The Left hook

[Solo322]

I recently started boxing and am focusing on proper punching techniques. Everything feels great except the left hook. Can you guys help me with my left hook? I do the weight transfer and the hip rotation, pivoting on the ball of my left foot and keeping the palm down. The punch feels great in the air and during shadow boxing, but when I hit the bag, it hurts the back of my bicep and uppershoulder. I watch the other guys at the gym seem to do it no problem, doubling up to the head and the body, but I can't seem to get a good, solid hit with it either to the head or the body with any kind of comfort. I'm not a very strong guy in the first place, is this due more to lack of strength than technical problems? I appreciate your help.

[realheavyhands]

throw it with ya palm facing u

[realheavyhands]

but still connect with the last three knuckles

[GOAT]

I recently started boxing and am focusing on proper punching techniques. Everything feels great except the left hook. Can you guys help me with my left hook? I do the weight transfer and the hip rotation, pivoting on the ball of my left foot and keeping the palm down. The punch feels great in the air and during shadow boxing, but when I hit the bag, it hurts the back of my bicep and uppershoulder.

You're doing something wrong technique wise, but I can't tell what without watching you. It absolutely should NOT be hurting you in your bicep.

The general idea is that you should be pivoting your left foot and leg AND your torso to generate the force. It sounds to me like you're doing something with your arm in the motion (extending it or pulling it in toward you), which you shouldn't be doing. Your arm should more or less maintain that same "hook" shape as you throw it. The power isn't coming from the muscles in the arms.

Hope that helps . . .

[{BrownBomber}]

I recently started boxing and am focusing on proper punching techniques. Everything feels great except the left hook. Can you guys help me with my left hook? I do the weight transfer and the hip rotation, pivoting on the ball of my left foot and keeping the palm down. The punch feels great in the air and during shadow boxing, but when I hit the bag, it hurts the back of my bicep and uppershoulder. I watch the other guys at the gym seem to do it no problem, doubling up to the head and the body, but I can't seem to get a good, solid hit with it either to the head or the body with any kind of comfort. I'm not a very strong guy in the first place, is this due more to lack of strength than technical problems? I appreciate your help.

Dont know what to say unless I see it. I recomend you do everything you do with right with your left. It could be a power thing or your left is useless compared to the right. Do everything with it for a couple of months.

[MetalVomit]

I recently started boxing and am focusing on proper punching techniques. Everything feels great except the left hook. Can you guys help me with my left hook? I do the weight transfer and the hip rotation, pivoting on the ball of my left foot and keeping the palm down. The punch feels great in the air and during shadow boxing, but when I hit the bag, it hurts the back of my bicep and uppershoulder. I watch the other guys at the gym seem to do it no problem, doubling up to the head and the body, but I can't seem to get a good, solid hit with it either to the head or the body with any kind of comfort. I'm not a very strong guy in the first place, is this due more to lack of strength than technical problems? I appreciate your help.

Watch a Wladimir Klitschko fight(before he was possibly ruined by Corrie Sanders.) I suggest his fight with Mercer. His left hook is amazing. Diego Corrales has a nasty one as well.

[realheavyhands]

any time you throw it with your palm fown u can hurt yaself thats a ametuer hook ...most pros throw it palm facing elbow locked against side

[GOAT]

any time you throw it with your palm fown u can hurt yaself thats a ametuer hook ...most pros throw it palm facing elbow locked against side

That's just not true. It's really about balance and position, and many if not most pros turn the hook over so that the palm is facing down upon impact when they hook to the head. That is the way Joe Goosen teaches it, and that's the way I was taught.

Here is an example (Hopkins connecting with a hook to the head):



Others keep the palm facing inward, as you are suggesting, but that is not a textbook hook.

Joe Frazier is an example:

[img]http://www.******rtsmemorabilia.com/Images/Product/33-32/33-32020-P.jpg[/img]

Finally, many fighters do both because that is what works best and feels most natural to them -- often, the palm will face in when hooking to the body, but down when hooking to the head.

[realheavyhands]

yea u can turn it over but it shouldnt start turned over

[Slipx]

look at my left hook

thats a perfect left hook

dont worry about palm facing you..every person is different when it comes to that