Why Switch Hitting Isn't Taught More Frequently

[-PBP-]

What is your view on Brathmely's ability on switch hitting?

He looks a lot more natural and fluid in both stances. I can't wait to see him face some high level comp though.

[Scipio2009]

seems only a few niggs can regularly do it

Same reason why more baseball players don't switch hit or you don't see pitchers throwing with both arms; doing so requires coordination that most people only develop on one side of their bodies.

[-Kev-]

It's not a skill for everybody. You need to be very athletic.

[Bram]

Switching is really bad balance and I think that guys who are able to switch and do it effectively probably were not taught by a trainer how to do it. It's something that they did and discovered that they could do. For every guy that does it well there're dozens of others who don't. Crawford is very good at it. Chris Avalos, on the other hand, is awful. He doesn't actually attempt to switch, it's just that his balance is so bad that nearly every time he throws his right hand, his right foot goes in front of his left, making countering him ridiculously easy.

[SplitSecond]

I see it as a flaw, don't like it at all.

Stretching yourself too thin. Same way I don't like converted fighters. You may still be good, but you'll never be as good as you truly could have been, because you are not a natural with that stance.

[Real King Kong]

If you've ever boxed, even as a limited amateur or just sparred, you will understand how difficult it is to get your feet in position, your shoulders aligned and your hands in the right position, all while hoping the opponent doesn't ram home a power shot. It's something only the quickest and smartest fighters can pull off well.

Having said that, I see more fighters doing it these days than some 10 years ago. I think a lot of it may be down to there being fewer pressure fighters, meaning there is more space to pull of the switch. However, not a lot of switchitters are all that effective, I can probably only count two right now: DeGale and Crawford.

you're making it sound more complicated than it is. if you are comfortable in both stances and change while out of punching range it's not that big of a deal. if you aren't proficient in both stances, you have no business switching.

[boliodogs]

I don't really know. Possibly trainers think it's hard enough for their fighter to completely master one way of boxing and don't want to teach two different ways of boxing. They see which stance their fighter does best with and stick with that. That is just a guess on my part.

[LacedUp]

Pretty much every fighter coming out of the wincobank gym in Sheffield can switch hit naturally. It is being taught, just not in american gyms.

[LuisConcepcion]

Because its hard as hell and only a tiny percentage of guys can pull it off...

wtf kind of a question is this..

[LacedUp]

It's dangerous. You can confuse yourself. Might as well become an expert on one stance.

That Rances Brathemly or however you spell it is also great at it.

Apparently they encourage **** like that in his (Ingle) gym.

Witter use to be a pretty good switch hitter

Naz, Brook, Nelson, Witter, Graham (all from the wincobank gym) etc all showed pretty decent switch hitting throughout their careers and they have all done alright I'd say.

It's only dangerous if you're no good at it. Any decent trainer would make sure his fighter didn't do it if he wasn't prepared.