Best Basketball Arm Compression and Shooting Sleeves: Reviews to Help Your Shot

Best Basketball Arm Shooting Sleeves

My fate was sealed in 1997. I hopped up onto my skateboard. “Here,” I told a friend. “Let me show you how to properly do an ollie.”

And everything was going good until I shifted my weight a little wrong as I was coming down. I had too much weight on the back foot, so the skateboard skidded out from underneath me. My feet went above my head, my arms went out to break my fall… and that meant a broken right elbow.

My friend laughed. “At least you didn’t break your head.”

Maybe not, but it changed my approach to playing basketball. Any time I’d go up for a shot, that joint would ache badly – even a year after it had healed. There was only one solution that could provide relief: a top-rated arm compression and shooting sleeve for basketball.

Best Basketball Compression Arm Sleeves Reviews

After searching the market for the best arm compression and shooting sleeves, I highly recommend the following products because of their performance, comfort, support, price and efficacy. You will be hard-pressed to find arm compression sleeves with the same superior benefits as these ones:

Product Details
#1 EliteTek Arm Compression Sleeves

Great for Recovery

  • Star Rating: 4.1
  • Highlight: Reflective Strip
  • Price: $
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#2 APOYO Elbow Brace

Bonus Kinesiology Tape

  • Star Rating: 4.3
  • Highlight: Lifetime Warranty
  • Price: $$$
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#3 Vive Arm Compression Sleeve (Pair)

Breathable

  • Star Rating: 4.1
  • Highlight: Comes in a Pair
  • Price: $
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1. EliteTek Compression Arm Sleeves

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Have you ever worn a compression arm sleeve for a prolonged period of time and felt uncomfortable because of how it traps heat and sweat? That is solved by this product. The inside of this pair of arm sleeves is made up of mesh material, which is basically a breathable material that allows air to circulate inside. You can focus on running and shooting without being disturbed by sweat pooling on your skin. You don’t have to take the arm sleeves off every now and then to wipe away sweat.
It has a snug fit that keeps it in place, although you can also choose from different sizes to get the perfect fit suitable for your needs. There is also a nice reflective strip found on the outside to enhance your safety when using it for outdoor sports like cycling or for night time jogging or running. This is an all-around arm sleeves that can be used for purposes other than basketball.

Pros:

  • No more sleeves sliding down your arms. This stays in place no matter how active you get. Some people even said this stayed up for as long as 12 hours. It did not lose elasticity as well even with frequent use.

  • You can still move your arms freely. It supports the arms, but it isn’t too constricting. You can shoot comfortably.

  • Although these have a great fit, they can be easily removed. You can easily peel them off even when your skin is sweaty.

  • The quality for these sleeves is unmatched. The elasticity holds up well, even with frequent use.

  • It doesn’t have a UV blocker, but the material is thick enough to prevent UV rays from seeping in. That said, this can still be relied on for outdoor purposes.

  • The price is affordable. You can easily buy multiple pairs.

  • You can machine-wash it. It doesn’t lose its elasticity or wrinkle up when washed.

Cons:

  • The color options can be somewhat limited.

2. APOYO Elbow Brace Compression Support Sleeve

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Some compression sleeves are only meant to provide comfort and support while others are meant to provide additional healing benefits. Such is the case with this one from APOYO. It has been designed for people suffering from tendonitis or any other arm and elbow injuries. It has been integrated with a kinesiology tape that is meant to speed up the healing process of injuries while boosting blood circulation. If you have a previous injury that still inflicts recurring pain, you can choose this compression sleeve instead.

Another thing that sets this pair of compression sleeves apart is its adjustable benefits. There is a strap that you can use to adjust the level of tightness. No guessing game here. You can get the fit you need. Tighten or loosen it using the strap.

I also like how this is not made from neoprene unlike many other compression sleeves out there. It is made from a knit fabric type of material that not only provides compression support but also comfort. This material is breathable and keeps sweat at bay.

