Boxing sparring: headgear or no headgear?

[Kill A Bee]

Hi,

How much faster my brains turn in to non-living jelly if I use no headgear when sparring? My coach says the helmets are mostly to prevent cuts from headbutts etc when you're clinching but I can't imagine this being the complete truth. It's obviously more comfortable and light / free when I wear no headgear and I don't feel any worse when I get caught than when I wear one. We are sparring with 14-16oz gloves in the gym.

[ojgsxr6]

Depends, on how hard you spar. If you don't go any harder than 50%, I'd say no head gear is a valid option. Any harder and I'd say you're better of with head gear.

[Kill A Bee]

We spar pretty light but as me and my sparring partners are newbies it's sometimes an effort to keep it light when people get excited (or hurt) :)

My head feels like a frisbee from yesterday's sparring practice.. need to learn not to go and brawl in the clinch when I have a big reach advantage over my opponent :happy:

[Takeshi]

Is as simple as do both. Sometimes Headgear and sometimes no... although for more intense sparring you might want headgear

[gavD]

The real reason you want headgear is to protect your hearing. If you get whacked in the ear with a boxing glove, the compressed air can burst your eardrum. I always wear headgear for this reason (musician, see!)

[Diesel_tke]

I typically don't wear head gear, and haven't had any issues with it. Some of my sparring partners wear them, but I think it is more of a convidence thing. However, I just recently had nose surgery, and am probaly going to have to start wearing some type of head gear to protect the nose for a while. Haven't found a good option yet. I'll let you know how that goes.

But as for me, I never found any benefit from wearing them, unless I was already banged up from annother sparring session and was trying to heal up.

[gregaquaman]

I have worn both And also haven't noticed any difference. But I don't know about long term effects either way.

I do wear one when I box but that is mostly because if I dont I get hit harder for being a cocky bastard.

[tao.jonez]

Wearing headgear is smart if you clinch at all - it'll protect you from headbutts, cauliflower ear, Velcro abrasions, and the aforementioned popped eardrum. It also helps if you're sparring hard. Getting gear that fits properly is vital, otherwise you'll be constantly adjusting it and it will distract and irritate you.

Sidebar - I've had my eardrum burst by a fairly light hook that was timed just right. No big deal, no permanent damage, but it wouldn't have happened if I was wearing gear.

[ChenPengFi]

In addition to the aforementioned reasons for headgear,
i've fallen onto my forehead clutching my gut after a good body-shot and was glad i had mine on then.

[alex]

i dont wear one, im too fucking hardcore.