A jockstrap is an undergarment not usually seen. People often associate it with men’s locker rooms. It provides the wearer with support and protection for his precious genitalia. Male athletes used to wear jockstrap during sports competitions only. The use of a jockstrap is often required for many sports. These include boxing, baseball, football, fencing, martial arts, paintball, and more.
Today, it is a more versatile undergarment that men can wear daily. A jockstrap is always worn beneath lower-body sportswear such as shorts or bodysuits. Grown men reduce to a semi-fetal position when hit in the groin without proper protection. Recovering from such a blow can be very slow and agonizing.
Daily use
A jockstrap, aside from protecting men’s genitalia, also prevents serious groin strain. Many men now wear it while doing daily activities such as walking and carrying groceries. It now makes sense to wear it every day even when skateboarding with friends or strolling. Wearing a jockstrap over silk or nylon boxer shorts is often recommended by experts. It provides daily support while offering breathability to prevent chafing.
Parts of a jockstrap
The two elastic straps from the base of the pouch to both sides of the waistband keep the jockstrap in place. It has a support pouch to cradle a man’s scrotum against his body. There is a cup inside the pouch to confine the genitals and keep them out of harm’s way. A male’s genitals hang in place with delicate cord and sensitive muscle tissues. Shock or strain on the cord and tissues can result in mild to serious injury.
Optional cups provide extra protection for contact sports. These are often made of hard plastic or steel with perforations for ventilation. Soft cups are available for low contact sports. These are more flexible and comfortable. A flex cup variation has a hard exterior melded with a soft lining.
A compression cup or abdominal guard is a hard plastic cup that protects the male’s genitalia. Some jockstraps have a lined front pouch for the insertion of this cup. The compression cup is often constructed from high-density plastic with a padded edge. It has a shape that looks like a hollow half-pear.
Cups for combat sports have the waistband and straps attached to the cup. These are actually designed for men to wear over a regular jockstrap or briefs. Sports such as boxing use an oversized cup and jock combined into a single item. It has layered foam padding to protect the kidneys, groin, and abdomen.