Pros:

  • It has an adjustable strap, a unique feature you can’t find in other compression sleeves. You can adjust it to your preferred level of tightness.
  • The materials used for this keeps wicks away moisture. It prevents moisture from building up and has good breathable features that maintain comfort while playing basketball.
  • It can be used by people suffering from joint diseases like arthritis and those with injuries.
  • You can alleviate pain with this compression sleeves.
  • Although it is made from a non-neoprene material, it is stretchable. You can do a wide range of movements with this pair of compression sleeves.
  • You can get a lifetime warranty with your purchase.

Cons:

  • It is a pricier choice compared to standard compression sleeves out there.

3. Vive Arm Sleeve

Minimize existing swelling, pain and inflammation with the help of this pair of compression sleeves. It provides the most supportive material that can help you move your arms with minimal pain even with existing injuries. It is not just ideal for basketball players. It is also ideal for people with arthritis, tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

No need to worry about the sleeves slipping off because it comes with an anti-slip band. The band is lined with a silicone material. The rest of the sleeves is made from a breathable material that prevents moisture from building up.

Pros:

  • You can use this pair of sleeves to protect your arms from abrasions and chafing. It also helps in boosting circulation, which can then alleviate soreness and muscle fatigue and facilitate faster healing and recovery.
  • It has a reliable temperature regulating benefits. It retains heat without building up a sweat, so your tired and aching muscles are soothed.
  • The silicone band keeps the sleeves in place. The inside feels tacky as well, so you know that it won’t wrinkle or move around when doing a wide range of movements.
  • It provides a good amount of coverage. The tightness is just right as well. It stays in place without feeling too constricting. You can wear it for a prolonged period of time without suffering from discomforts.
  • It comes with a 60-day guarantee.
  • It isn’t difficult to wash and clean.

Cons:

  • Some had issues finding the best fit. They said the sleeves were a bit bigger than they expected.

Buying Guide

Why Do Basketball Players Wear Compression Sleeves?

Compression sleeves started coming out around the time Allen Iverson had elbow surgery and began wearing them in the 2000-2001 NBA season. That’s right around the time I started needing to wear one as well. The compression in the sleeve helps to support the joint and its surrounding muscles, keeping the area warmer. That warmth stimulates blood flow to the area, which keeps the muscles looser and joint pain to a minimum.

The goal with arm compression isn’t to look awesome. It’s to prevent a future injury from occurring. When you’ve injured a joint that you must move frequently during a game, fatigue can cause it to begin to seize up. By keeping it warmer, you’re able to reduce the fatigue. That means it seizes less on you. The surrounding muscles are also less likely to cramp up.

Now that’s not to say compression sleeves don’t offer other benefits. They do. And they can also be quite the fashion statement. It’s just important that you follow any league rules that may be in place before you decide to wear one – and you may need to have a note from your doctor.

Why Do Basketball Players Wear Arm Sleeves (that don’t have compression)?

When Allen Iverson was playing basketball, he had sleeve tattoos on his arms that were technically against the league rules. By wearing the arm sleeves, he could avoid the unwanted attention his tattoos would bring and potentially avoid fines associated with them.

High school and college players can take advantage of what basketball arm sleeves can do in the same way. Although most leagues have lessened tattoo display rules that were in place 20-30 years ago, some schools do have uniform policies that may prevent the display of tattoos during gameplay. Wearing an arm sleeve can cover up a tattoo that might otherwise cause a player to either sit on the bench or consider having a tattoo removed.

But shooting sleeves are everywhere today. Watch any basketball game and you’ll see virtually every player wearing at least one of them. In addition to injury prevention, there are some specific advantages which can come about when they are being worn.

  • They offer sweat wicking capabilities that can keep the arms drier, preventing turnovers that can happen when arms get slick with perspiration.
  • They can help to protect the arm and elbow when diving on the floor for a ball or the skin-on-skin contact that occurs when fighting for a tough rebound.
  • They provide shooters with confidence, giving players a needed boost when it’s time for them to hit a high pressure shot.

Some players have a real medical need to wear arm compression. Others may do it for practical purposes. There is even a mental component to the arm sleeve that is worth considering. None of these benefits can be experienced, however, unless you purchase the correct arm sleeve for your playing style, arm size, and physical need.

