Gymnastics Grips and Handguards: Types, Fit and Care

Once a gymnast moves on to handguards, getting the type and fit right matters more than the basic “leotard and bare feet” choices covered in a general kit guide — see the general kit guide for the broader basics.

What the rules say

There’s no British Gymnastics rule on which handguards to buy, but there are clear rules on their condition:

• In training, British Gymnastics’ safety guidance says special equipment such as handguards must be suitable, not loose-fitting, and in good order.
• In competition, the FIG’s 2025–2028 Codes of Points permit handguards, body bandages and wrist wraps provided they are securely fastened and in good repair.

When a handguard breaks

Both Codes of Points recognise that handguards fail. If one tears badly enough to cause a fall or interrupt a routine:

• Women may repeat the entire exercise, without deduction, with the Superior Jury’s approval — but must show the broken handguard to the head judge before leaving the podium.
• Men may repeat the entire exercise on rings or horizontal bar, without deduction, at the end of the rotation with the judges’ approval.

That rule is a good reason to check handguards regularly rather than waiting for them to fail.

Material

Leather handguards are traditional, need breaking in, and mould to the gymnast’s hands over time; synthetic options are often marketed as needing less break-in. Which suits a particular gymnast is usually a matter of coach guidance and personal preference rather than one being objectively better.

Dowel or palm guards

Some handguards have a dowel — a small rod across the inside of the guard that the fingers wrap around, which takes some of the grip load. Simpler palm guards without a dowel mainly protect the skin and are common for beginners. Dowel guards are mostly used on uneven bars and horizontal bar, where gymnasts swing continuously in giant swings; the grip a gymnast uses on the bar itself is a separate question — see uneven bars grip types.

Fit

Both the length of the guard and the position of the dowel affect how securely it sits. Guards are generally meant to fit snugly, as leather stretches with wear. Ask the coach to check fit before a new pair is used on the bar, and again as a gymnast’s hands grow.

Care

Handguards wear out. Check the stitching, the wrist straps and the area where the leather meets the dowel or strap, and replace guards that are thinning or tearing rather than assuming they’ll last.