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

[Five by Five]

nice thread, I've always wondered this as well. I was taught thumb up by my boxing coach but it always feels unnatural to me. I'll work on it more

 

[ComputerGeek01]

i was taught to throw it with my thumb up.. and then twist it at the last moment to ahve my thumb pointing towards me... i do it liek this wheni hit the pads.. or shadow box.. but when i hit a heavy bag.. i do it the coffee mug way, just feels right on a bag lol

I know that in Karate (and maybe Kung-Fu?) this method is used to add a 'snap' from your wrist right before contact which if successful DOES add a certain sting to the impact.

I also remember seeing on the History channel that bareknuckle boxers used to strike with their thumb pointed up to distribute the impact from striking an opponents cheekbone along all four fingers. Where as punching with you fist horizontal would risk breaking fingers on most people. When you have gloves on though I don't think it matters except in very close range hooks the kind where in Muay Thai you would throw an elbow instead.

 

[Snubnoze707]

The timeless question.

Why isn't their a sticky about this topic?

 

[Pro Killer]

thumb up for in close, short hooks. this activates your bicep and allows you to snap with more power. palm down for long, elusive hooks

I thought this was going to be about how to actually throw Hooks I had the whole shoulder roll explaination planned out and then I look and its about the least important thing.

Btw this man is technically correct that I quoted, In MT though I was told to always throw them with Palm down as we don't get in as close as Boxers do, They throw much tighter punches where as we throw rangeyer ones so we don't get kneed or elbowed in the face.
Plus your less likely to injure your wrist/thumb throwing them palm down!

 

[TheMadHatter]

my coach likes the tight hooks that you throw with all body

 

[Balto]

I don't think this really matters. Either way has advantages and disadvantages.

Just do what feels best for you.

 

[neomage2021]

I was taught thumb up MMA by my striking coach because the other way you have a greater chance of clipping an elbow or something with your two smaller knuckles which can lead to broken bones in your hand

 

[Jaxx]

No right or wrong way, just do whatever works for you.

I like thumb down, palm facing away from you...


YouTube - Boxing left hook training

 

[dubble]

I like to throw low/body hooks with the thumb up, high/head hooks with the palm down.

I feel like the low hook is faster and tighter when thrown coffee mug style, but I like to get my elbow up a little more if I'm throwing a high hook to protect my face.

These are lead left hooks btw, I don't throw right/rear hooks so I dont know about those.

 

[wisdom blows]

palm down is more muay thai, and thumb up is more boxing.

either is fine, though thumb up gets more power behind it.

 

[BufferByArmbar]

I generally feel like my strikes have more power and connect better when I throw thumb-up. When I connect with the "thumb-in" method I feel the connection primarily in my lat and shoulder, however when I connect with the "thumb-up" method I can feel it in my bicep as well

However, when it comes to close-range MT striking, you might have more success throwing "thumb-in" as I feel it's easier to collapse into an elbow strike, and you'll end up with your striking arm's palm facing outward. I tend to really feel a strong impact when I throw my elbows this way, all set up with a "thumb-in" hook motion

That's just my two cents. However, there are multiple opinions, but there's no clear cut right/wrong way to throw a strike. Whatever feels comfortable to you is your right way

Just make sure that you're not hurting your knuckles/wrist/shoulder in the process

 

[Centaur]

Good replies so far.

My 2 Cents - Actually, this is Bas' 2 cents on the subject:

You can throw with either thumb up or towards. He prefers the thumb-up I believe as the thumb-in opens up the hand to injury. He said "Russian" fighters like Fedor (and Igor V.) are guys who have lots of power and keep palm down/thumb in. He pointe out how that by doing so - especially with a long, looping type punch - can put the inside of the fist (the first metacarpal) at a higher risk for injury. Both Igor and Fedor have suffered hand injuries.

 

[Soul Rebel 2]

They both work but I like thumbs up because you can use it to transition into a clinch, you just have to slap them with your wrist and grab the back of their head.

 

[TheCuttlefish]

I think for MMA you should throw it mug style to protect your hand. That's my opinion. I don't see the problem with using that style with full sized gloves by my boxing coach won't let me do it. It's sort of frustrating.

 

[JARRELLBIGTIME]

make sure when you throw it that it comes from all the way from....ALBA-COOOORKAAAAY!!!!!

 

[teamcarvalho]

I show my guys to punch with there hand at an angle.....half ways between the thumb up and the palm down...to prevent a broken hand.

 

[ohernand]

what is the proper way to hook? my boxing coach tells me to have my fist in a vertical position when i hit. my muay thai coach tells me that i should have it horizontally. I always finish it vertically, but i have seen some clips where some boxers finish it horizontally. what's really the difference? and what's more effective?? anyone want to help me out??

 

[AXelator]

In boxing you can't elbow your opponent if you miss with the hook, so in boxing you can do it vertially or horizontally whatever is more comfortable. In Muay Thai use it horrizontally so if your fist misses you can still catch them with the elbow.

I always use the vertical fist for hooks to the body.

 

[LEGS MAHONEY]

the horizontal fist is extremely awkward with hooks

 

[AXelator]

the horizontal fist is extremely awkward with hooks

Err no it isnt.