Close-up of swirling liquid with a dark background Close-up of swirling liquid with a dark background

The Shock Absorption Trusted by NASA

Sorbothane®

Sorbothane® is a viscoelastic polymer used by NASA for vibration isolation. RTP uses the same material for Dampeners and Heel Pads to reduce harmful impact shock athletes.
Close-up of blue fibers with a blurred background
Close-up of blue fibers with a blurred background

What is Sorbothane®?

Sorbothane® is a viscoelastic polymer—a highly engineered material originally developed for industrial vibration control and shock absorption applications.

Here's what makes it fundamentally different from ordinary rubber or foam:

When impact energy hits Sorbothane®, the material absorbs it and converts it to heat. The energy doesn't bounce back into your body—it disappears.

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What is Sorbothane®?

Think of it this way: Drop a ball on concrete, and it bounces. Drop it on a sponge, and it compresses then pushes back. Drop it on Sorbothane®, and the impact is absorbed and dissipated. The energy is gone.

This isn't marketing language. It's molecular behavior. Sorbothane®'s internal structure allows it to deform under stress, then slowly return to shape while dispersing energy across a wide frequency range. That's what "viscoelastic" means: it behaves like a viscous liquid and an elastic solid at the same time, depending on the speed and type of force applied.

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Stop arm pain with Sorbothane® vibration control

Tennis ball impact creates dangerous low-frequency vibrations (below 100 Hz) that you can't hear but can feel. These forces travel through the wrist directly to the elbow, accumulating over hundreds of hits. This repetitive stress is a leading cause of tennis elbow and joint strain.

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Stop arm pain with Sorbothane® vibration control

Sound Muting vs. Shock Standard dampeners only mute the sound, but RTP Sorbothane dampeners physically absorb the specific frequencies that cause joint pain.

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Stop arm pain with Sorbothane® vibration control

Support for Long-Term HealthA high-performance dampener improves comfort and protects your joints by reducing cumulative impact stress, especially on off-center hits. While it is a vital preventative tool for long-term health, it should be used alongside proper technique, as it cannot cure existing injuries or fix mechanical errors.

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Sorbothane® Protection From the Ground Up

The Invisible StrainEvery step sends a force 2–3x your body weight directly into your joints. This Ground Reaction Force (GRF) travels from your heels to your hips, causing repetitive stress that leads to plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and joint degeneration. Stop the damage before it accumulates.

Sorbothane® Protection From the Ground Up

The Flaw in Standard Foam"Springy" doesn't mean "Safe." Standard foam insoles often "bottom out" or reflect energy back into your body as elastic rebound. This returned energy forces your joints to handle the shock, significantly increasing your risk of injury during long sessions.

Sorbothane® Protection From the Ground Up

The Sorbothane® EdgeMaximum protection, minimum bulk. The RTP Heel Pad XC uses advanced Sorbothane® to convert impact into harmless heat—not rebound. Its ultra-thin profile fits seamlessly into any shoe, providing elite shock absorption for tennis, pickleball, and running without changing your heel height.