20 Most Cringe Inducing Groin Shots in Sports

A shot to the groin at such a high level of competition...now that's gotta hurt.

Why are shots to the nuts so funny? It's one of the greatest mysteries of the YouTube generation.

So sit back, relax and enjoy some comic relief as we go through some of the professional athletes who've gone down for the count as they get nailed south of the border. 

These shots are not a laughing matter, so we picked ones that didn't leave lasting injuries, so feel free to chuckle.

Why? Because we have been there.

Lionel Messi probably wasn't trying to do a new trick shot in this video clip.

It doesn't look like it has much of an impact on him, but as all guys know, just the slightest little flick can do the trick. 

Any player that has the verve to try and block a hard slap shot is alright in my book.

However, I think it's safe to say that Patrick Thoreson would've rather stayed upright on this one. 

Chris Paul isn't a dirty player...or is he?

We haven't seen anything like this at the NBA level for the elite point guard, but it's clear that he was very unhappy with the opposition on this particular play. 

When you're as good as Griffin, there are definitely bound to be some players who might get a little jealous.

I guess the only way to stop this rim-rattling sensation is to punch him where the sun don't shine. 

Unless you're on his team, Anderson Varejao can be a real annoyance of a player to go up against for a full 48 minutes.

Rajon Rondo was clearly getting fed up, and he decided to add a little bit of insult to this obvious injury. 

Brett Favre finally got served some poetic justice when he decided to show up to Vikings' training camp back in the day.

From the looks of the situation, it was probably accidental, but I have a hard time believing that anyone felt all that bad about it. 

In one of the most infamous plays in recent NBA history, "The Worm" let this sideline camera guy know exactly how he felt.

But at least he didn't punch someone in the face. Right Dennis?

Kobe might not have been trying to hurt his buddy Pau on this screen and roll, but he grabbed a fist full of Gasol's goodies on this one.

You've gotta think that the big man had to feel the residual effects from that one during the next trip up the floor, but he didn't seem to flinch at all.

Do they practice this sort of thing on their days off?

I'm not even going to attempt to sugarcoat this one.

Cleat misses ball, cleat meets testicles, and No. 7 goes down in a heap of pain.

For those of you that don't think K.G. is a dirty player, please watch the attached video.

What kind of foul is that? You can't win Defensive Player of the Year with low-lights like that. 

Great defense doesn't always get rewarded.

After doubling up on the ball in the backcourt, this kid has to check to make sure he's still got two balls remaining in his own half-court set. 

I've heard of shots being angled toward the net before, but never have I seen something like this.

The ball is hit with so much force that it still travels a considerable distance after its ricochet, so you can only imagine what its original impact must have felt like. 

What a brilliant job of clearing the bar set in this pole vault attempt!

Unfortunately, the bar wasn't the only thing to avoid in this one. 

This is why protective cups have become an integral aspect of little league baseball.

Maybe the catcher just needed a bigger glove.

Because even in the pros, accidents like this can happen. 

I've never seen a pitcher miss his target so badly.

Or did he hit his desired spot dead on? You be the judge. 

Isn't this the first thing that vaulters are taught to avoid when learning how to perform this incredible stunt?

That's one painful fall from the top. 

Who said little league baseball isn't serious?

I'm certain that this kid would beg to differ. And I'm positive that it'll be the last time his coach ever asks him to square around for a bunt. 

The game of basketball is an emotional one, and sometimes hard screens can be tough to come off.

And in this case, Herb Pope wanted to make sure that the opposition wasn't getting past him. 

There is no place for things like this in professional football.

And if Brayton was so upset with Stevens, he should have fought him like a man.

The oft-troubled tight end got this one right in the lizard. 

Now usually just about anything goes in these fights, but even the guilty party showed some sympathy after this one.

And as the announcer said in the video, he's going to need all five minutes to get up from that one.