5 Best Ankle Braces for Tennis, Lacrosse, and Hockey

Ankle injuries are common among athletes and youths involved in sports like tennis, lacrosse, hockey, baseball, pickleball, etc.

Intense sports like these involve you taking faster action. Basically, your ankle and the foot region are the part that needs to stay active throughout the game for quick cutting and pivoting.

Constantly running, sliding, and jumping all take a huge toll on your body, but especially your ankles.

The bad part is that while sporting, you can get your ankle sprained due to twisting or rotating it. And when an ankle injury occurs, ligaments in the area are torn, which makes the injury quite painful.

Severe ankle injuries are not easy to recover from and can be the reason for you to lose your mobility during your game.

It is, therefore, best to keep your ankle protected by wearing an ankle brace for games like tennis, lacrosse, and hockey…

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5 Best Ankle Braces for Tennis and Lacrosse

If you have injured or sprained ankles before, there is a high chance that you may get injured again if you play without providing any support to your feet.

Ankle bracing during the sport not only controls the movement of your heel and forefoot but also reduces the chances of getting any ankle injuries.

Below, we have compiled a list of the best ankle guards that are good for players involved in sports such as tennis, lacrosse, ice hockey, snowboarding, and others.

Just check them out and pick the one that suits you best.

1- DonJoy Performance POD Ankle Brace

Donjoy Ankle Brace for Lacrosse and Tennis is another great brace that is best recommended for guarding your ankle while sporting.

Not only is it helpful in avoiding the injury, but also it is beneficial for curing injuries such as inversion ankle sprains, eversion ankle sprains, and unnatural ankle rotation.

This lightweight and low-profile designed brace easily fits into your shoe to provide extra support and comfort without the feel of bulkiness.

Some of the unique features that come along with this Donjoy brace include:

Fits in easily to any shoe or cleat
Uprights to provide extra protection during impact
Technology for ideal circumferential tibia/fibula compression

2- Zamst A2-DX Strong Support Ankle Brace

Tennis and Lacrosse players can now provide great support from this ankle brace since it gives protection from possible injuries like inversion, eversion sprain, bruising, etc.

This Zamst strong support ankle brace easily fits your ankle and is designed in a way to provide the best benefits of ankle tapping without any hassle.

This ankle protector for tennis is made up of high-quality moisture-wicking fabric which ensures that you are provided with maximum comfort with minimum irritation.

With an extra durable ankle guard, you can experience tight compression of ligaments and excellent protection from injuries.

3- Med Spec Ankle Stabilizer for Protection and Support

Med Spec Ankle Stabilizer is a wonderful ankle brace ideal for active sports like tennis, lacrosse, ice hockey, badminton, and others.

If you want to get back into playing tennis or any other high-impact sports after a series of ankle strains and sprains, you need to try out this Med Spec Ankle Stabilizer for greater support.

It supports the strained and sprained muscle and even prevents such things from happening on the ground.

While protecting the feet during the sport, the brace gives warmth, compression, and the needed support very efficiently to heal the ligaments and tendons.

4- Ultra Zoom Ankle Brace for Injury Prevention & Support

Ultra Zoom Ankle Brace by “Ultra Ankle” is another great option for supporting and preventing your ankle from getting any damage during the play.

The Ultra Zoom Ankle Brace is the most supportive and secure ankle brace that helps in preventing injuries for hours.

Far better than a lace-up brace or sleeve this supportive guard allows you to move freely in a most natural way without worrying about rolled ankle or spraining.

A few unique features that are included in this Ultra Zoom ankle brace are:

Can fit in your shoe to provide better support
Hinged design to allow a natural range of motion
Longer straps available for ultimate convenience

Ideal for players in the field, its high-quality material is the most durable and can serve you for years. You will just love to use it for years to come!

5- Z ATHLETICS Lace Up Ankle Brace for Women & Men

If your ankle has been silently plotting against your athletic progress, it’s time to outsmart it with the Z ATHLETICS Lace-Up Ankle Brace.

Think of this brace as a no-nonsense coach for your ankle—firm, supportive, and always in the right place when things get shaky.

What I appreciate in this Z ATHLETICS ankle brace for tennis, lacrosse, hockey, baseball, pickleball, & other sports recovery is how it blends serious support with everyday practicality.

Whether you’re sprinting on the court, pushing through long work shifts, or simply trying not to roll your ankle on uneven ground (we’ve all been there), this brace behaves exactly the way a good brace should—reliable, breathable, and zero drama.

Key features include:

Secure Support, Shoe-Friendly: Stays put without feeling bulky. Lace-up design + figure-8 straps = locked-in stability that fits inside most shoes.
Breathes When You Sweat: Air-mesh panels keep things cooler and drier during long practices or shifts.
Made To Go The Distance: Reinforced stitching and strong laces that don’t loosen mid-game; durable enough for volleyball, basketball, runs, and more.
True Fit, Less Guessing: Works for left or right. Follow the size chart—go smaller for max support, larger for comfort.
Easy Care, FSA/HSA Eligible: Hand-wash, air-dry, and ready to go. Can qualify for pre-tax savings.

