I'm looking to go amateur in the near future and I train regularly at a boxing gym and do roadwork,shadowboxing and calisthenics at home. I do well on the bags, pads etc. but when its time to spar I find it hard to find my range or measure the distance. For example: I think i'm in range to punch so I step in with a jab but really I was way out of range so once I finish jabbing i'm vulnerable and get tagged with a punch. Any advice on how to measure distance/ find your range and any drills that can help with this? Trainer says once I work on this I'm set to go amateur. Advice much appreciated.
On the heavybag, start on the outside, and take steps in pushing off your back foot (like you normally would) throwing your jab, until the bag is at the very end of your jab, while youre still properly balanced. At the distance where your the bag is at the end of your jab, stop moving forward. This is your range. From that range, feel how your straight right connects off a jab at that particular distance. Remember to stay balanced without lunging forward. Practice those punches at that distance. Practice entering that distance, punching, and getting out of range, and repeating that. Doing all this will help you get a feel for when an opponent entered your range, and vice versa. Also practice throwing some jabs right outside of the range, so you get a feel for when you're too far as well. And it will help you throw punches from the right distance without compromising balance. Others here may be able to provide better tips. I know I had the same issue, and this is what worked for me.
