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Vibration dampeners: do they do anything?
What those little rubber pieces in the strings actually do, what they do not, and why half the tour uses them and half does not.
It is the cheapest piece of tennis equipment and the most argued about. Short answer: they do something, just not what most people think.
What they do
A dampener reduces string vibration after impact. That changes the sound: instead of a sharp crack you get a duller thud. And it changes the buzz you feel in your hand.
What they do NOT do
They do not reduce the load reaching your arm. The vibration behind elbow problems comes from the frame, not the strings, and a dampener never touches the frame.
This matters because many people buy one thinking it will protect their elbow. What actually changes arm load is string type and tension. See how to prevent tennis elbow.
So should you use one?
It is pure preference. If the string crack bothers or distracts you, use one. If you like hearing the impact clearly because it tells you how you struck the ball, skip it. Neither choice will make you play better or worse.
Where it goes
Between the two central mains, below the lowest cross. Placing it higher, inside the hitting area, is against the rules and also interferes with the string bed where you actually make contact.