Hey guys,

I've been working out on a heavy bag for a while now. I can't help but notice that my left hook seems to be 2-3x more powerful than my straight right hand. Is this normal? Do any of you guys experience the same thing? Any idea what I could be doing wrong? Btw, I pivot my lower body when I punch, I never throw any arm punches.

Its probably the way you throw it, or are you left handed?
If you pivot more with the left you'll generate more power :)

my left hook aint harder but its definitly the better puncher, quick, powerful and i can throw many in a row, probably cause ive used it more.

but anyway, train alot on your straight right........its usealy hard but many rigt hands are to slow

I'm not left handed. When I throw my right hand, I pivot my right foot in a corkscrew action so the energy travels up my foot through my hips through the right hand. Don't get me wrong, it lands hard but the left hook is definitely much much stronger.

(btw, thanks for the feedback guys)

they 'should' be about een in power but they rarely are! make sure you push off with your right foot as you throw

i'm a southpaw and i like to use the lead right hook most (lead hand)

Hey guys,

I've been working out on a heavy bag for a while now. I can't help but notice that my left hook seems to be 2-3x more powerful than my straight right hand. Is this normal? Do any of you guys experience the same thing? Any idea what I could be doing wrong? Btw, I pivot my lower body when I punch, I never throw any arm punches.


When you were studying physics you learned that Issac Newton discovered that force equals mass times acceleration (f=ma). A hook will always hit harder than a full extension punch because the fist is still accelerating when it hits the target. A full extension punch begins to slow at the end of its trajectory. So don't be surprised if you find that your hooks are deadly. In your case what is probably causing the differential is improper training.

^^ hmmm, you say that assuming a decrease in acceleration. he could still be if hes close to the target. but the actual reason is centrical force. moving in a circular motion increases momentum and velocity (due to change of direction), and therefore amplifies the force of your movement.

When you were studying physics you learned that Issac Newton discovered that force equals mass times acceleration (f=ma). A hook will always hit harder than a full extension punch because the fist is still accelerating when it hits the target. A full extension punch begins to slow at the end of its trajectory. So don't be surprised if you find that your hooks are deadly. In your case what is probably causing the differential is improper training.

if the straight punch is landed correctly it should stil be accelerating as it hits home. anyway when it come to f=ma in relation to punching the 'a' part only applies to the accelerationof the opponents head. whether accerating or decerating it is the speed of the fist that matters!

Issac Newton was a **** hot boxing coach. :)

get ya physics out! lol
its true though

yeah the guy who said its about f=ma is wrong. its about centrical force

Exact same thing as happen to me. The coach sed to me go home and practice to left. For like 2 weeks on the bag and shadow boxing I just threw my left only some times my right. When It come to padwork I could be a nice snap in my left and the power, but my right was slower and lost power. Now I have to balance them out.

My backhand straight is 1000x more powerful than my left hook, most probably because when I throw a hook I sometimes mess it up haha. Either I dont pivot with my hips and bring my knee in so I just end up swinging my arm around or more commonly I propell myself forward so when I impact i'm on my toes, I quickly lose balance afterwards. When done correctly, the hook is a cool move but I always thought it was more of a technique shot not one to do serious damage. It can break down defences or can set you up for a left, right combo which can shake their head.

Centripetal force, cause it doesnt stop accelerating before it hits the face/body :D

The hook should have more power if you know how to throw it correctly but the right hand can be sharp as a mother and be very effective. I personally like the straight right more.

Blood and guts, are you a dorian yates fan??

By the way, power wise it really depend on the individual,,,, but the straight right seem to always be known as the punch that measures punch power isn't t?

The hook should have more power if you know how to throw it correctly but the right hand can be sharp as a mother and be very effective. I personally like the straight right more.

if yoiu step in with your left foot as you throw a right it can unbelievably powerful! ask tommy hearns!

however, IMO the hook is a more effective punch because it is less expected.

My backhand straight is 1000x more powerful than my left hook, most probably because when I throw a hook I sometimes mess it up haha. Either I dont pivot with my hips and bring my knee in so I just end up swinging my arm around or more commonly I propell myself forward so when I impact i'm on my toes, I quickly lose balance afterwards. When done correctly, the hook is a cool move but I always thought it was more of a technique shot not one to do serious damage. It can break down defences or can set you up for a left, right combo which can shake their head.

left hook is the best punch in boxing, comes from an unexpected angle, and when thrown correctly, can do huge amounts of damage. try and look up on youtube the vid of sugar ray robinson knock some guy out cold with a left hook, while he himself was moving backwards! thats what a a good left hook can do

Yeah, Tyson had a mean left hook, whenever I think of the hook I think of Tyson - Berbick. I think it was the first time Berbick fell in the 2nd Tyson hooked him brought down his defences and then just hit him so hard with rights and lefts I mean his entire body would go from side to side with each shot.

Just a little help from anybody who can give it. Are right hooks prominant? I know the exist but how often do boxers use them? Also, is it the same action but reverse, as in do you "screw in" you right foot, lift the heel, and push the weight onto your left? Or is there a different way of doing it?

Hey guys,

I've been working out on a heavy bag for a while now. I can't help but notice that my left hook seems to be 2-3x more powerful than my straight right hand. Is this normal? Do any of you guys experience the same thing? Any idea what I could be doing wrong? Btw, I pivot my lower body when I punch, I never throw any arm punches.

from my experiences.. majority of boxers hooks and uppercuts tend to be more powerful then the straight punches.. they are considered the 'power punches'

ppl see guys with hard straight shots, it usually means he's a pure power puncher. so dont worry too much about it, focus on using your straights more to box and to stick... hooks and uppercuts have more swing to them, so u can really hit with them..

ppl see guys with hard straight shots, it usually means he's a pure power puncher. so dont worry too much about it, focus on using your straights more to box and to stick... hooks and uppercuts have more swing to them, so u can really hit with them..

it doesnt mean hes a pure power puncher at all
if you pivot enough and step in with your front foot, a right hand on the chin can knock you straight on your arse :D