How to Find the Best Compression Arm Sleeves for Basketball

“Yep,” the pharmacist told me. He had just double-checked the measurement of my elbow. “Your arm size is definitely a medium.” And so he handed over a medium arm sleeve with written instructions on how to wear it.

Of course that short story dates me. Arm compression is readily available from online stores and sporting goods retailers everywhere today. Back in the day though, it was often considered to be a medical device and you’d need a prescription for a sleeve that was useful.

So I slipped on the arm sleeve before my first practice back after the injury. My arm felt warm. The joint felt better than it had in some time with it on for only a few minutes. I felt confident.

As I took my first few shots, everything seemed to be working pretty well. Then the top of the compression sleeve began to fall down. I pulled it up and kept going.

But then the bottom part of the sleeve started pulling up. I pulled it down. Then the top would sag again. Pretty soon, once the sweat started to flow, the elasticity was reduced and the sleeve would bunch up uncomfortably right in the elbow.

When you’re wearing an arm sleeve, you need to be very conscious of the size. It cannot be too large. If it is, then it will be useless. If the sleeve is too small, you’ll receive too much compression and that might actually lead to an injury if you’re not careful. Small sleeves also dig into your arm and leave massive red marks that hurt for a couple of days afterward.

So grab a couple of different sizes. I recommend purchasing the size that is recommended by the manufacturer for your arm and then purchasing the next size smaller. That way you can make sure that you’re wearing the correct arm sleeve.

Playing Style and Arm Compression in Basketball

Part of the reason why the shooting sleeve was a key piece of equipment for me was because of my playing style. My team had me playing as the #2 and I was often posted near the corner. The outside shot put extra stress on my joint, which the arm compression could reduce.

We also played a lot of Box-and-1 and I was often the player in man defense while everyone else played zone. All of that movement and guarding put extra stress on my elbow as well, which would often cause it to ache before the end of the first quarter if I didn’t wear the sleeve.

Then add in the fact that I was the backup point guard and my right arm is my dominant one, so after all of that shooting and defensive work, I’d be called on to distribute on a regular basis. My arm needed stable and strong support.

Different playing styles benefit from arm compression. Active players who often slash to the rim or need to be playing strong defense benefit from a tight sleeve. Shooters benefit from a shooting sleeve. This can be a sleeve that covers the entire arm or can be around the elbow if more joint support is required.

For post-up players, sleeves on the arm are often less important than sleeves on the knee. Post-up players are typically jockeying for position in the paint, trying to gain some leverage to then back down a defensive player. The best leg and knee sleeves for basketball are going to be more supportive. The hand-fighting that occurs during position placement isn’t really benefited by the addition of an arm sleeve for most players.

Should an Arm Sleeve Even Be Used?

Now here’s the real question: does arm compression in basketball provide confidence? Or does it create reliance?

There are some real medical needs that a shooting sleeve can benefit. From tendonitis to bursitis to joint support after an injury, the added warmth and support can help to reduce fatigue and pain dramatically. In that instance, the small investment into a shooting sleeve is worth it every single time.

Yet shooting requires more than a sleeve for a player to be good. The best shooters put plenty of practice into their art. They need the hand/eye coordination, shooting fundamentals, and footwork to put up the rock properly and a shooting sleeve won’t do that for them. The arm sleeve can improve flexibility and reduce swelling, but it won’t cause fundamentals to appear when they weren’t there before.

To some extent, a shooting sleeve is a placebo. It makes a player believe they can be better, so they become better. In this instance, arm compression might not be the right solution. Take away the placebo and suddenly you have a basketball player that is lacking in confidence.

Take the opportunity to search for the best arm compression and shooting sleeves for basketball today so you can support your game in a way that makes sense. Maybe you have a broken elbow that healed, but needs some more support. Or maybe you just need some confidence. Smart decisions create smart gameplay. Get the right size and you might just be able to take your game to the next level.

When it comes to searching for the best arm compression and shooting sleeves, you should first assess your personal needs. Do you need it to support a previous injury? Are you looking for one that you can not only use for basketball but for everyday use as well? Do you have a specific material or color preference? Make a list of what you want first and what your priorities are when choosing the best arm compression and shooting sleeves.

What’s Next 

Be sure to check out our guide to all the best sportswear and protective apparel!