6 Best Wrist Wraps For Young Gymnasts That Protect Developing Wrists

Your daughter comes home from gymnastics practice, excited about the back walkover she’s finally mastering, but she’s also rubbing her wrists. Or maybe your son is starting to work on the mushroom trainer, and you can see the strain as he supports his full body weight for the first time. As a parent, you want to protect those small, developing joints without getting in the way of their progress.

Protecting Developing Wrists in Young Gymnasts

Gymnastics is a fantastic sport for building strength and coordination, but it places unique demands on a child’s body. The wrists, in particular, take on a huge load, acting as shock absorbers during tumbling, vaulting, and even basic floor skills. For young athletes whose growth plates are still open, this repetitive impact requires careful management.

The goal of a wrist wrap isn’t to act as a crutch, but as a supportive tool that helps prevent hyperextension—the sharp, backward bending of the wrist that can lead to soreness and injury. Good support gives a young gymnast the confidence to commit to a skill. It also encourages proper form by providing feedback and making it physically harder to rely on a dangerously flexed wrist.

So, when is it time to consider them? The best answer often comes from your child’s coach, who can distinguish between normal muscle fatigue and a technical issue that needs correcting. However, if your child consistently complains of soreness after practice, or if they are starting to learn skills like back handsprings or round-offs, it’s a great time to explore your options.

Tiger Paws Wrist Supports for All-Around Use

If you’ve spent any time around a gymnastics gym, you’ve likely seen Tiger Paws. They are the recognizable, often colorful, and robust supports that many competitive gymnasts wear. They are a significant step up from a simple elastic band, designed to provide serious, structured protection.

The key feature of Tiger Paws is their system of removable foam and plastic inserts. These inserts sit on the top and bottom of the wrist, limiting how far it can bend in either direction. This rigidity is crucial for high-impact events like floor and vault, where a gymnast’s full body weight comes down hard on their hands. You can customize the level of support by adding or removing the inserts.

These are generally best for gymnasts who have moved beyond introductory classes and are training several hours a week. Think of the 8 to 12-year-old who is part of a pre-team or developmental program. They are learning the powerful skills that put real pressure on the wrists, and Tiger Paws provide the protection needed to train those skills safely and consistently.

US Glove Neoprene Wrist Bands for Flexibility

Sometimes, a gymnast doesn’t need a rigid brace but just a little bit of comfort and compression. Your child might feel a bit of instability or just want a reminder to keep their wrists tight. This is where a simple neoprene band shines.

Unlike more structured supports, these bands don’t have any plastic inserts or rigid components. Their value comes from providing warmth and gentle compression to the joint, which can increase blood flow and give the athlete a sense of security. They allow for a full range of motion, which is essential for skills on the uneven bars where wrist flexibility is key.

This type of support is an excellent starting point for younger gymnasts in recreational programs (ages 5-7) or for any athlete who finds more restrictive braces uncomfortable. They are a low-cost, low-commitment way to address minor wrist awareness without hindering the development of natural wrist strength.

Reisport Wristbands for Basic Skill Support

You will see nearly every gymnast, from a five-year-old in a "Tots" class to an Olympian, wearing simple, terrycloth wristbands. It’s easy to assume these provide structural support, but their primary job is actually quite different. Their main purpose is to absorb sweat.

During long practices, sweaty palms can make it difficult to hold onto the bars securely. These cotton bands create a dry, comfortable barrier. More importantly, for gymnasts who wear dowel grips for bars, these wristbands sit underneath the leather cuff of the grip, preventing painful chafing and blisters.

While they offer a tiny amount of compression, do not rely on basic terrycloth bands for impact protection. They are an essential piece of comfort and safety equipment, especially for bar work, but they won’t stop a wrist from hyperextending during a tumbling pass. Think of them as a necessary accessory, not a primary support system.

Gibson Wrist Savers for Tumbling and Vault

Is your gymnast spending most of their time on the spring floor or the vault runway? For athletes focusing on these high-impact events, a specialized support designed specifically for tumbling can make a world of difference.

Gibson Wrist Savers and similar products often incorporate a distinct foam wedge or a dense cushion on the palm side. This design is engineered to do one thing very well: distribute the force of impact across the palm and reduce the angle of wrist extension. When a child performs a round-off or back handspring, this wedge helps keep their wrist in a stronger, safer, and more mechanically sound position.

These are not all-around supports; their bulk can interfere with bar or beam work. However, for a gymnast who is working to master their tumbling series or learning a new vault, this targeted protection is invaluable. It directly addresses the primary source of wrist stress in those specific skills.

TEN.O Wrist Supports for Advanced Gymnasts

When gymnastics becomes a central part of your child’s life, their equipment needs to keep up. For the dedicated, competitive gymnast training 10 or more hours per week, durability and precise support become top priorities.

Supports from brands like TEN.O are built for the rigors of high-level training. They often use a combination of leather, neoprene, and robust strapping systems to provide a secure fit that won’t stretch out or break down over time. The level of support is significant, designed to protect joints through thousands of repetitions of advanced skills.

This is an investment you make alongside your child’s coach. It’s for the gymnast who has demonstrated a long-term commitment and whose skill level demands a higher caliber of protection. Because they are more expensive, you want to be sure it’s the right choice for your athlete’s specific needs on events like floor and vault.

Ezy-Fit Wraps for a Custom, Adjustable Fit

One of the biggest challenges with kids’ gear is that they grow so quickly. A support that fits perfectly in September might be too tight by February. This is where simple, adjustable wrap-style supports offer a fantastic and budget-friendly solution.

These supports are essentially a long strap of neoprene or elastic material with a thumb loop and a velcro closure. The gymnast can wrap it as many times as needed, controlling the exact level of tension and support. They can be wrapped loosely for warmth during conditioning or pulled tight for maximum stability before a tumbling pass.

Their adjustability makes them incredibly versatile. They can fit a wide range of wrist sizes, which is great for growing kids or for families who might be passing gear down to a younger sibling. They provide a nice middle ground between a simple compression band and a rigid, structured brace.

Matching Support Level to Your Gymnast’s Skill

Ultimately, the goal is not to buy the most expensive or most protective wrist wrap available. The goal is to buy the right one for your child’s current age, skill level, and training intensity. Over-supporting a wrist can prevent it from developing the necessary strength, while under-supporting it can lead to discomfort and injury.

Here is a simple framework to help guide your decision:

• Beginner (Ages 5-8, Recreational Classes): Focus first on proper conditioning to build wrist strength. If support is needed, start with simple neoprene bands for comfort and a sense of security.
• Intermediate (Ages 8-12, Developmental/Pre-Team): As they begin learning back handsprings and vaulting over the table, a structured support like Tiger Paws is a very common and effective choice.
• Advanced (Ages 10+, Competitive Team): At this stage, the decision should be made in close consultation with a coach. Durable, high-support options are needed to withstand the high training volume.

Before you make any purchase, talk to your child’s coach. They are your single best resource. They understand your child’s specific technique, the skills they are working on, and the physical demands of their level. A good coach can tell you if wrist soreness is a sign that more support is needed or if it’s an indication that a technical correction in their form is the real solution.

Choosing the right equipment is one small way you can support your child’s athletic journey. By matching the wrist wrap to their developmental stage, you’re not just protecting their joints; you’re giving them the confidence they need to safely and joyfully pursue their passion.