Home » TI magazine » Clothing » Apparel: Support on the Court

Apparel: Support on the Court

By Cynthia Sherman

Everything about tennis has become technical — from racquets to shoes and apparel — so it figures that sports bras have become the next product category to undergo the same transformation and innovation.

Many tops and dresses now come with the convenience of built-in “bras” for the female player, but some court warriors seek better structure and support for what has become a physically demanding game. Here are a variety of sport bras for today’s active women — most of which are geared to greater support than your average sports bra. Some players will want to wear them strictly for activewear, while some may transition them from the court to the gym and everyday wear.

Moving Comfort

The company Moving Comfort has long been a staple in the sports bra category for different activities. Its most supportive Jubralee Bra attaches hook and loop style in the back and offers maximum support for players who leap for lobs and run the court. The front adjustable straps offer comfort and the seam-free molded cups are best for women seeking compression and encapsulation. 800-763-6000/movingcomfort.com

CW-X

CW-X is the performance sports apparel branch of intimate apparel maker Wacoal. Its sports bras are known for their “anatomically engineered high performance.” The VersatX Support Bra offers strong support with adjustable Velcro shoulder straps and hook and clasp back closure. Mesh and CoolMax/Lycra provide ventilation and moister-wicking. Available in different cup configurations, it is suitable for high to low impact activities. info@cw-x.com

Champion

Champion’s Spot Comfort High Support T-hole back bra has comfortable, adjustable gel-cushioned straps, moisture-wicking and mesh panels for cooling ventilation, non-chafe seams and hook and eye closure. 800-999-2249/championusa.com

PureLime

PureLime’s bras have won awards for design and function, and its technical moisture-wicking fabrics, comfortable padded shoulder straps and molded seam-free cups are favorites among female athletes. The company introduced a compression sports bra that has a built-in heart-rate sensor on the inside of the elastic, so there is no separate annoying sensor strap to deal with. The sensors are also compatible with snap interface transmitters from other sports technology brands. 516-468-1722/purelime.com

Saucony

Saucony is a runner’s favorite known for comfort and good support. Featured here is the company’s Ignite LT Bra, which comes in a racer-back design with moisture-wicking and mesh inserts for breathability. 800-282-6575/saucony.com

Under Armour

Under Armour, known for detail and performance, has moved into the sports bra arena in a serious way. The racerback Armour Bra “B” has removable perforated molded cups for support and shape. It offers a more customized fit and mesh ventilation for cooling in a variety of band and cup sizes. 888-727-6687/underarmour.com

See all articles by Cynthia Sherman

About the Author

Cynthia Sherman is a contributing editor for Tennis Industry magazine.

From the March 2012 issue
Permalink