I’m going to walk you through an essential skill every boxer needs to know and that is something as basic as how to apply hand wraps for boxing. This isn’t just about protecting your hands; it’s also about ensuring you can keep training and competing without unnecessary injuries. Hand wraps support your wrists, cushion your knuckles, and keep your fingers securely in place.
When you throw a punch, there’s a lot at stake for your hands, and that’s where good wrapping techniques come into play. According to a study in 2015, hand wraps decrease your punching power to increase protection to your bones, tendons, and ligaments.
Before we dive into the step-by-step guide on how to wrap your hands for boxing, make sure to check out our comprehensive guide on the best gear for beginners to ensure you’re fully prepared for your training sessions!
When I first started my boxing journey, I quickly learned the importance of proper hand wrapping techniques. Through years of training and competing, I’ve refined these techniques to provide maximum support and protection for my hands during intense bouts.
Choosing the Right Hand Wraps
You’ll find a variety of hand wraps on the market, each with its own benefits. Some are shorter, others are longer, and then there are those with a bit of elasticity. Today, we’re going to focus on a popular choice among professionals and enthusiasts alike: the elastic 180-inch hand wrap. This type of wrap offers a balance of support and flexibility to fit various hand sizes and shapes. It’s the one I recommend for beginners as well as seasoned professionals.
Why 180-Inch Elastic Hand Wraps?
- Comprehensive Coverage: The added length allows for comprehensive coverage, which is especially useful for those with larger hands or who prefer multiple layers of protection.
- Elasticity: Known as ‘Mexican style,’ these wraps provide a snug, contoured fit that adapts to the unique shape of your hand, ensuring both support and comfort without compromising mobility.
- Professional Preference: Many professional boxers prefer wraps that offer ample wrist support and knuckle padding, both achievable with the 180-inch elastic wrap.
Preparing Your Hand Wraps
Before you jump into wrapping your hands, it’s critical to pick the right material. Hand wraps come in a variety of materials and lengths, but let’s focus on why a 180-inch hand wrap might be your top pick. The added length allows for comprehensive coverage, which is especially useful for those with larger hands or who prefer multiple layers of protection.
Elasticity is another feature to consider. Some elasticity in hand wraps, often termed ‘Mexican style’, provides a snug, contoured fit that adapts to the unique shape of your hand. This ensures support and comfort without compromising on mobility.
The design preferences of professional boxers offer a glimpse into what features might work well for you. Many fighters are known for advocating wraps that provide ample wrist support and knuckle padding, both achievable with the right wrap.
Ultimately, the ideal choice boils down to personal preference and the requirements of your training regimen. The aim is to enhance safety and comfort during your boxing sessions. Take your time to try different types, and you might find that a 180-inch, elastic wrap, recommended by top athletes, aligns with your needs.
You’re going to find out about the importance of getting your hand wraps ready before you even start wrapping. It seems straightforward, but I’m here to tell you, it’s not just about unrolling them from the last workout. The preparation phase is crucial, and here’s why: it sets the stage for everything that follows. Plus, it’s your opportunity to inspect the wraps for wear and tear that could impact your safety. They also decrease punching power according to a study in 2023.
Before diving into the process, make sure your hands are clean and dry. This isn’t just for hygiene; it also affects the wraps’ grip and your skin’s comfort. Then, take your 180-inch, elastic hand wraps and spread them out on a flat surface. If you’ve got a wrap from your last session all twisted and tangled up, smooth it out. Trust me, starting with a neat wrap makes a world of difference.
Creating Knuckle Padding
Don’t worry too much about getting this wrap perfect on the first try; it’s something you can always adjust down the road. The late great Emmanuel Steward, renowned for his expertise in boxing training, emphasized the significance of wrist stability and knuckle protection during fights.
This is true. According to a study published in 2023, proper hand wrapping significantly reduces the risk of hand injuries in boxers by providing support to the wrists and cushioning to the knuckles. Taking advice from Stewart’s legacy and modern science, we can incorporate his time-tested methods into our modern hand wrapping approach. This underscores the importance of adopting effective wrapping techniques for both safety and performance.
The goal for starting off is to make sure your knuckles have enough padding to absorb impact without sacrificing mobility. To achieve this, Steward used a roll of gauze back in the day and a knuckle guard pad. Today, we have modern hand wraps that can be reused again and again.
