Why do baseball players tape their wrists?

[padresfan2007]

I have played baseball all my life and have seen players at all levels wrap tape on there wrists. And I have never asked anyone why they do that. Can anyone tell me why haha thanks.

[DriVin10]

I think it might be for looks, but Im not sure. I would also like to know the true reason for it, as well as the purpose of eye black :)

[jamesh23]

eye black is to take the glare from the sun away from your eyes, sorry if that doesnt make sense. I dont know about taped wrists.

[padresfan2007]

Haha yeah I knew about the eye black but still wondering about the tape. Hopefully someone will be able to explain this.

[bluezebra]

Taping the wrists is for protection against twisting them unduly, and causing injury. Eye black is to cut down the glare of the Sun, or the lights during night games. Football players also use eye black. But, actually, if you look closely, players use a special tape, rather than eye black. When I played football, we burned corks, and used that for eye black.

Bob

[paul5150]

people tape their wrists:
1. Catchers do it to support their wrist.
2. People will do it because of injury.
3. But mostly people think theyre cool doing it because some mlb players do it.

[cubsphill]

...
3. But mostly people think theyre cool doing it because some mlb players do it.

think? :D

[bbfreak8]

I'm a catcher and before I really got good at blocking a ball in the dirt I would take lots of balls off the wrist so that's why I started taping my wrists. I would put alot of pre-wrap on too to give it some more cusion. I think MOST people do it for looks though. lol

[DriVin10]

People say that eye black is supposed to stop the glare of the sun/lights, but does it actually help? From my experience not really... I just use it for looks.

[hiddengem]

I do it for wrist support. During a regular day at the field I'll probably take anywhere from 100-200 swings...sometimes more sometimes less. After doing that everyday for a season including Spring Training I will probably take 30-40,000 swings. Taping your wrists give them support from the daily pounding they recieve.

[padresfan2007]

hey hiddengem thanks for the answer haha I just never knew why. ALso did you ever play against cole hamels from the phillies in the minors???

[Paulypal]

Not sure the taping helps at all. If you tape it to the point it offers true support you limit your range of motion. If you tape it where it doesnt limit your range of motion...then how much are you supporting it?

I am not speaking from experience I never tape them, but it just seems to make sense to me.

[Arnie#6]

I'm a catcher and before I really got good at blocking a ball in the dirt I would take lots of balls off the wrist so that's why I started taping my wrists. I would put alot of pre-wrap on too to give it some more cusion. I think MOST people do it for looks though. lol

hehe i stuff prewrap in my catchers mitt :D also a nice long terrycloth wristband(6inch) would do the same and youll still look cool.

[Jake Patterson]

Not sure the taping helps at all.
The why do gymnast tape their wrists?

BTW not recommended for youngsters....

[CanadianKid]

Like HG said, for support. Many guys on my team tape their wrists (18under team).

[hiddengem]

Not sure the taping helps at all. If you tape it to the point it offers true support you limit your range of motion. If you tape it where it doesnt limit your range of motion...then how much are you supporting it?

I am not speaking from experience I never tape them, but it just seems to make sense to me.

Just trust me..it helps support your wrists and limits the stress put on them.

When I played with Bagwell, he taped his wrists so tight that his hands were freezing cold no matter how hot it was outside. Do you think he would just do that for looks?

[jamesh23]

what if your a pitcher? would you only tape your left wrist?

[Paulypal]

Just trust me..it helps support your wrists and limits the stress put on them.

When I played with Bagwell, he taped his wrists so tight that his hands were freezing cold no matter how hot it was outside. Do you think he would just do that for looks?

Well like I said I never tape them so I dont know from experience. I am sure it gets done for a reason, but my experience with any support device is it limits range of motion to some degree.

[paul5150]

what if your a pitcher? would you only tape your left wrist?

pitchers dont tape their wrists. Why would a pitcher need to? You're not allowed either i beleive.

[CanadianKid]

pitchers dont tape their wrists. Why would a pitcher need to? You're not allowed either i beleive.

Nope. Pitchers aren't allowed anything on their wrists (wristbands, tape, bracelets). They also aren't allowed wearing white sleeves as it can camoflauge the ball. If they have tatoo's they must wear long sleeves like Brandon League.

[bluezebra]

Nope. Pitchers aren't allowed anything on their wrists (wristbands, tape, bracelets). They also aren't allowed wearing white sleeves as it can camoflauge the ball. If they have tatoo's they must wear long sleeves like Brandon League.

There is NO restriction on the sleeve color in OBR: 1.11 (a) (1) All players on a team shall wear uniforms identical in color, trim and style, and all players uniforms shall include minimal six inch numbers on their backs. (2) Any part of an undershirt exposed to view shall be of a uniform solid color for all players on a team. Any player other than the pitcher may have numbers, letters, insignia attached to the sleeve of the undershirt. (3) No player whose uniform does not conform to that of his teammates shall be permitted to participate in a game.

