At a time when many men prefer to quit wearing one pair of socks, tennis players wear double socks. No matter the weather or their preference, they are instructed to wear double socks—and there are multiple reasons behind it.
Tennis is an effort-taking game that requires you to run, concentrate, and shoot; in this case, you must keep your feet fully protected to avoid injury. Double socks provide an extra layer of fabric that prevents blisters and other foot-related problems. Tennis players can customize their foot support level by carrying two socks at once. Some players wear two socks with the same thickness, while a few want to carry thin socks under thick ones. Being inquisitive?
Let’s read the article and explore more about this double socks requirement detail.
Why Do Tennis Players Wear Double Socks: An Overview
Whether it is practice or a tournament, tennis players and basket players are instructed to wear double socks to get strong protection from an ankle injury. The excellent quality double sock is designed to reduce foot friction.
Typically, one pair of socks and shoes develop two kinds of interfaces: The skin-sock shoe interface and the skin-sock interface – each interface generates friction. The friction is likely calculated by the coefficient of friction (COF), which should be less than one.
High friction contributes to blister formation; the player should wear an extra sock for additional interface to alleviate this issue.
Additionally, tennis socks are exclusively designed to absorb sweat speedily and give comfortable and cool feet to players to play. The elastic holding system of these socks fits nicely on the foot structure and stabilizes the foot arch, making everything secure.
Without any exception, every pro player and beginner wears two pairs of socks when competing, even Roger Federer. While choosing the socks, players shouldn’t buy the wrong or uncomfortable socks; the best-fit socks help the user from losing their shoes while running or kicking. Many players, along with the different socks materials, can choose the best length of socks to avoid any inconvenience. Typically, tennis players prefer to wear no-show or low-cut socks under their long tennis/soccer socks to get their desired fit and protection.
Benefits Of Wearing Double Socks
Wearing double socks brings dozens of benefits for tennis players as they improve their functionality and performance in the field and their lifestyle and well-being.
You can read ahead to unfold further benefits:
Protect Heels
Tennis players need meticulous protection of their feet when they are on the field or off the field. There are multiple ways to protect the feet off the field – massage, scrubbing, etc. However, when tennis players are on the field, the best way to protect their feet is by wearing double socks.
Prevent Friction
Friction between the foot and shoes is one of the biggest culprits of foot pain, blisters, and even losing the game. A minor irritation in the feet reduces a player’s focus in the game, and a continuous irritation can also give blisters or huge ankle pain. Thankfully, double socks prevent every kind of friction and help the players to perform well during the tournament.
Comfort And Cushioning
Double socks offer one of the most significant perks: foot cushioning. An additional layer around their feet perfectly protects players’ ankles and feet and allows them to jump, run, and kick freely. Additionally, double socks style up players’ shoes, maintain their quality, and enhance lifespan.
Increases Foot Grip
Players with double socks have a better grip on their shoes, making them confidently run and walk around without worrying about shoes dropping – they won’t fall even on the hard kick.
The additional interface also creates structural padding underneath the feet and thus reduces the impact on the joints during explosive stops, starts, and linear and lateral movements. Likewise, two socks will provide extra ankle support to reduce the probability of ankle injury.
Downside Of Wearing Double Socks
Wearing double socks offer a bunch of benefits to players, but at the same time, they have some downsides too. Such as;
- By wearing two socks, your foot gets compressed, which reduces blood circulation – when blood flow is impaired, the foot becomes cold.
- When two or more socks are bunched together, they increase irritation.
- The two pairs of socks also lessen foot breathability.
The Best Way To Layer Your Socks For Cold Weather
By layering your socks carefully, you can reduce the socks’ breathability issues – if you are a runner or intend to walk a lot, firstly, wear a thin layer of socks and then cover it with a thicker layer. By layering this way, the thin layer will serve as a barrier between the ground and your skin, and a thicker sock layer will absorb more moisture and help you stay warm.
Otherwise, you can wear socks with double impact.
ElSo Double Impact Socks
Typically, players are recommended to wear double socks during practice instead of dress socks. However, if some players do not want to wear double socks, they can prefer double-impact socks.
ElSo is a famous apparel lifestyle brand that has designed double socks with a patented two-sock system. These Double Impact Socks work as a unit and serve as an ideal solution for two pairs of socks – this way, the player doesn’t need to wear two socks at once.
ElSo’s socks diminish the friction between the sole and the shoe through its patented two-sock system and unique layout. Eventually, the wearer gets additional support and comfort during physical activity. ElSo’s double-holding elastic system offers comfort and safety using different moisture-wicking fabrics. Socks quickly absorb foot moisture and allow athletes to feel comfortable and relaxed.
Our Summary
Tennis players wear double socks for foot protection from injury and blisters. Moreover, an extra layer of socks stabilizes the ankle and arch, securing the foot and ankle. However, players must be careful while layering socks because they are flexible in choosing sizes and materials – thick or thin.
A careful layering can save them from irritation; however, if players don’t want to wear double socks, they can wear a pair of socks with double impact (unique design) that saves them from the hassle of wearing two socks – however, it depends on the team management as well.