Greetings, my dudes. I started training in boxing last August and so far loving it. Have only done some very light sparring once but I'm waiting until I feel more confident before I go for the full thing. ANYWAY I had a question about how you guys throw hooks on the heavy bag. I've seen a lot of people turn their knuckles up as they would a straight shot when shadow boxing but when on the bag they keep the knuckles pointing outwards. Is there a reason for this? I myself do the knuckles outwards when throwing body shots on the bag but I still turn them for higher hooks. Just wondered if you lot did anything similar and why Cheers
Some people turn their hand over when they hook because they believe it makes the punch snap. What I was told is that keeping your knuckles out you can't go wrong. If you experiment around turning the hand over is good for close range hooks while keeping the knuckles out is good for long range hooks. My personal preference was to always have the knuckles out because my wrist could withstand the shock of landing a hard shot best in that position.
I do both. When the knuckles are out you can generate more speed and reach if needed. Knuckles up has to be a bit closer in. Some can throw one or the other with more damage. At first the knuckles up felt very awkward but now it is feeling better and in close quarters I work on both.
If you are lifting your elbow at the beginning of the punch to get your knuckles 'up' you aren't doing it right. Turning the punch over maximizes the snap in the punch but turning it over and lifting your elbow to "turn" it at the start are two different things.
if you are new, keep your thumb on top like you're holding a coffee mug. it's a stronger shot and protects the thumb better. if you ever decide to compete as an amateur you should also practice elbow up/palm down because you might get called for "slapping" with your coffee mug punch. practice both and know how to adapt. I teach three basic hooks, with the shorter the elbow angle the palm closer to you. example: 45 degrees, palm facing you/coffee mug; 90 degrees elbow up/palm down; 130 degrees elbow pointing up and palm facing away from you (popular in Europe and Eastern countries).
I've recently been trying knuckles up/turn the hand over style hooks for three months after watching GGG hook to the body and head that way. What I've found may only be personal to me but for what it's worth....... I've found if I punch that way to the body I end up with a sore wrist and occasional nerve pain. I like hooking that way to the head though. I've found it easier to get behind my sparring partners lead hand and hit the temple, ear, side of the head. I feel like turn the hand over hooks to the head to be faster and more accurate but knuckles out to the body seems to have more power.
