Okay, so today I want to talk about boxing tape. You know, the stuff you wrap around your hands before you put on your boxing gloves. I got into boxing a few months ago, and let me tell you, it’s a whole different world. And one of the first things I learned was how important it is to wrap your hands right.
First off, I went online and started checking out different kinds of hand wraps. There are tons of them! Some are made of cotton, some are called “Mexican” style, and then there are these fancy gel ones. I even saw some wraps that are specifically for competitions. It was kind of overwhelming, to be honest. I mean, how many ways can you wrap your hands, right?
I ended up trying a few different types. I started with some cheap ones I found online. Big mistake. They were so thin and didn’t really offer much support. My knuckles were killing me after just a few rounds on the heavy bag.
Then, I tried the “Mexican” style wraps. These were a bit better. They’re a little stretchy, which makes them easier to wrap, and they felt more secure. I used these for a while, and they were okay, but I still felt like I needed something more.
Next up were the gel wraps. Now, these were interesting. They have this gel padding over the knuckles, which is supposed to give you extra protection. They felt pretty good, but they were kind of bulky under my gloves. And honestly, they were a bit pricey.
I also bought some wraps from a sporting goods store. That’s what I saw some guys at the gym using. I figured if the guys that really knew what they were doing used them, they had to be the best. I found some there, and they weren’t too expensive, so I grabbed them.
After all that experimenting, I finally settled on some good old-fashioned cotton wraps, and the ones I got from the sporting goods store were the best ones, I’d say. I learned that the best ones are the simple ones from the guy at the front desk at my boxing gym. They’re nothing fancy, but they’re durable, they offer great support, and they’re pretty cheap. Plus, they’re long enough that I can really wrap my wrists and knuckles properly.
- Cotton wraps: Good support, durable, affordable.
- Mexican wraps: Stretchy, easier to wrap, decent support.
- Gel wraps: Extra knuckle protection, bulky, more expensive.
The Process
So here is how I wrap my hands now:
First, I stretch my hand out and spread my fingers. I put my thumb through that little loop at the end of the wrap. Then, I wrap it around my wrist a few times to give it some support. After that, I go around my palm a few times.
The tricky part is wrapping between your fingers. You gotta go around each finger individually and then back to your wrist. It’s kind of a pain, but it’s super important for protecting those little bones in your hand. And finally wrap around my knuckles a few more times to get that nice padding.
Once I’m done, I secure it with the Velcro, and I’m good to go! It took a while to get the hang of it, but now I can wrap my hands in just a few minutes. And let me tell you, it makes a huge difference. My hands feel way more secure, and I can hit the bag a lot harder without worrying about hurting myself.
So, that’s my experience with boxing tape. It might seem like a small thing, but trust me, it’s essential if you’re serious about boxing. Don’t cheap out on hand wraps, and take the time to learn how to wrap them properly. Your hands will thank you!
