When Should You Wear Groin Guards?

At Sports Maxx, we are proud to supply equipment to anyone pursuing sports as a pastime, to help their physical or mental health, or as a career. Realistically there can be dangers that can affect any participant in sports, especially contact sports. That is why there is a myriad of protective equipment so sports can be practised and played safely.

One of these pieces of equipment is the groin guard. In this article, we will be answering the question ‘when should you wear groin guards?’

What is a groin guard? Why is it needed?

A groin guard is usually a form of belt or strap which also gives padded protection to the groin area. As the groin area is the centre for reproduction in men and women, this area is extremely sensitive to pain, with permanent damage being easier to suffer due to the heightened sensitivity of the area and its components.

Don’t be mistaken, getting hit whilst wearing a groin guard will still hurt, but should significantly reduce the damage sustained.

Groin guards are only recommended if you intend to spar or fight professionally, if the extent of your fighting training is hitting pads or a punchbag, it is not needed.

Do boxers wear groin guards?

As boxing is a sport in which the fighters are only punching above the waist, why do boxers wear groin guards?

This is because there is always a possibility of a “low blow” or a hit to the lower regions, if done purposely or repeatedly this can result in a point deduction or disqualification. For the recipient, it could mean temporary or permanent damage depending on the severity of the punches.

Without a groin guard, low blows can prove to be particularly dangerous.

So do female boxers wear groin guards?

Yes, they do, for the same reasons as their male counterparts. Protecting the pelvic floor and genitals is essential in maintaining a level of safety whilst doing contact sports.

Do UFC fighters wear groin guards?

Yes. As UFC involves the usage of mixed martial arts, aside from punches as you would find in boxing, the use of elbows, knees, legs and feet is permitted. In addition, grappling is permitted. This significantly increases the potential for a groin injury thus the need to wear a groin guard.

How to wear a groin guard

How to use a groin guard is quite simple, the size of the guard is relative to your waist size, though specifications may be different for each brand so be sure to check with them before purchasing.

After this, it’s a case of aligning the guard with your groin so that you can move optimally and comfortably. If the fit is constricting your lower region, the guard is too small. If it’s too loose the guard may be too big.

We strongly recommend you get a groin guard that fits your properly, wearing the wrong size can result in further injury and sub-optimal protection.

Take a look at our protective equipment range here. Got questions on what the best brand is for boxing equipment? Our blog has you covered.

Protection and training equipment

Alongside selling groin guards, we at Sports Maxx supply a whole medley of protective equipment, below we will share some of our options and what they can do for you.

Head Guard

A head guard provides protection to the head, temple and chin for anybody engaging in contact sports where you have to spar against one another. The padding will reduce the pain and damage from an impact taken to the head. We always recommend the use of a head guard unless you are having a professional fight where head guards are not worn.

Gel chest guard body protector

The gel chest guard body protector is worn as a vest, though this vest is reinforced, which grants protection to the chest, stomach, sides and back.

The function of this vest is usually employed by a trainer, the trainer will allow you to hit the parts being protected by the vest. In time this can help you increase your precision and technique. Taking hits whilst wearing the vest can also aid in conditioning.

Maxx boxing metal groin

The metal groin guard we offer is a groin guard that uses metal rather than leather, with coverage only being prominent at the groin itself.

Aside from protective equipment, we also offer equipment to help your development in Boxing/MMA, whether you are a beginner or a professional, we can guarantee using this equipment consistently will help you improve.

Maxx Inspire curved focus pads with gloves and free hand wraps

Our Pad, glove and handwrap set is a perfect option for any beginner.

Hand wraps are going to stabilise your knuckles, wrists and hands, whilst the boxing gloves will cushion your hands from the punches you throw.

Boxing gloves come in different weights, we suggest starting with a lightweight, once you are able to punch freely without your shoulders aching, this means your arms and shoulder muscles have developed to become accustomed to moving with that weight. At this point, you have the option to buy a heavier pair of gloves to further develop your strength and speed.

Maxx gel kick shield strike pad

The kick shield we offer provides a safe way to condition your shins and feet, whilst developing your kicking technique. This piece of equipment should be used with a partner present. It can be held at different heights in order to test and develop your kicking flexibility.

Holding this pad to help someone train their kicks has the side-benefit of the holder also getting conditioning, though at a far smaller degree due to most of the impact being absorbed by the shield.

The reason you should have a kick shield specifically for kicks, and not use focus pads for kicks is that kicking generally has more force and destructive capability. Kick shields have a wide surface area specifically to absorb the impact of a kick.

The surface area of a focus pad is in accordance with the size of our hands which is generally a lot smaller than the feet.

Maxx grip training fight socks

Grip training fight socks provide a vital benefit for anybody who has issues being barefoot on smooth surfaces. Ideal for anybody with hyperhidrosis or extremely dry feet. These socks will grant you the grip you need when training.

Even with prices soaring nationally, SportsMaxx acknowledges that getting started in the world of boxing can be expensive, with many pieces of equipment needed to make a significant impact. That’s why they offer a range of products at all different price points to accommodate everyone and do their part to make the sport more accessible to the majority.

We have many blogs citing equipment and practices that can help you develop your skills, take a read of our blog for some extra insightful information.

Do you need a groin guard?

If you are confused or unsure as to whether you need a groin guard or not, it is important to consider what your goals are when buying equipment for contact sports.

Is your goal to get active? If so, consulting a qualified coach who can help you is the first step, asking them what equipment you need to bring with you. If you aren’t sparring or looking to fight, a groin guard won’t be needed.

Are you looking to train at home? Training at home means the likelihood of you needing to use a groin guard is very low, as you won’t be facing anybody by sparring.

Are you trying to become a professional? If so, then a groin guard will be necessary, as the best way to learn how to box is to actually spar against somebody, and unfortunately, nobody can account for misplaced punches in the ring. They are usually accidents.

But it is better to be prepared just in case of a misplaced shot, rather than suffering acute damage that could be permanent.

Here to help you stay safe

We hope we have provided the answers to when you should wear a groin guard, whilst also helping understand its function and other protective gear we offer to help you perform safely.

A family-run business established in 2000, Sports Maxx is the UK’s top boxing equipment supplier. Find out more about Sports Maxx by visiting our website here.

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We sell a variety of products for your training needs, from adult punch bags, boxing gloves and hand wraps, to Speedballs and protective gear.

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