How to Choose a Protective Cup for Sports

Protective cups may be the most important piece of sporting equipment for men. Making a choice when it comes to the right protective cup for you and your sport is the difference between protecting yourself properly and wasting a few dollars while putting yourself at risk.

Instructions

1. Choose between the older Banana or Bike cups which are pointed and the newer contoured cups that provide better volume and protection. If you play a sport like soccer or baseball that requires a considerable amount of running (and has a lower risk of getting hit) then go for the traditional models. If, on the other hand, you play a contact sport that is more about staying in place (such as boxing), go for a tucked-under contoured cup.

2. Check out cups made specially for the sports you play, such as the Martial Arts cup designed for its namesake sport or the Jofa Hockey Cup which is suitable for both ice and field hockey. If you play a particularly high risk position such as a hockey goalie, then look at specially designed protective cups for your position and sport.

3. Pick the right size from the standard boys, intermediate and men's sizing. The intermediate size is made for young adolescent men between ages 11 and 15. The boys size cup is suitable for athletes younger than the range, while the men's cup is good for sports players who are older.

4. Consider how often and for how many years you plan to use your protective cup so you can decide between the various ranges of quality and price. Full groin guards, such as the one made by Adidas, are at the high end of the price scale while general sports cups by Under Armour are more moderately priced.