Why Are Tennis Socks So High? (6 Important Reasons)
Whether you are a seasoned tennis player or a passionate fan, I imagine you have noticed that most tennis players use crew socks longer than the usual socks. There are many reasons why that is that you are about to find out.
Tennis socks, also known as crew socks, are high because they protect your ankles from cuts, keeps your leg and shoe clean of dirt, and absorbs sweat. Also, long tennis socks are more comfortable and professionally better looking. Long tennis socks can show the sponsor’s logos better as well.
There are many purposes for the height of tennis socks, and I personally like them far better than short socks. All the way!
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Contents
Why Are Tennis Socks So High?
Now, let’s take a closer look at each one of the perks so you can see why they really are so superior and used by the majority of tennis players.
1. For your protection
The first reason why tennis players like to wear long socks is the protection. Imagine when your socks are shorter than the sides of your shoes, and your ankles are wet from sweat.
It doesn’t take long when your ankles rub the sides of the shoe that cuts and rashes would appear and when that is combined with sweat and high temperatures, pain is guaranteed.
And even if it wouldn’t hurt, when you play on a dusty tennis court when you have small cuts on your ankles, it increases the possibility of infection, which could keep you off the court for far longer than ever anticipated. This is one of the reasons why you should say yes to crew socks when playing tennis!
2. Keeps the dirt out
As we all know, there are loose dirt and stuff on the tennis court regardless if you play on grass, artificial grass, clay, or hard court.
Dust, artificial turf, grass, or dirt isn’t wanted in your skin or shoes. Long tennis socks do a good job of minimizing the dirt that will get into your shoe, and they will also keep your ankles and whole feet cleaner, which is always a good thing.
3. Long socks absorb sweat
One feeling that I really hate that keeps my focus off the ball is slowly dripping sweat all the way to my ankles and shoes. This is why I curse myself whenever I forget to take long shoes on the court.
Anyways, long socks really do a great job of preventing that, and even when sweat is dripping from your thigh, it will stop at the start of your crew sock, which is far better than going all the way down to soak your shoes.
4. They are comfortable
We all have to agree that long socks are more comfortable than short ones? Whatever might be the best case for you, the majority thinks so, and so do I!
When the long socks keep the sweat away more efficiently, keep you clean off dirt, and protect your legs from cuts and other unpleasantness, it’s only natural that comfort will follow.
It’s also a mental game. Long socks keep your legs well covered in a soft sock, so you won’t only feel more comfortable physically but also more at home mentally.
5. Appearance is important
If there is one reason that you remember from this list, remember the appearance. Probably the number one reason why tennis players use crew socks is the looks.
As mentioned above, the far majority thinks that long socks look far better when playing tennis than shorts even though some people say that long socks look nerdy, but I’m not one of those people.
Long socks have been a part of tennis for a very long time, so there is an element of etiquette and history in too, which only makes long socks more known, used, and loved to the tennis world.
6. For the sponsors
Last but not least, sponsors like to use their reach in everything. Socks included.
One of the reasons why pro tennis athletes use long socks is their sponsors. When a player is sponsored, they use clothing and equipment that carries their brand, and the socks are one piece of advertisement real estate that the sponsors want to use.
Think about it, if the player would use short socks, the sponsor’s logos would be hardly visible, but when the socks are long, the logos will shine to the eyes of all that are watching.
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Is it important to wear tennis socks?
Wearing a quality pair of tennis socks is important because you will play well when you feel and look good. If you were to use short low-quality socks, you would more easily be distracted by sweat, dirt, rash on ankles, and lack of comfort. Therefore, high and quality tennis socks are important.
A good example of a great pair of tennis socks is the Thorlos Tennis Crew Socks. These socks are perfect for tennis because they are soft, comfortable, and have thicker cushioning on toes and lower feet, which increases durability and provides shock absorption. Thorlos crew socks are also great in absorbing sweat and long enough to keep the dirt and dust off your ankles.
I really love these socks above others!
How high should tennis socks be?
On average, tennis crew socks are 7 inches (18cm) above the shoe line. However, they often range from 6 inches (15cm) to 8 inches (20cm), and all socks of that range will be a great height for tennis socks. I wouldn’t go lower than that because then they won’t absorb sweat, keep the dirt out, and protect your ankles as well as longer ones will.
Are Compression Socks good for tennis players?
Compression socks have many benefits such as improves blood circulation, joint protection, muscle support, and keeps sweat at minimal levels. Compression socks are also really durable which is important because tennis can wear your socks out quite fast. Thus, compression socks are great for tennis.
Do tennis players wear two socks?
Depending on personal preferences, many tennis players choose to wear two pairs of socks. By wearing two pairs of socks, you will instantly notice increased comfort, especially in explosive movement changes, more support on the feet, and better protection on your ankles.
Wearing two pairs of socks is extremely helpful if you get blisters or cuts from the sides of the shoe easily, so if that’s the case, I highly recommend trying it in your next game!
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My Favorite Tennis Equipment
Thanks for reading this article. I hope it brought you great value that you can implement into your own life! Below you’ll find my top tennis equipment recommendations would like.
- Racket: My preferred tennis racket is the Wilson Ultra 100 V3. This racket is made from graphite and carbon fiber, making it durable, firm, and easy to swing. The racket weighs 300g, making it lightweight yet not too lightweight to generate power. The racket’s main benefit is power. I like to add multifilament strings to the racket, such as Wilson NXT Soft 16 (recommended tension 52lb/23.5kg), because they are comfortable and soft on the arm with a great feel to the game.
- Tennis balls: Best tennis balls are always pressurized, and I like them having extra-duty felt, which is fit for hard court play. I like Penn Championship Tennis Balls, and so does the ITF because these balls are approved for competitive play. So yes, these are the real deal.
- Tennis shoes: I can’t stress enough the importance of comfortable and supporting shoes. ASICS Gel-Resolution 8 tennis shoes are unique because the balance between durability and support mixed with comfort is something out of the ordinary.
- Fan Equipment: If you’re a fan more than a player, you don’t want to miss Fan Equipment by Fanatics. You can find items from various sports that bear your favorite team’s logo, such as jerseys, gift ideas, or other surprising things.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why tennis players use high socks, and personally, I love and recommend you to use ones as well. I really get a mental edge when I’m using long socks because I feel more at home with them, and quite frankly, I feel naked when using shorter socks.
Also, if you haven’t tried to use two pairs and are prone to blisters, you should definitely give it a try and see for yourself the great benefits.
All in all, I hope that this article was helpful to you and you now know that high socks are the best choice for most players, but if you feel more at home in shorter ones, there’s nothing wrong with that!
