The science of shock absorption
Sorbothane®
A viscoelastic polymer trusted by NASA for vibration isolation. When impact hits Sorbothane®, the energy is absorbed and converted to heat — it doesn't bounce back into your joints. RTP uses it in our Dampeners and Heel Pads to cut the repetitive shock that leads to tennis elbow and heel pain.
ShockSorb® V3 absorbs 94.7% of vibration — clinically measured.
The Technology
94.7% shock absorption. Proven by NASA.
Engineered for pain relief
NASA-grade Sorbothane® stops low-frequency shock that standard dampeners miss. Swing hard without the pain.
Report measurable pain relief within 2 weeks · NASA vibration isolation reference: originally developed for space applications where mechanical vibration isolation was mission-critical.
Shop the technology
Products built on this technology
ShockSorb® Dampener V3 Ultrasoft
$34.99Product Highlight
Vibration intensity dampening
Vibration frequency tuning
Structural impact dispersal
Total string bed contact
Heel Pad XC
$28.99Product Highlight
High hysteresis
Gradual deceleration
Permanent cushion
Full session stability
The Material
What is Sorbothane®?
A viscoelastic polymer
Originally engineered for industrial vibration control and shock absorption — not ordinary rubber or foam.
Converts impact to heat
Absorbs energy on contact and disperses it as heat instead of bouncing it back into your body.
Not a bounce, not a rebound
Concrete bounces a ball, foam springs it back — Sorbothane® absorbs the impact and the energy is simply gone.
Truly viscoelastic
Behaves like a viscous liquid and an elastic solid at once, dispersing energy across a wide frequency range.
Why It Works
Stop arm pain with Sorbothane® vibration control
Targets the vibrations you can't hear
Impact under 100 Hz travels straight from wrist to elbow, accumulating over hundreds of hits.
Absorbs, doesn't just mute
Standard dampeners quiet the sound. RTP's Sorbothane dampener physically absorbs the specific frequencies that cause joint pain.
Built for long-term protection
Reduces cumulative impact stress on off-center hits — a preventative tool alongside proper technique, not a cure for existing injury.
How It Protects
Sorbothane® Protection From the Ground Up
2–3x body weight, every step
Ground reaction force travels from heel to hip, causing plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and joint degeneration over time.
Foam rebounds — that's the problem
Standard foam “bottoms out” or springs energy back into your body, forcing your joints to absorb the shock.
Converts shock to heat, not rebound
The Heel Pad XC's Sorbothane® core dissipates impact instead of bouncing it back.
Ultra-thin, zero heel-height change
Fits seamlessly into any shoe for tennis, pickleball, or running.