He liked to start at the wrist, get it secured, and add padding manually to the knuckles. Steward also ensured that the palm was left open. Logically, he started at the wrist first so he could add the padding under the gauze that was already applied.
We are following this exact same method but we are bringing it into the modern era. This method is one of the best you will find according to Emmanuel Steward, one of the best coaches in this sport. We are creating this exact same wrap but we are making it accessible to every modern boxer that is capable of using a 180 inch elastic reusable hand wrap. Begin by wrapping around your fingers.
- Start with the Wrap: Begin by wrapping the wrap around your fingers.
- Wrap Your Fingers: Wrap the hand wrap around your fingers a few times to create an impact pad for your knuckles.
- Position the Pad: Place the pad on top of your knuckles, ensuring it lies flat and comfortably.
- Secure the Pad: Wrap around your hand a couple of times to lock the pad in place.
You’ll want to pass over the knuckles two to three times, depending on the size of your hands and the level of protection you feel you need. Keep in mind that while more layers might seem like more protection, they can also reduce the flexibility of your hands, so find a balance that works for you.
In my opinion, it’s crucial to maintain awareness of the tension in the wrap. It’s easy to get distracted during this process and wrap too loosely or too tightly. If you’re unsure, wrap your hand around an imaginary handle; you should feel comfortable and secure without any pinching or loss of normal circulation.
Stabilizing the Wrist
After you’ve got the knuckles sorted out, it’s time to give that stability to your wrists—which is where a lot of the power in your punches comes from. Choosing something that resonates with you in terms of comfort is key, but proper technique is what’s going to save you from potential wrist injuries down the line.
- Wrap the Wrist: Wrap the wrist a couple of times, adjusting based on hand size (twice or thrice).
- Adjust Tension: Ensure the wrap is snug but not too tight to impede circulation.
- Extra Support: If you’ve had previous wrist injuries, consider adding extra wraps for additional support.
After covering the knuckles with the wrap, you want to start wrapping the wrist a couple of times. How many times depends on how big your hands are. If you have big hands, you will wrap less times than if you would when you had smaller hands. I recommend twice or thrice.
You might choose something that resonates with your level of comfort. If your hands feel too restricted, loosen it up a bit. If the padding feels too light, don’t hesitate to add another pass. Remember, the padding should be snug but never cut off circulation or impede your hand movement. This is so your hands don’t go numb or shift while your boxing.
Some boxers prefer extra support on the wrist, especially if they’ve had previous injuries. In this case, an extra couple of rounds about the wrist can make a significant difference. Remember, your first attempt doesn’t need to be your last; you can always tweak your method to find what’s comfortable for you.
Now, I’m going to show you why it’s essential to have a firm wrist when you’re delivering punches. Your wrist is like the support beam of a building; it needs to be strong to prevent it from buckling under the impact. That’s where wrapping comes in handy, providing that crucial support. This creates layers of protection that keep both the knuckles and the wrist secure.
Now, don’t worry too much about getting it perfect on the first try. What you’re aiming for is a wrap that doesn’t shift when you move your hand and wrist. You can always adjust your approach down the road. After circling the wrist, you can move up towards the thumb.
Protecting the Thumb
Your thumb is critical for grip and can be vulnerable to sprains or fractures during boxing if not wrapped correctly. Wrapping the thumb helps prevent these injuries by keeping it aligned and supported.
- Wrap Around the Thumb: Guide the wrap from the back of your hand up towards the base of the thumb. You’ll want to create one or multiple wraps around the thumb ensuring you don’t restrict movement too much to keep your grip on your opponent. How many times really depends on if your thumbs are sore or fragile.
- Anchor the Thumb: Transition the wrap back towards the wrist to anchor the thumb wrap. This creates a support system that involves the wrist as a stabilizing base.
Ensure the wrap is snug yet allows for free movement to maintain grip without cutting off circulation.
Remember, the key is to secure the thumb without compromising its movement or cutting off circulation. If the wrap feels too tight or restrictive, it’s going to impact your performance. Take the time to adjust the tension until it feels snug yet comfortable.
Now, with your thumb securely wrapped, you’re ready to move onto interlacing the wrap between your fingers. This part of the wrap job will further stabilize your hand and ensure that the wrap stays in place throughout your training or sparring sessions.
