Best Knee Support for Tennis Players

It was 10 years ago I felt the tension in the knee during my tennis game. The pain came quickly and unexpectedly. It always took two or three days of rest for the pain to disappear. Then I was able to play tennis again till the pain did not come again. As the intervals between the pain period got shorter I needed the solution. I was looking for the best knee support for tennis players. Currently, I am using just a knee strap and I am absolutely satisfied. I can play tennis every day with no rest because of knee pain needed. Below is the list of knee braces, straps, sleeves, and bands I tried and used to relieve me from knee pain.

Note: The valuation and rating (stars awarded) are purely subjective and come from my personal experience. If you suffer from any pain you should visit a doctor for help.

The Best Knee Braces, Straps, and Bands for Tennis

Knee Brace Support Compression Sleeves

Firstly, I used the knee brace support compression sleeves. They come usually in a pair and they are really cheap so I decided to give them a try. I used them for almost a year and I was mostly satisfied.

PROs:
+ provide strong support for knees and the muscle above and below the knee
+ as new (and at right size) stays tight no matter what movements on the court you are doing
+ as they come in a pair, you can switch them and do not need to wash them so often
+ good price
CONs:
– sleeves are made from breathable fabric but still, during summer my knees were too wet from perspiration
– you can wash them just in cold water that can be insufficient if you are “sweaty”
– you need to pick the right size (out of four sizes) to hold on tight on your knee
– after longer use, the upper part starts to ease

Knee Compression Brace

After my knee sleeve wear out (probably because I did not wash it just in cold water) I moved to more elaborate knee support. I switched from sleeve to the knee brace. The main difference between sleeve and brace is the tightening strap. It makes the brace even better fit and should be a solution for a longer time than the sleeve.

PROs:
+ knee brace provides as good support for knees and the muscle above and below the knee as the knee sleeve
+ strap ensures the brace will stay tight for a long time
+ easy to put on and tight up with straps
+ ultra-lightweight material
+ very good knee support
CONs:
– you will be too sweaty under the brace during summer
– three different sizes available, you need to pick the right one to hold on tight on your leg and provide support
– sold in a package with just one brace
– price

Knee Brace with Open Patella

As a man who sweats a lot, I used also knee brace with an open patella to relieve my knee from extreme sweating. The other advantage is that one size fits all and you do not risk picking the wrong size.

PROs:
+ not so much sweating during a play thanks to open patella
+ straps ensure the brace will stay tight for a long time
+ one size fits all, you can adjust the brace tightness with two straps
+ easy to put on
CONs:
– weaker support of knee; support is focused on muscles around the knee
– velcro can lose its hold after long use
– sold in a package with just one brace
– price

Patella Strap

In the end, I find out I do not need sleeve or brace. I start to use just a strap to relieve me from pain. My initial skepticism was beaten very soon. I was afraid that strap will not provide enough support for my knee and muscles but surprisingly it was enough. There was no pain felt and I was sweating a lot less during the summer.

PROs:
+ ideal for summer matches, almost no sweating under the strap at all
+ no pain felt
+ adjustable velcro straps make it really easy to fix on and stay tight on the leg.
+ 2 straps in one package
+ very good price
CONs:
– visually weaker support of the knee
– velcro can lose its hold after long use