Having your hands properly wrapped before putting your boxing gloves is absolutely essential to a boxer, if they want to keep their hands in good and healthy condition.
A boxing wrap helps to offer protection to specific parts of a boxer’s hand. Simply wearing a boxing glove alone is not enough, and the hands can still be open to getting damaged. But how do you put on boxing wraps?
Well, we’ve got the answers for you! In our helpful guide below, you’ll find a detailed instruction guide on how to properly put boxing wraps on, as well as information on why boxers use wraps in the first place and what they’re protecting. Read on!
Why Do Boxers Wear Boxing Wraps?
As we’ve mentioned, boxing wraps offer important protection to the hands of a boxer. The protection is not offered by just wearing boxing gloves.
But what do the wraps protect? Well, having boxing wraps will protect the hands’ muscles and tendons
If these were to be damaged when you deliver a punch, they could take ages to repair themselves (if they do at all) and put you out of boxing action for a while.
On top of this protection, a boxing wrap gives the boxer extra movement in their wrist, which is going to give them an extra advantage during the fighting.
How To Put On Boxing Wraps
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of how to wrap your hands with boxing wraps. However, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind before you start, to ensure that you do it properly and effectively.
Pick The Wrap That’s Best For You
First, you’ll want to make sure that you buy the correct wrap for you. This doesn’t just mean the correct size, but the application too – what type of boxing you’re going to be using it with. There are four types of boxing wrap.
Cotton Wrap – for frequent boxers. Available in junior and adult sizes. Use velcro to secure the end.
Gel Wrap – slip on type gloves. Quite expensive. Don’t provide much wrist support.
Mexican Wrap – mold well to the hands, because of elastic fibers. Elastic wears down over time.
Competition Wraps – not good for training, because they’re one time use only. Made of gauze and tape. Competition boxers must be wearing the same amount of this wrap as their opponent.
If you’re using a competition wrap, you shouldn’t follow the guide below. Competition wraps are done in a different way, and by your coach or partner.
Precision
While wrapping your boxing wrap, you need to make sure you’re constantly doing the following:
Don’t let the wrap have wrinkles in it, they won’t offer you the full protection.
Get the right tightness. Too tight will hurt you and restrict movement, but they do need to be taut .
Don’t wrap with a bent wrist. Straighten it out to get an effective wrap.
Putting The Wrap O
Now, with all that in mind, it’s time to put your boxing wrap on.
Step 1
First, spread your hand flat on a surface. Part the fingers as far apart as you can, flexing every inch of your hand, loosening it up for the application of the boxing wrap.
Since a boxing wrap will help your hand while it’s moving about a lot, you want it to fit to the hand and allow it to make all those movements.
If there are any specific hits that you know you’ like to use, make sure that your hand will be flexible enough to perform them when wrapped in the boxing wrap.
Step 2
Now you want to take your chosen wrap, whichever variety you went for. Find the end of the wrap that has velcro, and then go to the opposite end instead. Put your thumb through the hole at that opposite end.
On top of this, you’ll want to get the wrap facing the correct way. You need the underside to be against your hand. If you aren’t sure which side is which, look for a tag on the wrap that tells you.
Step 3
Next, you’ll need to wrap individual parts of your hand, progressing to each one.
The first is the wrist. Take your wrap, with your thumb still in the hole, and wrap it around the back of your wrist about 3-4 times, overlapping each time.
Go for 4 if your hands are bigger and you want extra stability. When you’ve done that, have the wrap on the inside of your wrist.
Step 4
Next, you want to wrap your hand. Bring the wrap around the back of the hand, then wind it over the area above your thumb, before bringing it across your palm back to the other side.
Do that three times, overlapping the previous layer each time, and finishing with the wrap on the inside of your hand next to the thumb.
Step 5
Then it’s finger-wrapping time. Wind the wrap your wrist’s inside, over the top of the hand, and between your pinky and ring fingers.
Then repeat those first two steps, but finishing between the ring and middle finger, before repeating the first two steps a final time – but finishing between the middle and index fingers. Stop at the inside of the wrist.
Step 6
Then wrap your hand once more, starting at the wrist and going from its inside to the outside of your hand. Continue it across the palm and above the thumb.
Do this all again until all the wrap is used. Finally, you want to secure it in place by using the velcro.
Try a few punches to check it works, then repeat the whole process for your other hand!
Final Thoughts
Boxing wraps are essential in protecting your hands, so follow this guide carefully.
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