How to Tape for Boxers

Gauze and tape combined with a tried and true technique of enveloping the hand and wrist are all key to a proper boxer's hand wrap. The wrist must be solidly encased with gauze and tape, and the knuckles should be padded. The best wrap protects against knuckle damage or breakage, overall hand damage and wrist injuries. The technique is perfected by stabilizing the area from the forearm up to the first knuckle on the fingers.

Things You'll Need

  • Gauze wrap
  • Athletic tape
  • Knuckle pad
  • Chair with high back
  • Chair for hand wrapper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Sit in a chair facing the person you're wrapping up. The first hand to be wrapped needs to be placed over the top of the back part of the chair the fighter is sitting backwards in. The person wrapping will need access to the hand and all the way down to about mid-forearm. A knuckle pad -- consisting of an entire roll of gauze wrapped around the spread fingers of your hand -- should be prepared in advance, removed and set aside for placement in mid-wrap.

    • 2

      Wrap the wrist area first right down to the forearm and back. The stabilized wrist is important in boxing because of the odd angles of punches and the potential for wrist injuries if this area is not expertly wrapped. You may end up using the majority of your gauze on the wrist area in the long run. When you reach the end of a roll, tape it off and wrap over it with the beginning of the next roll of gauze. Work your way up around the thumb and around the lower part of the hand.

    • 3

      Place the knuckle pad over the top of the knuckles and wrap some gauze around it. You can wrap gauze all around and between the fingers, or you can use a combined mix of tape and gauze to secure the knuckle pad to the hand. Long strips of tape tucked under the gauze around the top side of the hand and stretching down between the fingers to around the bottom of the wrist wrap area is a common technique.

    • 4

      Wrap the wrist and hand with "X" patterns for a compact and padded feel that allows for circulation. Use small pieces of tape for the ends of the gauze rolls. The final taping process starts with the forearm and wrist taping working all the way back up to around the knuckle pad. Always keep tightness in mind and have the fighter keep a fist through most of the taping until the hand area is reached. The fighter's palm needs to breathe, so avoid putting too much tape around the palm area. Keep in mind that sweat will not allow tape to stick to the palm area, anyway. Use "X" patterns around the back of the hand more than loops around the whole hand area.

    • 5

      Inspect your work for loose ends, for palm breathing and for bumps or irregular areas on the knuckle pad. If the taping is for a professional fight, someone from a boxing commission may inspect the hand wrap and observe the process. The opposing trainer can also watch the hand-wraps being applied. A fighter's tape coming off can lead to a fight being stopped as well, and it could be at an unfortunate time when the fighter with the tape issues is dominating the bout. It is important to observe all local rules as each commission might have different wrapping requirements.