US FED rules prohibit white sleeves for pitchers.

Bob

[BatSpinner]

During college I had to tape both wrists, about 3 years ago I was just down to my right one. This year I didn't have to tape my right one either.

It wasn't about looks it was about them (esp the right one) hurting every swing and every time I caught a ball.

I was very happy that I didn't have to do it once, and hope never to do it again. I would rather be pain free than have to tape them up.

[andy1818]

Well like I said I never tape them so I dont know from experience. I am sure it gets done for a reason, but my experience with any support device is it limits range of motion to some degree.

I've taped my wrists ever since I can remember and it is great for support, and I think it limits range of motion you don't want your wrists to go. For instance, look at NFL players they tape their ankles so much it is more like a splint than anything else and acts as protection againt injury. Same thing for baseball.

[3RDBASE]

I have played baseball all my life and have seen players at all levels wrap tape on there wrists. And I have never asked anyone why they do that. Can anyone tell me why haha thanks.

I've been taping my wrists since way back.

Main reason for protection...
Second, when you're throwing the ball, you don't flick your wrist as much. It helps me throw more accurately. [consistent release points]...

That's just me.

[MrSurprise]

Well like I said I never tape them so I dont know from experience. I am sure it gets done for a reason, but my experience with any support device is it limits range of motion to some degree.

I think that limiting range is kind of the point of taping your wrist? The tape limits your range enough that you won't jam or strain *spelling* your wrist...

[Baseballking15]

i tape mi wrists just for the look

[korp]

Eye black is not suppose to block everything like sunglasses which is why people underestimate it but it does do what its suppose to .. reduce glare. Tape can help with fielding keep your wrist stiff/straight and not get injuried. I also found that sometimes if you get hit in the wrist hitting or whatever and its swollen it can relieve some pain sort of like a splint if you will.

[JackB1]

Can someone explain how you properly tape your wrists and what type of tape do you use? Is it actual athletic tape or more of a elastic gauze type of thing?

[korp]

Can someone explain how you properly tape your wrists and what type of tape do you use? Is it actual athletic tape or more of a elastic gauze type of thing?

Sure. First off you don't want to have a fist when doing it because this can lead to cutting off circulation. Have your hand open with all fingers spread out. Then basically just wrap it up as far as you want, I don't go more than two tape lengths from the end of my wrist. To get the same amount of tape I use all the time I hold one hand in front of my chest with the roll and stretch out my other arm as far as I can and thats a pretty good length. The tape is just plain athletic tape but there are different kinds ... ones with big holes, normal tape, colored ect. I find that colored tape sticks for about 2 seconds and then stops sticking. I also use pre-wrap because for one it helps from keeping the tape too tight and two when you sweat the tape will still stick because the sweat is not going on the tape. I personally try and get the tape end underneath my wrist facing away from my body but its because I like the end to be there I don't think it really matters.

[Baseball gLove]

My son uses wrist bands high on his forearms to protect against scrapes.

[JackB1]

this brings up a related question....

Why do most players now where a wristband halfway up their forearm on their throwing hand? This started a few years ago and now almost everyone is doing it. What gives?

[Baseball gLove]

this brings up a related question....

Why do most players now where a wristband halfway up their forearm on their throwing hand? This started a few years ago and now almost everyone is doing it. What gives?

See my post above.

My son uses wrist bands high on his forearms to protect against scrapes.

[korp]

In my opinion if you have the wrist band further up your arm it is probably going to stop scrapes there and lower on your arm. Plus I wouldn't be surprised if other sports ... basketball and football .... wrist band locations affected it at all but thats what I would say is it protects more of your arm from scrapes.

[bafh]

I started wearing wrist bands half way up my arm due because of sweating problems. I wear an elbow cup on my throwing arm and found that as the game / practice wore on, sweat would increasingly run down into the palm of my throwing hand and make it impossible grip the ball. I wear them up on my forearm as opposed to around my wrist because I don't like the feel of them on my wrist as well as the fact that I wear batting gloves when I bat and the wrist wrap of the glove won't fit around the wrist band. Just easier to wear them a little higher all the time than to be constantly moving them up, putting on the batting gloves, and then sliding them back down. Guess it all comes down to just being a little bit lazy.

[freddy]

I am guessing that it's a sweat issue and maybe just maybe the pros are getting a nice little check to wear them and the marketing game continues.

[cubsphill]

if your hand is sweaty just pat the dirt and then rub your hands together. thatll keep you hands dry for an inning.