Safety
Your hands: wraps, and why they matter
Hand injuries end more amateur boxing than head shots do. Most are avoidable.
3 min read
The short version
- Wraps hold the hand's small bones together and brace the wrist. The glove is the padding.
- Wrist first, three turns. That is the part that prevents sprains.
- Land on the first two knuckles with a straight wrist.
What wraps actually do
They hold the small bones of the hand together and support the wrist. They are not padding — the glove is the padding. A wrap that is soft and loose is decoration.
Wrap for the bag and for sparring, every time. The injury does not come from the hard session you were ready for; it comes from the casual one you were not.
The order
- Loop over the thumb, then three turns around the wrist. This is the part that stops sprains.
- Three turns around the palm, below the knuckles.
- Between the fingers, one at a time, returning across the palm each time.
- Back down to the wrist, finish there, and fasten.
- Make a fist. It should tighten, not pinch. If your fingers tingle, start again.
Punching form saves hands too
Land on the first two knuckles with a straight wrist. Most broken hands are a bent wrist or a hook landing on the little-finger side.