My mentor tip? Don’t wait for the “next sprain” reminder. Support your ankle now so you can focus on playing, not limping.

Common Tennis Injuries and Prevention Tips

As tennis is not a contact sport, it is not a high-risk game. However, it is fast-paced, and players often sustain several injuries.

Here are some of the common tennis injuries and tips to prevent them:

1- Tennis Elbow

Excessive injury to the muscles and tendons near your outer elbow, majorly due to repeated wrist bending when using a tennis racket is called tennis elbow.

When you suffer from this problem, one or two tendons near the joints may get swollen, leading to pain and a burning sensation. Continuous practice aggravates the pain.

Prevention:

Make sure you warm up and cool down before beginning the game. Don, a supportive brace to lower the risk of getting a tennis elbow. Ensure the grip technique is right, and your racket is strung correctly.

2- Stress Fractures

A slight crack in your bone may occur because of repetitive motion.

Jumping, running, and using your hands repeatedly in tennis can stress your bones leading to fracture in the leg, back, hand or foot.

The fracture causes inflammation and pain, which worsens with time if left untreated.

Prevention:

The best prevention for stress fractures is to warm up and stretch before starting the game. Take breaks and do not increase your intensity altogether in the game. Alternate your tennis with low-impact actions such as swimming or biking to avoid stress fractures.

3- Ankle Sprain

If your ligament in the ankle is stretching a lot or literally tearing, then you have a sprained ankle.

Landing poorly, falling on your ankle, uneven running, or changing directions frequently can lead to an ankle sprain.

Prevention:

You should offer proper support to your foot and ankle. Wear supportive footwear for tennis along with bracing to lower the chances of a sprain. Do not play tennis on uneven ground; always warm up and cool down before beginning the game.

4- Shoulder Injury

Your tennis moves like serve or slam may often lead to rotator cuff tendinitis. It puts pressure on your shoulder tendons leading to swelling, pain, limited motion, and inflammation.

Prevention:

You need to get a good amount of rest between your tennis sessions and other activities. Also, train under a professional trainer to learn about your stretches and exercises to strengthen your shoulders.

Tips for Using the Tennis Ankle Support Brace Correctly

An ankle brace for tennis is used to protect your ankle and for better comfort. But as per reviews, these braces and wraps may cause discomfort or irritation to the user if not used correctly.

Here are a few important points you may need to consider to provide the best support to your feet without any risk.

Keep the skin under the brace always dry and clean
After removing the brace each time, check and ensure that there is no sign of skin irritations
Do not use lotions or powder on the skin under the brace as this might damage the pads of the brace

If any discomfort or pain is felt after using an ankle brace, a doctor or a sports therapist has to be consulted immediately. Do not try to manage yourself, as this can be risky.

A few other points to care for properly handling the ankle brace are:

Clean the brace regularly as it comes in direct contact with your skin and gets dirty quite often
Avoid using abrasive products or harsh detergents as these might damage the ankle support brace
Use a wet towel along with mild soap for cleaning the ankle brace that has plastic supports or rigid hinges

What Size Ankle Brace Should I Get for Tennis and Other Sports?

Ankle brace for sporting generally comes in various sizes (small, medium, large, and X-large).

Based on your ankle and feet size, you should get them with care so that they can deliver you the desired results.

Many people often consider their shoe size while buying an ankle brace. This is, however, not the correct way to determine your ankle brace size.

The right way to judge the size of the ankle brace you should get is by measuring the circumference of your ankle according to the size chart.

For measuring the ankle circumference, you may follow these steps:

Take a flexible tape measure
Measure the circumference from your ankle top around your heel

Now, based on the size, you can find your brace size using the chart below.

Note: In general the above-shown chart may help you to decide the proper ankle brace sizing, but the exact size may vary significantly depending upon the brand you are choosing.

It is hence important to check with the brand you are buying before finalizing the proper size for you.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Ankle Brace System for Tennis

There are many ankle protector brands and types to choose from. These are available in various sizes that are ideal for active youths and professional athletes.

You, therefore, need to check carefully and get the most appropriate fit to provide the ankle with good support.

A few important factors you need to essentially consider are:

Intensity of sport
Condition of your ankle
Quality and comfort factor

If you are buying an ankle brace to heal your tennis injury, then it needs to be chosen based on the complexity of the injury you have.

If it’s a small injury, getting a simple one-piece sleeve can solve your problem. But in case the injury is a complex one, you may need to go for a rigid brace or a lace-up brace that is more supportive.

Avoid making your own decisions if there is any confusion, and try getting expert suggestions for the brand you choose.

Summary

The common injury that affects tennis players are lateral and high ankle sprains. However, with proper rest and rehab, sprained ankles can easily be treated.

Athletes with weak ankles can also benefit from ankle braces that are highly recommended for sports. You can wear it under your shoes and enjoy your favorite sports without worrying about possible injuries and after pains.

Fortunately, these ankle braces for tennis and other sports are now available online. You can buy them at your favorite Amazon store at an unbeatable price.