而，減振器的顏色和外型就如同製造商的商標一樣，可能比他們宣稱的任何物理功用還來的更重要吧！”
Ends
Media Information: Anna Dingley, University of Birmingham Press Officer: 0121 4158134/07769 952763, email a.j.dingley@bham.ac.uk
Ben Hill, University of Birmingham Press Officer: 0121 4145134/07789 921165, email benjamin.r.hill@bham.ac.uk
www.bham.ac.uk
Notes to Editor
String vibration dampers do not reduce racket frame vibration transfer to the forearm was published in the Journal of Sports Sciences in 2004 by Dr Francois-Xavier Li, D Fewtrell and Dr Mike Jenkins
《網線減振器並不會減少球拍傳導至前臂的振動》由博士Francois-Xavier Li, D Fewtrell 和博士Mike Jenkins發表於2004年《體育科學期刊》
