Why Do Baseball Players Tape Their Wrists? (My Best Take)

When I first start following baseball games closely, one thing I noticed in almost all the matches that almost all the players tape their wrists. Do you know why do baseball players tape their wrists?

Additional support is the main reason why most baseball players tape their wrists. Additional support can keep you far away from fractures, dislocations, and sprains. On the other hand, wrist tape makes the player’s outfit stylish and cool.

Some players became so obsessed with their wrist tapes; that they believed in them at a superstitious level. It also helps the players to recover from injuries.

Why do baseball players tape their wrists?

While watching many baseball matches live you may have noticed that many players have taped their wrists. There is no doubt that these tapes look very cool and make the players’ outfit stylist. This is not the actual reason for using it. A player must do a lot of wrist work in a baseball match.

It involves hitting, throwing the ball, and catching. So to a baseball player wrist is one of the most important body parts; it directly impacts the player’s performance. By chance, if any player’s wrist is slightly injured, he cannot deliver his best because baseball is a game in which the entire game revolves around the players’ wrists.

And tape can provide extra support and stability to the player’s wrists. Players can keep their wrists safe from unnecessary minor injuries with this tape. There are also some other reasons, which include hiding jewelry, quickly recovering from an injury, and stylish looks.

To avoid/heal Injuries

The main reason why baseball players usually tape their wrists is to skip injuries to some extent. This tape gives extra support to the player’s wrists and doesn’t cause any distraction. 

While swinging the bat, if any player accidentally puts his wrist in an awkward position, this tape helps greatly. It offers extra support, and the player’s wrist doesn’t get excessive damage. 

Another situation when the players can feel the effectiveness of the wrist tape is when they fall on the ground. For this tape, the wrist of the players doesn’t get twisted much, and it can’t make any bad impact on the player’s wrist. If the player doesn’t taped his wrists, there is a high chance of causing ligament damage.

A wrist injury has a very bad impact on any player’s performance. For a wrist injury, a player might not be able to play or field at his favorite place. So every player wants to avoid wrist injury. It can affect your batting and balling. So avoiding injuries is the most common reason baseball players tape their wrists.

The wrist tapes also help in healing an injury faster. These tapes can’t directly repair ligament damage. But these can speed up the recovery phase. The wrist tape can prevent further damage if any player’s wrist is already minorly injured. It helps minorly injured players feel at ease and comfortable while playing a baseball match.

But for severe cases, like fracture or tear, the players must take a doctor’s consultation before playing a match with wrist tape. That is because, in some cases, wrist tapes can be more dangerous than bare hands. Somehow, wrist tapes limit the wrist’s movement, which can affect a damaged wrist’s condition; for such cases, a medical expert’s consultation is a must.

To Increase Wrist Strength

For a wrist tape, the baseball players’ wrists swing less; extra and unnecessary swings of wrists can cause severe injuries. It gives them extra support and strength. Some baseball gloves have tapered designs.

These gloves help the players catch balls very easily with less swing of wrists. Many professional baseball players use wrist tape in many professional leagues. But amateur players use wrist tapes more.

An extra wrist swing can reduce a player’s accuracy and causes a loss of power. SO wrist tapping not only gives the players extra strength and support, but it also helps improve their play. Taped wrists don’t cause any discomfort, but you always need to carry some spare tapes because you need to change them every six games.

To Hide Jewelry   

Hiding or covering up any jewelry is another common reason most baseball players use wrist tapes. A baseball player cannot wear a wristband or bracelet at the professional level because these will resist the player’s free movement to some extent.

But some players wear some jewelry not only for fashion; they have religious reasons, for which those players cannot take it off. In such conditions, the players cover this jewelry with wrist tape; it is the easiest and most effective way out.

For Professional Look

A taped wrist gives an aesthetic feel, making the player’s outfit more professional; for this simple reason, many players prefer to use wrist tape. Many baseball players tape their wrists for a stylish, cool outfit; even some feel more confident with it.

Why not if a simple tape can boost a player’s confidence level. Some belief in it at a superficial level. They feel they can deliver better performance if they use wrist tape.

How do you tape your wrist for baseball?

To a baseball player, taping his wrists is not a very tough task. But he must follow proper guidelines and do it correctly; otherwise, it will become loose and start to circulate to his hand.

On the other hand, if you make it lose, it will not be so effective and will not be able to give proper support to your wrists. So the player needs to follow the proper steps.

• First Step: First of all, the player needs to wash and clean his hand with some soap and water. Then he needs to dry it completely; he can use a towel. Then leave the wrist for at least 5 minutes to air dry completely.
• Second Step: Now, the player needs to have the pre-wrap should be placed on the right side of the player’s wrist. Now wrap it up smoothly below the wrist area. Firstly, he should place it around the wrist, then slowly move it towards the lower palm. The pre-wrap must be cut from its roll when it is done correctly. 
• Third Step: You can now apply the main sports tape. You need to wrap it around your wrist twice. But, you must ensure you’ve pulled it tightly. On the other hand, if you make it too tight, it will prevent the free circulation of the wrists.

What are the benefits of taping wrists?

While you are playing a baseball match, wrist taping can give you many benefits. First of all, it helps in preventing minor wrist injuries. It can help increase your bat speed, which can improve your performance. It also gives you more control while throwing a ball. It also offers a proper grip to hit a ball accurately and helps reduce cuts, blisters, and bruises.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Wrist tape is very helpful to baseball players suffering from an injury or in the recovery phase. Offering better grip and stability can directly improve a player’s batting, bowling, and fielding. Amature players are very fond of it, but some professional players also use it.