A stringed racquet vibration dampener made of an elastomeric, energy absorbing material having a unitary body construction. The vibration dampener has vertical and horizontal bores extending through the unitary body that fully enclose the racquet strings. The bores are sized to string gauge and spaced according to a string pattern of the racquet. The vibration dampener is permanently installed when the racquet is strung. This new approach provides improved vibration dampening and facilitates maintenance of a proper racket string spacing. The dampener will not move or slip off the racquet during play.

A monofilament string for use in string racket sports, wherein the monofilament string comprises: a covering material; a core material embedded in the covering material, wherein the core material comprises: a sea region comprising a thermoplastic elastomer; and a plurality of island regions comprising a thermoplastic plastic doped with one or more doping agents, wherein the plurality of island regions is embedded in the sea region; and wherein a geometry and/or a distribution of the island regions in the sea region is such that a tangent modulus of a stress-strain curve of the monofilament string increases with increasing strain in a playing stress range.

A monofilament string for use in string racket sports, wherein the monofilament string comprises: a covering material; a core material embedded in the covering material, wherein the core material comprises: a sea region comprising a thermoplastic elastomer; and a plurality of island regions comprising a thermoplastic plastic doped with one or more doping agents, wherein the plurality of island regions is embedded in the sea region; and wherein a geometry and/or a distribution of the island regions in the sea region is such that a tangent modulus of a stress-strain curve of the monofilament string increases with increasing strain in a playing stress range.

A method of manufacturing a string 10 for use in a racket includes: (A) preparing an untreated string; and (B) irradiating the untreated string with radioactive rays. Preferably, the untreated string is irradiated with gamma rays. A preferable irradiation amount of the radioactive rays is greater than or equal to 250 kGy but less than or equal to 2000 kGy. Preferably, a material of the untreated string is polyester. Alternatively, the material of the untreated string may be nylon.

A method of manufacturing a string 10 for use in a racket includes: (A) preparing an untreated string; and (B) irradiating the untreated string with radioactive rays. Preferably, the untreated string is irradiated with gamma rays. A preferable irradiation amount of the radioactive rays is greater than or equal to 250 kGy but less than or equal to 2000 kGy. Preferably, a material of the untreated string is polyester. Alternatively, the material of the untreated string may be nylon.

A grommet of a racket includes a tubular portion. The tubular portion has a through hole through which a string is passed. The through hole has a base-side opening, a side wall, and a tip-side opening. In the tip-side opening, an inner dimension in a direction parallel to a face is larger than an inner dimension in a direction perpendicular to the face. In the tubular portion, the string is in contact with the side wall from the base-side opening to the tip-side opening.

A grommet of a racket includes a tubular portion. The tubular portion has a through hole through which a string is passed. The through hole has a base-side opening, a side wall, and a tip-side opening. In the tip-side opening, an inner dimension in a direction parallel to a face is larger than an inner dimension in a direction perpendicular to the face. In the tubular portion, the string is in contact with the side wall from the base-side opening to the tip-side opening.

Biodegradable strings, for example, for use in racquet sports, fishing line, and trimming line, are described. The biodegradable string includes a petroleum based material and a biodegradable additive blended with the petroleum based material. The petroleum based material may be nylon, polyester, or polyurethane, and the biodegradable additive may be less than 5% of the racquet string by weight. The biodegradable string may include one or more filaments containing the biodegradable additive. The biodegradable string may be of a round, hexagonal, heptagonal, or octagonal shape, and may be capable of withstanding high tension.

Biodegradable strings, for example, for use in racquet sports, fishing line, and trimming line, are described. The biodegradable string includes a petroleum based material and a biodegradable additive blended with the petroleum based material. The petroleum based material may be nylon, polyester, or polyurethane, and the biodegradable additive may be less than 5% of the racquet string by weight. The biodegradable string may include one or more filaments containing the biodegradable additive. The biodegradable string may be of a round, hexagonal, heptagonal, or octagonal shape, and may be capable of withstanding high tension.

The present invention relates generally to the field of rackets. More specifically, the present invention relates to racket device. The device is primarily comprised of frame with at least one string, a handle, and at least one grommet. The device has at least one angled string area that has at least one string that is received by the grommet. Said angled string area does not sit in plane with the frame and other strings of the device. Due to the angled positioning of the angled string area, a ball is prevented from hitting the frame of the device, thereby preventing mishits.