Boxers are notorious for breaking bones in their hands. This could be for a number of reasons. They have punched a hard surface such as a wall or another boxer’s jaw. Their punch was not ‘straight’ and the pinkie and ring finger bore the full impact. The boxer had not taped his hands up properly or even at all. In bare-knuckle fights a boxer will try to avoid punching his opponent in the jaw, as this is one of the most robust bones in the human body and he is more likely to break his hand than knock his opponent out. Boxing with gloves offers great padding on impact but essential support for the knuckles is lacking.

Applying a good boxing tape to your hands is one way you can protect your hands and improve your punch. Many boxers claim that wrapping their hands in tape keeps their bones supported and compressed meaning they can increase the force of the blow delivered and experience less pain. A strong tape will not only hold the bones in your hand firmly in place but can also serve as a reminder to boxers (particularly those new to the sport) of the importance of good hand positioning when striking your rival.

Applying hand tape for a boxing match should be done to suit the needs of the individual boxer. Some athletes may need extra wrist support; others may have old injuries in their thumb joints that need special consideration. Expert advice should always be sought from your coach or an experienced friend. There are many videos on YouTube offering advice to boxers but remember that you may need to be aware of any alterations you may need to make when wrapping your own hands ready for your next fight.