The Hook Debate: Palm in or Palm down? (17 threads mashed together, have fun)

  • Thread starter Thread starter PhilCollins
  • Start date Start date
I always use thumbs up for hooks, you can get way more power that way. You shouldn't really throw hooks from long range, it's pointless. Also your arm doesn't need to be perfectly horizontal, your elbow can be lower than your fist. Watch videos of big punchers like Rocky Marciano or Mike Tyson and notice how they throw hooks with lower elbows. The power in a hook comes from driving from your legs and twisting at the core, not your arms, so obviously your elbow needs to be a bit lower or straight to transfer the power rather than higher, and you want to be landing with the bottom three knuckles. The only time your elbow should be higher is when you throw an overhand.
 
I always figured that this was the best way to throw hooks. To have your palms facing the ground. I recently watched a video clip of Bas Ruten saying to throw your hooks with the palms facing towards you. This is just really odd to me conceptually. I can't throw as fast or hard if I do this. Wtf Bas.
 
I do throw my hooks palm facing towards to be honest I think it's just personal preference. If you look on YouTube Freddie roach teaches throwing the hook palm down mate.
 
Personal preference, I do it both ways but it is whichever feels more comfortable to you. Just like I was taught two different ways to throw kicks, I was told to step with the opposite leg I was kicking with (step with left if kicking with right, vice versa) and I was taught to pivot on my foot (pivot with left if kicking with right, vice versa) and I prefer to step before I kick.
 
Eric Prindle KO'd with a left hook palm facing down. He was an all army boxing champ.


I have seen many boxers throw palm facing in though. like Muay Thai Dan said it is probably personal preference.

Hector Lombard throws his hooks palm down.

Junior Dos Santos throws his hooks palm facing in.
 
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I tried doing the palms facing in way but it just feels awkward to me. When I turn my hands over I can really put some zip on the punches. Otherwise it feels weak.
 
The way I was taught:

Close range = palm down
Outside range = palm facing you
In between is at an angle
 
Eric Bradach said:
Correct, however if its a hook to the body I was taught to always have the palm facing you.
Click to expand...

This. Hook to the body, palm is facing you. Hook to the jaw, palm facing down so your knuckles can line up with his chin.
 
This is discussed like every two weeks.
 
and palm facing the opponent (mawashi tsuki) when you have to break wood or something :cool:
 
LEGS MAHONEY said:
just about everything in the stand up forum is.:icon_lol:
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Lol agreed, but since there isn't new "techniques" being developed in stand-up everyday these forums would be so boring without repeat threads like this :icon_lol: .
 
I think it's just whatever is most comfortable for you.


*You don't say?*
 
Just hit. He will not care if you are palms up, out or backwards. Just keep the punch compact because the injury is in throwing off-balance looping hooks.

In fitness training, thumbs up is safest for the shouldeers but I am not sure that is what we are talking about.
 
nomilkforsanta said:
The way I was taught:

Close range = palm down
Outside range = palm facing you
In between is at an angle
Click to expand...

I always through them the reverse. Long palm down, close palm in, and in the mid range which feels better. I use the palm facing out hook for some stuff also.
 
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