Interweaving Between the Fingers
Now, let’s move on to a critical, but often overlooked step: wrapping between the fingers. This technique isn’t just about keeping the wrap in place; it’s also crucial for aligning the bones in your hand to prevent sprains or fractures. Boxing is no joke, and neither is hand safety.
- Wrap Between Fingers: Start with the pinky and ring finger, pulling the wrap from the back of the hand, pinching it between the fingers, and securing it around the back of the hand.
- Repeat: Continue this process between the ring and middle finger, and the middle and index finger.
- Smooth and Snug: Ensure the wrap is smooth and snug to avoid irritation and maintain circulation.
To get started, you’ll want to make a wrap around the back of your hand and your pinky and ring finger first. Carefully pull the wrap from the back of the hand, pinch it between the fingers, and then around the back of the hand to secure it. Repeat this step between the ring finger and middle finger, and the middle and index finger. Ensure that the wrap remains flat and smooth against your skin to avoid irritation.
A smooth wrap is key here. You don’t want to introduce folds that can cause chafing during an intense workout. Moreover, the right tension is vital. The wrap should be snug but not so tight that it hampers circulation or mobility.
Keep in mind that practice makes perfect. Your first few attempts might feel clunky, but you can always adjust down the road. Just ensure you’re creating a supportive structure that maintains your hand’s natural movement while offering essential support.
Moving to the back of your hand, you’re going to tightly yet comfortably bring the wrap to a close by using the Velcro closure. The aim is to blend support with flexibility, allowing for a full range of motion as you make those punches count. It might take a few tries to get this just right, but that’s fine. Your first attempt doesn’t need to be your last.
Approach the Velcro closure with a bit of mindfulness. You want to make sure that it is fastened well but not so tight that it restricts blood flow. A solid closure keeps everything from unraveling and gives you the peace of mind to focus solely on your technique. Now, you have the option of tucking the hand wrap inside to open up the palm which allows you to make a tighter fist.
Ensuring a Solid Finish: Perfecting Your Hand Wrap
So you’ve wrapped between each finger, safeguarded your knuckles, anchored your wrist, and taken care of your thumb. Now, it’s the moment to secure everything in place and ensure your hand wrap is set to support you through your training or bout.
- Final Wrap: After wrapping between each finger, securing the knuckles, and stabilizing the wrist and thumb, bring the wrap to a close using the Velcro closure.
- Secure and Comfortable: Ensure the closure is tight enough to keep the wrap in place but not so tight that it restricts blood flow.
- Adjust as Needed: If needed, tuck the wrap inside to open up the palm, allowing for a tighter fist.
I really hope that you feel more confident now about wrapping your hands for boxing. Remember, this is as much about safety as it is about performance. Choose something that resonates with you and aligns with what feels secure and comfortable during your practice.
And remember, practice makes perfect. You might not nail it on the first try, and that’s totally okay. Keep at it, adjust your approach as needed, and soon enough, you’ll be wrapping your hands like a pro. And when you do, I’d love to hear how it goes for you—share your experience and any tips you’ve picked up along the way.
For a visual guide, check out the video tutorial on wrapping your hands for boxing! Practice regularly, and soon you’ll be wrapping your hands like a true professional!
Now you can confidently wrap your hands like a pro, enhancing both safety and performance during your boxing sessions. Practice makes perfect, so don’t worry if it takes a few tries to get it just right. Once you find the method that works best for you, share your experience and any tips you’ve picked up along the way—I’d love to hear how it goes for you! Leave a comment below. We want to hear your feedback!
Additional Tips and FAQs
Q: How tight should the wraps be? A: The wraps should be snug but not so tight that they cut off circulation. You should be able to make a fist comfortably without any pinching.
Q: Can I wash my hand wraps? A: Yes, hand wraps can be washed. It’s best to wash them in a mesh laundry bag to prevent tangling and to air dry them.
Q: How often should I replace my hand wraps? A: Replace your hand wraps when they show signs of wear and tear, such as thinning fabric or loss of elasticity.
Author Bio
David Moore brings over 15 years of expertise to the field of sports journalism, specializing in boxing coverage. His articles, featured in prominent sports publications, offer readers profound insights into the world of boxing, enriched by interviews with notable champions. Moore’s passion for the sport shines through his meticulous and insightful writing, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of boxing’s intricacies.