How to Put on an Athletic Cup

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 3, 2020

Wearing an athletic cup is important if you play contact sports. The key to successfully wearing an athletic cup is finding one that’s comfortable and fits properly. Whether you’re wearing the cup underneath a jockstrap or a pair of compression shorts, you should make sure the cup is firmly in place before you head onto the field.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Wearing a Cup and Jockstrap

1
Get a cup-style jockstrap that fits snugly. Check the packaging on the jockstrap to make sure it’s suitable for wearing a cup. Most jockstraps come in kid and adult sizes that are based on waist size. Don’t get a jockstrap that’s too large; an oversized jockstrap will prevent the athletic cup from being held firmly in place.
2
Put on the jockstrap. Slide each leg through one of the elastic leg straps and pull the jockstrap up to your waist. The waistband should rest on your waist and your genitals should be securely tucked into the front pouch on the jockstrap.
3
Slide the cup into the pouch at the front of the jockstrap. The narrower end of the cup should be facing downward, with the wider end up just below the waistband. Your penis and testicles should be completely inside the athletic cup; if they’re not, the cup may be too small.
4
Make sure the cup is firmly held in place by the jockstrap. Do some squats, lunges, or other movements to see if the cup is secure. If you feel your penis or testicles shifting around a lot in the cup, or the cup feels too loose, the cup may be too big. Don’t use an athletic cup that doesn’t fit.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Wearing a Cup and Compression Shorts

1
Get cup-style compression shorts. Compression shorts are thin, mid-thigh length shorts that can be worn underneath your uniform in place of underwear. Measure your waist size to determine which size you should get.
- Make sure the packaging on the compression shorts says they’re compatible with an athletic cup.
2
Put on the compression shorts. Compression shorts should be worn like regular underwear or biking shorts. Make sure the cup pouch on the shorts is facing forward and covering your genitals.
3
Pull the shorts waistband outward and slide the cup into the pouch. The narrow end of the cup should be facing down toward your feet, with the wider end of the cup resting below the waistband. Adjust the cup inside of the pouch so your penis and testicles are completely inside of it.
4
Check to see if the athletic cup is fit snugly in the pouch. Move around a bit or jog in place. The cup should feel like it’s being held firmly in place by the compression shorts; not so tight that it’s causing pain, and not so loose that your genitals and the cup are shifting around a lot. If the cup feels too tight or too loose, get a different size cup or a different size pair of compression shorts.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing an Athletic Cup

1
Get an athletic cup made of polymers or carbon fiber for protection. Check the packaging to see what the cup is made out of. Find a cup that lists polymers or carbon fiber as one of the main materials; they’ll help soften any blows to the groin by transferring the shock elsewhere.^{[1]
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2
Find an athletic cup that has gel-padded edges for a comfortable fit. Check the label to see if there are gel pads present on the cup; they’ll prevent the edges of the cup from scratching and irritating the skin.^{[2]
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3
Choose a machine-washable athletic cup for convenience. It should say right on the label whether the cup can be machine washed or not. Using a cup that can be washed in a machine will let you keep the cup clean and fresh without having to wash it by hand and air dry it.^{[3]
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4
Get an athletic cup in a size that corresponds with your waist size. Athletic cups are measured in waist sizes, so make sure you know your waist size before buying one. Use measuring tape to measure your waist if you’re not sure.^{[4]
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Community Q&A

Question

My cup gets quite stinky after exercise. Is this normal?

Community Answer

Of course! Men sweat a lot down there. Just wash it regularly if it bothers you, and always wash the jockstrap/shorts.
Question

Can I get one to make my penis not bulge?

Community Answer

There are some protective cups on the market that have a more narrow and shallow depth in design so that they fit closer to the body. These are not ideal when it comes to protecting the male anatomy in contact sports, law enforcement, or any other type of situation where the testicles are at risk of being struck. Most new and efficient designs in athletic cups are more domed, wider at the point and over all more deep in design because the purpose is to create a protective shield around the testicles and penis. More designers of protective athletic equipment are realizing that this design is more effective. Therefore, the larger, more bulging design of the cup, the more protective it is.
Question

Should my balls be fitted inside the pocket?

Community Answer

Yes. Otherwise, it's painful, and the cup becomes pretty useless.