So I've found in the last few weeks that suddenly I feel extremely uncomfortable throwing left hooks as an orthodox fighter - I used to throw them with my fingers facing me, dropping my right shoulder towards my left foot then pivoting on my lead foot whilst transferring the weight to the back foot. For some reason this has started to feel sloppy, I connect with my fingers rather than knuckles a lot and generally it feels uncomfortable. After playing around a bit, I've found that the only way I feel comfortable doing them is with the same foot/weight distribution as before, but by throwing the hook fingers down and continuing to turn it whereby when I hit the target my knuckles are facing me with the thumb towards the floor. I've noticed a couple of slight elbow twinges whilst doing this, but I do have a slight underlying injury on that elbow so I'm not sure if this is because hooking this way is completely wrong or just that injury coming back. I'm curious if this is an acceptable way to throw a hook - the issue I would say is that throwing power into this feels a little precarious, like I could **** my wrist up, but then I haven't yet practiced it a great deal so it could just be a form issue. Edit: Additionally, I've hardly played with it in sparring, but it seems like it's a nice way to slip it past their right hand to touch their chin, especially if thrown with a jab or feinting a jab?
yeah its good, maybe even better then fingers facing you, because turning wrist into shot gives you a little more power (moment of force) just like when you throw straights.. i do it this way too, because i am more comfortable with it, but it isn`t a rule, sometimes in sparring i do it other way (not on purpuse) but on bag or mitts i always do it with fingers facing floor.
You will hurt yourself doing it that way. You can write that down and bet on it. I once worked at a gym, two blocks from another gym, and every guy from that other gym came in with pain in his left wrist, and sprung knuckles (the outside knuckle) on his left hand from throwing his hook that way. If you are going to throw a lead hook, try this... Slide your right foot a couple inches to the right, then throw the hook. My suggestion would be to keep the palm facing you, thumb to the sky, but this gives you options. If your distance is right, that is, far enough, you can throw it palm down, almost like a straight left hand.
What's the reasoning for fingers down? I have heard arguments both ways, but to be honest the most common thing I've heard as a reason for fingers down is ABA rules. Thanks man, I'll give that a go. It's odd to me that I used to feel relatively comfortable throwing the hook with the fingers towards me, almost like I forgot how to do it.
What I always heard was ABA rule as well. You cannot throw a good short hook with the palm down. If it has suddenly become uncomfortable, take a look at the distance from which you are throwing it. There is a point where you throw it from to far, and the hook becomes a swing. That not only leads to hand and wrist damage, leaves you open to counters, but it is even money to jam up a thumb, too. Watch the James Toney/Freddie delgado fight. Toney uses the move I described above several times in this fight. Most notably the final combination. Also, if there is footage available of Al Hostak (from the 1930s), that was his money punch.
That Toney fight demonstrates it nicely, especially the final punch of the fight. Will give it a go when I'm next at training.
Never felt right throwing a hook with the palm down, as it always felt like I was putting too much stress on the shoulder joint. Palm facing in, nice and tight works for me.
lets try to keep this simple ,,,stand in your boxing stance with your guard to the chin ,then with your front hand elbow raise your elbow to shoulder level keeping your fist to chin ,,,now move the fist away from the chin ,,there you have your hook ,, if you turn the fist so the fingers are facing you ,,,there is strain going from the wrist up to the elbow ,,thats not good with the fingers facing down all the power is behind the fist making it a much solid punch i do use both ways ,,,if I'm reaching with a jab ,hook my fingers will be facing me on the point of contact (this is a much lighter hook),elbow not as high if I'm close in with all the power coming from the legs & hip twist i will put everything behind the fist with fingers down
The old time trainers always said to, 'turn the hook over'... meaning, connect with the palm facing down. But they also taught that you should turn it over at the very last moment, right before connecting. This adds extra snap to the shot. At the same time, you should squeeze the fist to get a lock so all the power transfers properly to the guy's chin. Turning the punch over also allows the knuckle portion of the glove to connect properly. With the thumb up, it's easy to end up with a slap. Not to say you can't connect solidly; many fighters throw it this way, but they'd probably be better off turning it over. Same with the right. When you turn it over, the thumb is almost facing down. Definitely more snap.
Very very very good explanation. However you rarely see many pro's throw the hook palm down (definitely not the lead)
You don't see pros throw the left hook with the palm down because it will hurt you. You'll damage your wrist, almost certainly, and you will, 100% guaranteed, take the last two knuckles on the hand you are hooking with and push them up to a place much closer to your (aching and sore) wrist than nature intended. Not to mention that by throwing the punch with the palm down you break the line of the punch, you make it harder to get your hip and shoulders into it, more likely that you'll just swing your arm.
The only pro I can think of who does is katsidis [ame]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VQcb-rdASAk[/ame] Not every time though
Muscles that control the Wrist are connected to the Elbow, the Wrist cannot move independently. Similar this applies to the Shoulder. By turning the Shot its Biochemically safer, also by turning the Shot the Shoulder gives protection to your Chin.
