# How do I test a new atheltic cup **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144 "2015-06-10T04:46:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sean\_Paul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Sean\_Paul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Paul)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/1 "2015-06-10T04:46:17Z")
To make sure it works. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/2 "2015-06-10T04:50:09Z")
Fence railing. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/3 "2015-06-10T04:52:37Z")
Hey, I try my hardest to understand your lyrics but I always fail. ☹ Are you even saying real words? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/4 "2015-06-10T06:21:50Z")
Go to a track meet and announce a special race. You might find it won’t work until its silver plated. You know, Athletics Cup… Like America’s cup, Davis Cup … Melbournes Cup. Actually handing it to the winner is optional… depending on the athletes you offer it to. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/5 "2015-06-10T07:47:44Z")
Go into a bar and say to the hottest girl there, “Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but how about a fuck?”. That ought to do it. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/6 "2015-06-10T08:17:41Z")
Over here we call it a ‘jock strap’ or a ‘box’. Maybe a ‘cup’ is too small for our athletes:) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/7 "2015-06-10T10:57:30Z")
To test things you should really subject them to forces greater than they are likely to face in use, to ensure they have a margin of safety. So I have a cricket ball handy… ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/8 "2015-06-10T13:09:01Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > To test things you should really subject them to forces greater than they are likely to face in use, to ensure they have a margin of safety. > > So I have a cricket ball handy… I was going to suggest a sledgehammer. While the cup was being worn, of course - have to test _in situ_, right? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/9 "2015-06-10T13:55:38Z")
> [@Dervorin](#): > > I was going to suggest a sledgehammer. While the cup was being worn, of course - have to test _in situ_, right? Need a control group - once with, once without. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/10 "2015-06-10T14:14:15Z")
Good luck getting a volunteer for the control group. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/11 "2015-06-10T14:21:09Z")
> [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](#): > > Go into a bar and say to the hottest girl there, “Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but how about a fuck?”. That ought to do it. Bonus points if your wingman is ready to record the testing procedure. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/12 "2015-06-10T14:27:31Z")
My brother always taped new cups to his forehead and then ran full-speed into the brick wall of our house. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/13 "2015-06-10T14:31:26Z")
> [@CheshireKat](#): > > My brother always taped new cups to his forehead and then ran full-speed into the brick wall of our house. Huh, I always thought that was some kid playing tennis. It’s a pretty straightforward process really; Strip down naked, Fill the inside, convex part of the cup with TigerBalm gel, Put the cup ‘on’, wiggling it around to make sure it completely encapsulates your genitals, Tap (WHACK!) it reasonably hard from underneath with a ball peen hammer to see if there is any discomfort. If no TigerBalm shoots out your crotch when you’re hitting it with a hammer then your junk should be good to go. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/14 "2015-06-10T14:47:37Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Fill the inside, convex part of the cup with TigerBalm gel, I believe most people recommend VEET, [per this review](http://www.amazon.com/review/R2QP56S5P2DEGA) on Amazon. Seriously, read the whole review. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/15 "2015-06-10T16:12:54Z")
Do you have a friend with access to a grenade launcher? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/16 "2015-06-10T16:58:59Z")
If you have to ask, you don’t need one. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/17 "2015-06-10T17:00:34Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Bonus points if your wingman is ready to record the testing procedure. Record? I’d have that on social media less than a minute later. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/18 "2015-06-10T19:46:36Z")
This is the method I use when I’m out testing cups. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/smo5Uyp5oKM/hqdefault.jpg "Super Troopers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smo5Uyp5oKM) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/19 "2015-06-10T23:24:19Z")
Need answer fast? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144/20 "2015-06-10T23:58:14Z")
Well in my day, the rookie got naked…and we also used blanks. ETA: Dammit **Drunky** , I read the thread but didn’t click on your link until after I posted. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-test-a-new-atheltic-cup/722144.md?page=2)