So you’ve just bought a new pair of boxing gloves. You’re ready to start your class, get straight onto the bags to throw some of your best shots.
But wait, you’ve seen someone in your class wrapping their hands in this cloth material now you’re wondering what it is and if you need them too.
A lot of boxers, both beginners and experienced, make the mistake of skipping hand wraps. This most likely leads to painful injuries and setbacks in your training and competition.
Imagine stepping into the ring, confident in your skills, only to have your hands give out halfway through the match. Or picture months of dedicated training lost by a preventable hand injury. Without proper protection, your boxing journey could come to a quick stop.
Enter hand wraps – your hands’ best friend in the world of boxing. These simple strips of fabric offer so many benefits, from injury prevention to improved performance.
In this post, we’ll explore why hand wraps are essential for both training and competition and how they provide the protection you need to take your boxing to the next level.
What do hand wraps do?
Hand wraps are more than just a pre-fight ritual – they’re a crucial tool in your boxing arsenal for training, sparring, and everyday bag work. But what exactly do these strips of fabric do for you? Let’s break down the key functions of hand wraps and why they’re essential for every boxer, from novices to pros.
Hand wraps protect your hands in multiple ways, offering maximum protection for both your wrists and knuckles. Here’s a closer look at how hand wraps work to keep you safe and enhance your performance:
- One job that hand wraps have is to keep your fist tight and clenched. This helps keep your hands tight so that all of your bones work together to deliver that solid punch.
- Hand wraps also add another layer of protection to the important parts of your hands like your wrist, knuckles, and thumb.
As a boxer, your hands endure a lot of impact, even when you are defending your opponent’s punch or simply punching the bag. This is why it’s vital to have the right tools to secure your hands.
Our beginner’s guide to boxing also tells you about some other essential equipment you need for boxing.
How to wrap your hands for boxing?
Proper hand-wrapping technique is crucial for maximizing protection and comfort during your boxing sessions. While it might seem intimidating at first, wrapping your hands will become second nature with practice.
The key is to create a snug, supportive wrap that covers all the vulnerable areas of your hand without restricting blood flow or movement. There are different methods for wrapping your hands, but we’ll focus on a popular technique that provides excellent support for both training and competition. This method uses standard boxing hand wraps, which typically come with a loop closure for easy securing.
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, gather your materials: you’ll need a pair of boxing hand wraps (usually 180 inches long) and your hands, of course!
Remember, the goal is to create a smooth, even wrap that protects your knuckles, stabilizes your wrists, and supports the small bones in your hand. Here’s a detailed guide on how to wrap your hands for boxing:
- Pick up your hand wrap with your dominant hand.
- Face your other hand away from you and spread your fingers out.
- Start by putting your thumb through the loop enclosure and wrap it around your hand until it feels tight. This should be about three wraps.
- Wrap your thumb again, then the wrist again, and repeat this. (Note – you might want to wrap certain areas more e.g. I suffer from a consistent thumb injury so I tend to wrap around my thumb 4/5 times to give it that extra protection.
- Don’t forget to wrap your knuckles. Do this three times but ensure you can still open your fingers.
- Wrap the cloth around your wrist once more
- Now wrap around your middle and ring fingers, then across your palm and around your thumb.
- Loop the wrap around your knuckles one more time and then around your wrist.
- Then secure the hand wrap in place.
How you choose to wrap your hands is a personal preference. Some people prefer extra protection on their thumbs but others might prefer more on their wrists. As long as your hand wraps are tight and secure, that is what matters the most.
Different types of hand wraps and how to choose the right ones
Choosing your style of hand wrap might be confusing at first.
If you have bigger hands or you want more protection, go for a longer length. If you have shorter hands, you might want to go for a short length. Check out the types of hand wraps you can get below and the pros and cons of each.
Tape and gauze hand wraps
Tape and gauze hand wraps offer a lot of protection for your hands, you see professional boxers use these more.
Pros
- Offer the most protection
- Light in weight
- Make to your own size
Cons
- Not suitable for everyday training as they are long to tie
- Not reusable
Cotton hand wraps
Cotton hand wraps are the most commonly used. They come in different sizes and colors and are commonly used for training, sparring, and bag work.
Pros
- Cost efficient
- Reusable
- Come in different lengths
Cons
- Can take a while to wrap
Quick Gel hand wraps
These hand wraps are good for those who are in a hurry to get their wraps on and start their session. They come with gel foam padding on the knuckles and a short stretch fabric for the wrist.
Pros
- Quick to put on
- Provide instant protection
- Good gel protection for the knuckles
Cons
- The length of the stretch fabric is limited, so you can’t always protect other areas of the hand as much, e.g. wrist and thumb.
Wrapping up and my experience with hand wraps
Now that you know why hand wraps are so important and their different types, it’s time to choose which pair is best for you.
Personally, I have a pair of Quick Gel wraps and a pair of cotton hand wraps. I like to mix up the use of both during my training sessions. If I know I am sparring and I want extra protection, I use my cotton wraps. I like the extra protection on my thumb as this is an injury that I’ve always suffered with.
If I am just using the bags and mitts, I use my gel hand wraps as they’re easier and quicker to put on. My advice is to start off with a classic pair of cotton wraps and learn how to wrap them yourself, it’s good practice and they can provide you with the ultimate protection.
