Just like what the title says. Despite, me being taller than most of the people I spar with (I'm 6'2 and 170lbs) I have very hard time landing my jabs. It might be because I'm southpaw or I just have very bad aim. However, my other shots like straight left or lead hooks, I'm using able to land it well because I can feint before throwing those, but even if I feint then throw a jab it never lands. My jab is pretty much used as primary distraction and feint tool. But, I feel like since my jab doesn't land isn't it going to much harder to score points in amateurs? Anyways, some tips regarding landing the jab would be appreciated. Also I've been boxing little over a year now if you wanted to know. Thank you.
Use their jab as a opportunity to counter with your own jab. Why are you afraid to throw it. What happens? Does it fall short?
I'm not afraid to throw my jabs nor getting hit, but it seems like when ever I throw my jab it falls short even though I have longer reach than most people. I also step in with my jab when I throw it. I may video tape my sparring session next time I go to gym to show you what I'm talking about.
Maybe next time you spar do a few rounds where you basically only throw the jab, forget your other shots and work solely on your jab. Try use spars as a way to progress rather than to simulate a fight (obviously nearer a fight you need these hard spars).
Jab to the body and then jab to the face quickly and step in with the jab to move him and set him off balance or faint to the body if you prefer but change it up dont be predictable, watch Marvin Hagler vs Sibson too see how the southpaw jab is perfectly used,
If its still not working try throwing lead lefts then with the forward momentum duck to your right under his hands and move to orthodox stance on the inside and throw a right to the body and a left to the jaw, when it works it's amazing :good
You should try working on the mitts and on the bag and shadowboxing with doubling and tripling up on the jab. Get to the point where you can just pump them out quickly without even thinking about it. Before you even get to that point however, I can guarantee that working on doubling and tripling up on the jab in sparring will eventually lead to the correct results. Also, ever think that you might be projecting it a little? Maybe you could focus on disrupting your opponents rythm a little by moving your body and jabbing at very different speeds. I think it all comes down to being comfortable with throwing the jab while moving in a lot of different directions while aiming in a lot of different places with varying modes of speed in power. The more you practice the jab, the more that happens and as it does happen you will eventually notice more and more opportunities to land the jab. Once you can really work it, I think the jab is probably the easiest punch to land in boxing. Also, just to work on pumping it out, watch chad Dawson training. When he shadow boxes he throws his jab beautifully. It also helps to watch a lot of different pros because a lot of them get really good at throwing the jab in one particular way. Pernell Whitaker is really fun to watch when he steps inside of his opponents left foot and lands a quick jab inside. Sonny Liston is really good at getting low and throwing a jab up at the chin of his opponent. He broke the jaw of the "real rocky" with that punch. He also throws it a bunch (often unsuccessfully but still really well) in his first fight with Muhammad Ali. Andre ward is fun to watch the way he pumps his jab particularly when he faught Arthur Abraham and he kept pummeling him with his jab through his guard. Sugar ray Robinson has a great upjab (jab thrown from hands down). You can see him use it really well in any one of his fights against jake Lamotta. Also hit the double end bag a lot with the jab. It helps a lot with timing and it does a lot of good particularly with shorter fighters who like to move their heads and get low to rush you and get on the inside,
I just had another sparring session today. But I seemed to notice I was able to land more jabs when I switched up my rhythm of moving to right, left, and etc. Also, I realized I don't let my hands go as much, until the late round today I let my hands go and landed a lot of combinations, so that might one of factor for not being able to land some of my punches because I wait too long to just land one good punch.
the most horrible thing in the world to fight is a southpaw that circles right and jabs. Being tall and able to jab while out of reach and over the other guy's shoulder...Step around, not in.
