What is the Best Volleyball Sports Bra?

A spirited volleyball match will put the best sports bras and other athletic apparel to the test. This high-impact sport is extremely physical, and, at the professional level, it requires peak athletic ability and fitness. It also demands that your athletic apparel is up to the task. For women, this means wearing a sports bra that is designed for high-impact activities. Whether you need a beach volleyball sports bra or you play on an indoor court, bra design and performance are critical factors that can impact your game.

Women’s Volleyball Sports Bras – What are the Requirements?

Volleyball is a game that involves sudden movements and a great deal of flexibility. Therefore, a sports bra for volleyball must provide adequate control, especially for women with large bust sizes. All athletic apparel should wick sweat away from the body so that players stay cool. The fabric must also dry quickly. Staying dry is especially important for a beach volleyball sports bra that will be used under the heat of the sun. 

Women’s volleyball sports bras must be able to:

• Stop breast motion

• Stay securely in place without shifting or “riding up”

• Wick away sweat from the body and not hold onto moisture

• Provide full coverage, even for women with large cup sizes

• Not irritate skin with zippers or other hardware that can cause chafing

• Be extremely comfortable

A Few Words About Volleyball’s Stylish Tops

If you’re on a women’s team, players will be wearing tops with their team name and number, made to coordinate with other gear. A sports bra can be worn underneath for maximum comfort and protection. For casual games, players may want to wear tops with the latest styles. You may see tops and sports bras with chic designs that are sold for dance and other athletic activities, but they may not work well for high-impact sports. Fortunately, it is possible to find a sports bra that is just as stylish as those minimalist tops but offers far more control. A beach volleyball sports bra is the perfect solution for summer games.

Professional Indoor Versus Beach Volleyball Sports Bra – Is There a Difference?

In terms of both rules and clothing requirements, volleyball played on an indoor court and volleyball games at the beach are very different, though every game involves a high level of athletic ability. Both styles of the game require sports bras made from moisture-wicking material, although this is more important in blazing sunlight than it is in an air-conditioned gymnasium. Indoors, the court surface is solid and uniform, and the players are wearing sneakers. On the beach, players will go barefoot or perhaps use special sand socks. While sand is softer than a hard floor, there will still be a significant impact that warrants the use of a beach volleyball sports bra that controls breast motion. And, the sports bra should fit tight enough to keep sand out.

What is the Best Sports Bra Design to Minimize Breast Motion?

Women's breasts move in various directions --up-and-down, side-to-side and in-and-out. Running generates the up/down motion, while volleyball causes movement in all directions. All of this motion can cause pain, because it puts a strain on the Cooper's ligaments that help support the breasts. In time, this repeated motion might even break down breast tissue.

Compression and encapsulation are two methods that are commonly used to reduce breast motion. The problem is, they don't work, because they only stop a small degree of the movement. 

Compression bras press breasts against the body. They don't provide much control for side-to-side or up/down movement. Women with a smaller cup size may have limited success with these types of bras for low-impact activities, like walking. For everything (and everyone) else, this isn't enough. 

Encapsulation sports bras have separate cups and typically an underwire structure. A bra with separate cups may fit one breast perfectly, but not the other one, because most women’s breasts are asymmetrical. Women’s breasts also have unique shapes and sizes. Cups that are too small or too big won't provide adequate coverage or effective support. 

Women who have a larger cup size and need additional help might try a padded bra or they might even wear a second bra underneath a sports bra for more protection. But the only effective way to stop the motion is with control. 

The SugarShock® sports bra from SugarSports is completely different in the realm of athletic apparel. It uses a patented Shock Band, specifically sewn into every bra, that performs like a shock absorber to keep breast weight down, absorb momentum and displace the energy around the body. This is the only method that stops breast motion.    

The SugarShock Sports Bra Difference

SugarSports has designed a next-generation sports bra that is specially made for high-impact sport activities and to provide an effective solution for women with larger cup sizes. The SugarShock® sports bra combines control, comfort and style to create the perfect court and beach volleyball sports bra. It can be worn on its own or under a stylish volleyball top.

• Patented shock band – Provides control for significantly reduced breast motion (nearly 70% in university tests)

• Moisture-wicking fabric – Keeps players dry and cool

• Wide shoulder straps – Secure, yet won’t dig into neck and shoulders

• Snug rib cage band– Comfortable, yet stays in place; won’t restrict movement or ride up your ribcage

• Longer front panel – Has added material for better coverage

• Modern and stylish – Available in black, white, blue and pink – some featuring a pocket on the back

• Highly versatile - Can be used for various activities, from low-impact yoga to a high-impact sport like running or volleyball

• Available in standard industry sizes – Each size is slightly longer in the body to accommodate larger breast sizes

SugarShock. It Feels Different Because It Is Different.®