In combat sports attacking the opponent is key to winning. Although that is the case with boxing too, without a proper defence you wouldn't be able to attack in the first place. This calls for proper protection for your hands and wrists. Alongside gloves, you'll also need some wraps. Hand wraps for sale a purchased mainly to make your punches safe for both you and your opponent.
The extra support they provide helps keep your tendons and small bones well protected by distributing the shock. Hand boxing wraps also protect you from tearing your skin and lower the risk of strains and other injuries. You should also wrap your hands when training, and sparring alongside your actual boxing fights.
What to Look for in Hand Wraps
Spandex & Polyester Blend
If you want to have the best experience possible then you should buy hand wraps made of a spandex and polyester blend. These ultra-absorbing and comfortable hand wraps will conform to the shape of your hand without preventing you from making a fist.
Cloth
The standard go-to option for a hand wrap is reusable cloth. With this option, you get a cost-efficient hand wrap that is available in different sizes from 4.5 to 5 metres long. Although you can't use Velcro fastening the second time around with reusable cloth wraps, you can use them for any boxing-related activity.
Elastic
An elastic hand wrap or also known as a Mexican-style wrap is able to stretch far more than reusable cloth wraps. A Mexican-style wrap conforms to your hand far better and allows you to move more freely but keep in mind that it doesn't last as long. Elastic hand wraps are still durable but not as durable as cloth ones.
Tape & Gauze
Quite a popular choice between professional boxers, a tape and gauze hand wrap is able to provide the lightest and best level of protection. You should buy tape & gauze hand wraps if you're serious about your boxing career but you must master the wrapping technique first. You'll probably need someone to help you apply tape & gauze wraps at first but you'll be able to get the hang of it pretty quickly.
Length & Width
It's not the material the wraps are made of that matters it's the length and width that will make a big impact on who you put the wraps on and how they feel. Although you won't be able to determine right away how long your wraps need to be, usually the bigger your hands are the longer the wraps need to be.
When it comes to width, the standard hand wraps for sale come in at 5 cm but there are also thinner and wider ones. If you are going to fasten your wraps with Velcro then wider ones are going to be better as they will provide a better grip.
How to Wrap Hands
1. Wrapping your hands can be done in many ways but the best way when it comes to boxing is to start by having your hand open facing down. Your hand should be relaxed and you should place the wrap thumb loop around your thumb. The “side down” text should be facing your hand.
2. Then bring the wrap across the back of your hand and wrap it around your wrist between 2 and 3 times. With that done, continue by bringing the wrap from the side of the thumb of your wrist and across the back of your hand. This should be done around the edge of your hand on the side of the pinky.
3. You should then back up to the back of your hand and across the top side of your knuckles. Next, wrap the wrap around the top side of the knuckles about 2 to 3 times. To do this start from the top of your knuckles and wrap the back of your hand towards and around your wrist. This should make an “X” pattern on the back of your hand and should be repeated 2 to 3 times.
4. With the “X” pattern made, next comes the palm of your hand. You should wrap around it to the base of your thumb and then completely wrap it around your thumb and back towards your wrist, This should be done on the palm side of your hand. Make sure to keep the wrap tight so that you don't twist it while wrapping your thumb
5. The next step is to continue wrapping around the back of your hand to the thumb one more time but from the opposite direction. You should then follow that up by wrapping from the back of your thumb over the back of your hand and around your wrist.
6. Continue wrapping around your wrist and over the back of your hand whilst going through the area between your pinky and ring fingers. Make sure to wrap around the pal back toward your wrist and repeat this for each finger. Once you do the last finger, have the wrap go across the palm back towards your wrist.
7. Make sure to continue wrapping across the back of your hand going towards your knuckles and wrap one more time around the top side of the knuckles. Then secure your wrist with the hand wrap you have left and make sure you fit it snugly so that there is enough support for the wrist. Once you fasten the closure of the wrap you're done.
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