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

[The Don]

I should note that I have practiced palm down far more than palm in. Pat Miletich prefers palm in which inspired me to start practicing with it more. Then I started training with an ex pro boxer who preferred in close fighting. He instructed me palm in. Then soon after, I started working on a larger heavy bag, which is when I noticed the difference. Anatomically, I don't feel there is a huge difference with which one is more powerful. The advantage palm in has is that you can go from traditional guard without having to rotate your fist.

Would you agree that landing a palm down hook is a bit more difficult than landing a palm in one with MMA gloves or bare-knuckles?

 

[Uchi Mata]

Depends almost totally on the height of the punch. If I'm throwing head shots I find palm down to be more comfortable at any range, but if I'm going to the body it feels awkward to throw with the palm down so I almost always have palm in. To be honest I use more shovel hooks than pure crosses, and those I always throw palm in (of course)

 

[ArtemV]

I prefer palm in (towards me), I like to throw check hooks a lot, I think it's easier to throw when countering, it just feels better.

I don't throw hooks - with palm facing down - so much, I suppose it's better if you want to target an area though - like the temple/face/chin.

 

[Patrick F Carey]

i feel more power palm in

 

[a guy]

Palm in for short hooks, palm down for long hooks.

Keeping it in when in close is really fast and makes it easier to not flare the elbow out too wide. Keeping it down on the outside ensures that you don't end up slapping and if thrown with a steering wheel kind of motion it just tends to land so much better.

 

[D1wrestla]

I usually do palm down for head shots and palm in for body shots. It just feels right for me.

 

[II Muchetto II]

I remember years ago someone showing me if you relax you hand, have it in the hook position and have your palm down - feel your bicep. Then turn you palm in towards you and feel your bicep again and it should have tenced naturally from the palm bring in, therefore as well as hips and shoulders you are also now punching with the bicep making it more powerful.

But as someone already pointed out different angles different targets - they are both useful techniques

 

[FaceEraser]

I did exclusively palm in for years (it's what I was taught) but for whatever reason lately while hitting mits I've been feeling pain in my thumb. I don't know if I have an injury or something changed in my form and I'm landing wrong. I started working palm down a few weeks ago and I only land with knuckles now, but I definitely noticed less power. It feels like all of the mechanics of turning my shoulders/hips/feet changes somehow.

 

[Captain_Dammitt]

Palm down started to hurt my wrist. Shooting pain everytime it would land solid. So my trainers told me to switch to palm in, no pain. But since making the full time switch I haven't looked back. I really only throw palm down now whenin close but I have a longer reach than most at my gym so I abuse the longer hook. Hasn't steered me wrong yet.

 

[DoctorTaco]

Palm in, because my coach tells me to.

 

[killedsirius]

palm down because my coach tells me to, partially because ammy gloves suck and it's easier to avoid slapping with palm down. OBVIOUSLY palm sideways for body shots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfOOdM0hJv4

 

[apizur**]

Interesting. It's very uncomfortable for me to throw palm down hooks in general, but when I do, I notice that (Might just be all in my head) they're a bit quicker than the palm ins.

Did you practice either hooks significantly more than the other or did one of them feel a bit awkward to throw than the other?

I don't really consciously practice either one. I used to only thrown palm in hooks for a while, they I started sitting my butt back farther and sometimes palm down are just more comfortable. It really depends on my position. In combinations, up tight... always palm down. If I'm ever trying to reach around the guard, palm in. I'll even throw palm down hooks to the body if I'm sat down and really twisted out to the left... I was surprised to find out how sharply they land.

 

[Kiwi Tricker]

Palm in because I'm just a moo tie person. Leads to being able to set things up if they cover up for the hook. Grab arm, step forward, knee. I will change to doing palm down depending on the target and the route taken to get there.

 

[The Karate Man]

I was taught to have your palm facing the ground when the opponent is close, and have the palm facing your face when the opponent is away to cover more distance.

 

[hcelam1995]

I was taught to throw the hook with the palm down but I met Abel Sanchez at the StubHub Center a few months back and while I was getting a picture with him I asked him how to throw a mean left hook and he told me to throw it with my palm facing me which was a surprise to me. I guess it is dependent on the trainer.

 

[Phlog]

45 degrees.




Nah, it just varies depending on the punch.

 

[Phlog]

45 degrees.




Nah, it just varies depending on the punch trajectory and what's coming back at me.

 

[Pooj]

Short range palm in, long range palm down.... Apparently way safer for bicep tears and such when throwing the long range with palm down... this is what my coach teaches me anyways

 

[wilddeuces]

For whatever reason my left feels like a better hook when its palm in, and my right feels like a better hook when it's palm down...

 

[apizur**]

I agree with that as well. I only thrown palm in rear hooks to the body.