Step-By-Step Hand Wrapping (Traditional Boxing Wraps)
Boxing hand wraps protect your hands, wrists, and even your gloves. Using wraps whenever you use gloves will keep your gloves smelling fresher. Most importantly, wraps serve as added padding for your knuckles and added stability for your wrists. Beginners should always use hand wraps and gloves when they are hitting a heavy bag.
Should I Wrap My Hands For Boxing?
Yes, you should wrap your hands for boxing. Boxing hand wraps protect the wrists and knuckles from the impact of hitting the bag and increase the lifetime of your gloves.
What Does Wrapping Your Hands Do For Boxing?
Wrapping your hands has several important functions in boxing. The top functions of hand wraps are to:
- Protect the knuckles
- Protect the wrists
- Keep your gloves fresh
There are two main varieties of boxing hand wraps to choose from: traditional hand wraps and quick wraps. Here we’ll look at traditional cloth wraps.
Step-By-Step Traditional Hand Wrapping
For beginners learning how to wrap hands for boxing, check out this boxing hand wrapping tutorial with FightCamp trainer Shanie Smash and follow these easy steps:
Step 1
Reverse roll the wraps so that the text faces inside; Unroll about 12 inches of the wrap to start, keeping the rest rolled up (this makes wrapping easier)
Step 2
Place loop over thumb and roll the wrap around the wrist 3-4 times
Step 3
Wrap once between each finger and one time around the wrist in between each finger wrap
Step 4
Wrap around knuckles 3-4 times, depending on your hand size (large hands: wrap 3 times; small hands: wrap 4 times)
Step 5
Wrap thumb once, then wrap wrist again
Step 6
Place red tracker on the top of your right wrist with the rounded edge towards your knuckles (you’ll place the blue tracker in the same position on your left wrist)
Step 7
Wrap tracker onto wrist, then finish wrapping on the wrist and close velcro
Repeat all steps for the other hand, and you’re ready to go!
How Tight Should You Wrap Your Hands Boxing?
You should wrap your hands tight enough to feel snug, but not so tight that you cut off circulation. Your wraps shouldn’t be slipping on your hands, and you should still be able to move your fingers enough to make a fist. Try to wrap your hands a little tighter around your wrists to create more stability where it is needed most.
Can I Hit a Heavy Bag With Just Hand Wraps?
Yes, you can hit a heavy bag with just hand wraps, but this is not recommended for beginners. Both wraps and gloves are very important while learning proper form and technique.
Which Is Better: Hand Wraps or Gloves?
Both hand wraps and gloves are equally important to beginner boxing. Only with continued training can you consider skipping the gloves and using just wraps. Moreover, anytime you are using gloves, you want to use wraps to keep your gloves from starting to smell. Wraps absorb most of the sweat from your hands and can be washed between workouts, whereas gloves cannot.
Are Hand Wraps Necessary For Boxing?
Though hand wraps are not always necessary for boxing, we highly recommend boxing wraps for beginners.
More experienced fighters may want to toughen their hands by bare-knuckle boxing. This is only after advanced training to ensure they do not damage their wrists or hands.
Where Can I Buy Boxing Hand Wraps?
You can buy boxing hand wraps from most major fitness retailers. It’s recommended to purchase a few different sets at a time so you can wash them regularly but still have a fresh pair ready for each workout. FightCamp also offers boxing quick wraps as part of the equipment package.
What Size Hand Wraps Should I Get For Boxing?
Boxing hand wraps are typically 15-18 feet long, which is a lot of material to wrap! The length of boxing hand wraps for you is determined by the size of your hands and how much extra padding you prefer. If you have smaller hands, consider going with a shorter wrap to start, and feeling how comfortable it is in your gloves. In the end, which wraps you choose comes down to your own personal preference.
Boxing hand wraps are necessary anytime you are wearing gloves. Hand wraps are essential to prevent injury to the hands and wrists, and they will keep your gloves smelling fresh. Consider looking into the pros and cons of traditional wraps versus quick wraps, or better yet, try both to see which you like better!
The FightCamp equipment package offers boxing quick wraps and gloves to help you get started on your beginner boxing journey.
Related Articles
How To Use Boxing Hand Wraps: For Beginners
How To Use Traditional Wraps with FightCamp
Step-By-Step: How To Put On Boxing Quick Wraps