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

[Beast Arm]

inside the clench, thumb horizontal. long sweeping hook, always thumb on top.

 

[foofie]

It matters what you wanna do , our trainer tells us that if were gonna do boxing only ( gloves ) , your thumb can be poiting downwards , this way though , you might hit your enemy with your fingers and not with your knuckles , or its more likely .

So if your doing some mma , your thumb should be pointing up , therefore you will be hitting enemy with the 2 main knuckles , but they will be the lowest ones when you look , if your dont turn your hand in the hook they will be the 2 upper knuckes ( index and middle finger knuckles are the ones Im talking about ) .

 

[Dylan X5]

Vertical definitely. It has more surface area. Hit with the three knuckles not including the index fingers in order to keep your wrist straight, and remember, and hook is a swing, not a punch. Don't put your arm into it. Treat it like you are turning sideways and are in a body cast.

 

[hulkout]

I've done western boxing for quite a few years now and I was trained in the traditional way to do a left hook (vertical fist, palm facing me). Now I'm getting into some Muay Thai and learning about throwing the horizontal elbow. It seems to me now that a horizontal fist (palm facing the ground) may be better. If my fist doesn't land, maybe my elbow will if I follow all the way through. The vertical fist is in a different position than the elbow smash, but the horziontal fist is exactly the same. I've tried this on the heavy bag and it feels kind of strange, but that may be just because I'm so used to it the other way. Do you think I should try to change my hook to a horizontal fist? It seems better suited to Muay Thai, but at the same time, I don't want to risk injuring myself. Any input would be helpful.

 

[TheCuttlefish]

My coach always told me that, especially in MMA, the vertical fist helps protect your hand since a horizontal fist is likely to impact on your 3rd and 4th knuckles which are quite weak.

However at close ranges, such as the range where you might land with an elbow, this problem is mitigated a lot.

Anyway I don't think this is really important since you aren't that likely to hit someone with an decent elbow like that.

 

[IMAF#1]

Horizontal fist when hitting the head and vertical fist when hitting the body.

 

[IMAF#1]

double post.

 

[IMAF#1]

triple post, my bad.:redface:

 

[fightingrabbit]

I throw all hooks with my palms towards me.

I dunno, read a rule of thumb though. Long Hook= horizontal. Short Hook= Vertical. Or was it the other way around? I asked my trainer once, he said whatever feels comfortable. So i took him up on that advice.

 

[T.J.T]

also was taught what ever is comfortable, but watch out like others said about breaking your last 2 nukles if you use horizontal.

 

[Smw]

I face my palm toward me. Keep in mind that a vertical fist could be judged as a slap.

 

[LiT_WiCK]

i always looked at it from 2 ways

i used the verticle palm for short distance/western boxing like hooks

i use a horizontal for a most long range strike, more suited for kickboxing in some cases, and try to dig my first 2 knuckles into the target

 

[danny_171]

I've always used a horizontal fist for short, powerful hooks while the the vertical fist has been for quick, slap like hooks.

I should add that hooks to the body are almost always a vertical fist, used in a shoveling motion i.e. up and in.

 

[Rinksterk**]

I've always used horizontal fists when throwing hooks to the face. Don't have any problem shortening it.

 

[Smw]

I'm picturing a vertical hand slipping past his guard easier.

 

[JSN]

i'm not flexible to comfortably throw a horizontal fist hook with power lol.

 

[Freestyler]

Vertical. I'd break my hand if I threw it horizontal.

 

[OldVet61]

I've always thrown hooks horizontally, however; I think it is probably best to do it with your fist vertically. If you throw horizontally you have a higher chance of injuring your knuckles or wrist.

 

[Ivaylo Ivanov]

Which way you guys prefer to hit the hooks? With a horizontal or vertical wrist? Whats the reason?

 

[kelticslob]

stand with your arms relaxed at your sides and make a fist.

Now bend your elbow 90* so your fist is pointing forward.

Now raise your arm horizontally until your elbow is parallel with your shoulders.



That's the angle I use with my hooks as it's the natural position for my wrist to be in at that angle. If I try to twist my wrist too much it feels unnatural and easy to damage. For instance, try making your fist totally vertical and hold it at where your arm would be if you were making contact. Now move your fist up 6-8" like youre fighting someone really tall. Feels wrong, dontchathink?