It is wrapped securely around the wrist, the palm, and the base of the thumb, where it serves to both maintain the alignment of the joints, and to compress and lend strength to the soft tissues of the hand during the impact of a punch.
Most importantly, it significantly strengthens the metacarpus, reducing the likelihood of a fracture of one of the metacarpal bones.
Each sportsperson, cornerman, or cutman has a preferred wrapping method based on the situation and experience.
Training wraps are usually reusable cloth and may be secured with a small tie tab or with velcro.
A new alternative to hand wraps are foam or gel-lined fingerless gloves worn inside any boxing glove; these can be used to reduce and prevent harm to the hands and head for bag work, sparring, or competition depending on the rules of the governing organization.