How to Choose a Sports Bra for Tennis

Finding the right sports bra for tennis or any of your other activities can seem like a finding a needle in a haystack. A good sports bra will help keep breast movement to a minimum and keep you feeling comfortable without any rubbing or chafing, but with so many options and styles, where do you start? We hope this guide will help you find the best bra to wear while playing tennis.

Get the right fit

As you start the hunt for the perfect bra, get prepared by knowing your size. If you know your everyday bra size, that's a good place to start.

Signs your bra fits well

• Breasts sit comfortably inside the cup. If there is "spillage," it's likely too small. If there are gaps, the bra is too big.
• Straps sit snuggly but do not dig in or slide off. If they are digging in, the cups maybe too small. You may need a larger size. If they're sliding off your shoulders, the bra is likely too big.
• Chest band sits flush. If it's rolling up, the sports bra might be too small.

If you don't know your bra size or just want to make sure, you can easily figure out your correct bra size at home. Here's a quick guide on this two-step process.

You'll want a flexible measuring tape to start. You'll start by measuring around your chest to find your band size. Place the tape just below the armpits for an accurate measurement. Next, you'll measure around the fullest part of the bust. Round up to the nearest whole inch. Lastly, you'll subtract the band size from the bust measurement then refer to the chart below to determine your cup size.

Bust measurement - Band measurement = Cup size

Just like jeans, sports bras fit differently from brand to brand. You can check the brand's sizing charts to make sure you're picking the right size.

Some terms to know

At Tennis Only, we'll offer bra details to help you determine which kind of bra you're looking at. Let's go through some of the bra terminology.

• Shelf bra: You'll see us use this term on most built-in bras. These are a basic bra with no shaping or cups (although some accommodate removable pads). They are typically single layer with an elastic band around the chest. They offer modesty but aren't usually the most supportive bras.
• Compression: These bras are much like the shelf bra, although at Tennis Warehouse we typically would reserve this term for standalone bras rather than those that are built-in. These are the classic sports bras. Like shelf bras, these bras do not have built-in shaping but may have removable cups. They are usually double layered fabric and offer moderate support.
• Encapsulated: These sports bras offer more support and shaping. Cups are integrated into the bra to support each breast individually. All of the sports bras we carry at Tennis Warehouse feature soft molding without metal underwires for comfort during tennis and workouts.
• Convertible Straps: These straps can be switched from an open back style to a criss cross style. They usually have hooks on the back that allow you to change the style.
• Adjustable: On our bra detail guides, we'll list whether a bra is adjustable. We'll note whether the band is adjustable, which is a feature you'll typically see on the most supportive bras, or if it's the straps are adjustable. Bonus if it's both!

Choosing your support level

On your sports bra purchasing journey, another thing to consider is your desired support level. At Tennis Warehouse, we put sports bras into three categories: high, medium and low. Think about how much you run on a tennis court; the more you like to the cover the court, the higher level support you'll probably want. Your cup size can also play a role into your support preferences, and maybe even whether you like to wear tanks with a built-in shelf bra could affect your choice.

Sports Bra Impact Level Guide

Strap style

Last but certainly not least is style! Feeling comfortable and supported is important, but we all know if we like the look too, it's an added confidence booster. These are the most common styles of sports bras:

• Racerback: The most classic of sports bra shape, the racerback comes in around the shoulder blades. The design is meant to offer you greater range of motion — perfect for tennis players! The cut of the racerback bra is great for tennis because it's the most popular tank top silhouette.
• Crossback: Like the name sounds, the straps of these types of bras crisscross on the back. These bras can offer a variety of support levels. The more supportive bras will have wider straps, whereas the thinner straps offer light support and cute style. The straps might even be adjustable. Crossback style bras are a great match with the strappier, spaghetti style tanks or those with cutouts on the back where you want to show off the fun straps of your sports bra.
• U Shape: Also classified as a tank top style, the straps of these sports bras are most similar to your everyday bras. These bras often come with adjustable bands for the chest and also with adjustable straps.