Training for speed

[Bareknuckle]

I was wondering wether anyone knew any good methods for training speed? I've been shadowboxing as fast as I can for 10x2 minuet rounds (5 in morning, 5 at night) for 3 times per week, for the past 3 months, yet I don't feel faster.

I watch Pacquiao shadowboxing and I have no idea how he got that fast.

Please give any tips, thanks in advance.

[YoungJab]

I was wondering wether anyone knew any good methods for training speed? I've been shadowboxing as fast as I can for 10x2 minuet rounds (5 in morning, 5 at night) for 3 times per week, for the past 3 months, yet I don't feel faster.

I watch Pacquiao shadowboxing and I have no idea how he got that fast.

Please give any tips, thanks in advance.

use wrist weights while shadow boxing

[Righthandbanger]

hand speed is mostly genetic (you aint never gonna be as fast as pacquio) but minor improvements can be made by sparring with heavier gloves (16oz)

I think reactions however can be trained. Your reaction speed is best honed with a pendulum ball/ double end ball/ sparring and pads with a good pad holder. Being able to react quickly, and more importantly practically is more useful in boxing than hand speed alone

[bklynboy]

I was wondering wether anyone knew any good methods for training speed? I've been shadowboxing as fast as I can for 10x2 minuet rounds (5 in morning, 5 at night) for 3 times per week, for the past 3 months, yet I don't feel faster.

I watch Pacquiao shadowboxing and I have no idea how he got that fast.

Please give any tips, thanks in advance.

Part of it is genetics but, with all due respect, you can't compare someone practicing for 3 months with someone whose been doing it for 15 years. Three months is barely enough time to start developing muscle memory which is one of the keys to speed.

Imagine you hear someone say I've been practicing my guitar for 3 months and I'm nowhere near as good as Jimi Hendrix. What would you think?

I know you didn't compare yourself to Pacquiao, only that you don't "feel" faster than 3 months ago. Time yourself, even better video yourself. Put the tape away for 3 months. Keep practicing and then take another video of yourself. You should be faster. If not you're doing something wrong.

[Bareknuckle]

hand speed is mostly genetic (you aint never gonna be as fast as pacquio) but minor improvements can be made by sparring with heavier gloves (16oz)

I think reactions however can be trained. Your reaction speed is best honed with a pendulum ball/ double end ball/ sparring and pads with a good pad holder. Being able to react quickly, and more importantly practically is more useful in boxing than hand speed alone

I doubt very much that 16oz gloves will help me in gaining speed, as the force of gravity pulls mass down. Throwing straight punches with more weight on the end is only going to hinder my form.

Thanks for your advice on reaction training, but I asked for speed training advice.

[Righthandbanger]

I doubt very much that 16oz gloves will help me in gaining speed, as the force of gravity pulls mass down. Throwing straight punches with more weight on the end is only going to hinder my form.

not quite. If you are a puncher, which I suppose isn't all that likely considering your response, you'll be throwing your punch as fast as you can but the size of the glove will mean you can't move it as fast.

If you ran with a backpack full of weights you wouldn't be able to run as fast right? and if you learn to run faster carrying the weights when you take the backpack off you'll be faster. its the same thing.

Thanks for your advice on reaction training, but I asked for speed training advice.

if you have only been doing it for 3 months then follow the advice above. If you have been boxing longer than 3 months and have only recently started trying to develop speed then you may as well focus on reactions because your hand speed is unlikely to increase significantly.. now STFU and train

[bklynboy]

Part of it is genetics but, with all due respect, you can't compare someone practicing for 3 months with someone whose been doing it for 15 years. Three months is barely enough time to start developing muscle memory which is one of the keys to speed.

Imagine you hear someone say I've been practicing my guitar for 3 months and I'm nowhere near as good as Jimi Hendrix. What would you think?

I know you didn't compare yourself to Pacquiao, only that you don't "feel" faster than 3 months ago. Time yourself, even better video yourself. Put the tape away for 3 months. Keep practicing and then take another video of yourself. You should be faster. If not you're doing something wrong.

Adding to what I said. You're doing one of the best things to build up speed. Shadow boxing and the speed bag, that's the secret; that plus time devoted it.

[Coeco]

Be careful with weights, they can do more bad than good if handled wrongly.

My tip however would be to try focusing on excelling as much movement as you can from the arms/shoulders/hips as you shadowbox, It's all about making your body used to a higher level of speed hence learning how to correctly control the key "twist" or "power" points would certainly help.

Just be sure to warm up plenty so you don't twist anything during, that will have the reverse effect.

[Righthandbanger]

The problem I have with shadows is that you can't actually throw full speed against nothing but air because of the likelihood of pulling something or hyperextending your elbows. Most boxers don't shadowbox like they box at all, they seem to use it as a tool for creating muscle memory of combos and punches instead