Thread: Help w/ straight right hand

Waddup y'all,

So now that my hands healed, I've joined a new local gym to get some perspective on things. Got a 1 on 1 with the coach to work mitts, evaluate what I know so far, and any flaws I may have.

Two things I need help with are:

On the basic 1-2, when I throw my straight right, he said I have a tendency to come forward with the punch....I try to invision a pole going through the center of my body, and rotate around that...but it's hard to break old habits.

Do the hips drive around in a circular fashion? Where should I start my mechanics? Trying to invision squashing a bug with the ball of the right as I snap the punch....trying hard not to push the punch.

The straight right hand starts with a pivot on the ball of the right foot. Pivot sharply; this puts the weight on the left foot, turns the hips, and then the shoulders. Then, and only then, do you drive the right arm out.
Get somebody to stand- in a boxing stance- facing you with their left hand on your head. You want to throw your straight right under their left arm, concentrating on making sure your right shoulder reaches that left arm before your right fist moves. Remember to rotate your fist so that the punch lands on the two big knuckles.

There are alot of optional problems here.
1)Where is your weight when you initialise the punch. Back leg front leg?
2) You may over reach because you try to punch on the wrong place. Is your target to your left or over your right leg?
3) What do you understand under not to push. Are you pulling with your back? Do you let your oposit hip to sit back abit when you punch?
4) You said that you have the problem on the 1-2 and not all the time... Whats the problem with the jab?

It sounds like you are not keeping the right elbow down. Kenny Weldon says it's a chain reaction; right foot, right knee, right hip, and then shoulders. You should be balanced over the left leg when you are finished so you can come back with the hook. Try throwing it in combination. That should help you stay in balance.

try throwing light relaxed type punches at a heavy bag wraps no gloves...no force, keep hands open, close them as you connect, snapping the punch home(with no force) think of flicking water off your hand and into the bag....that should help some also make sure you get full extension, go in a straight line,pushing elbow out will cause loss of energy, starts in your toe,travels up leg thru the hip along side of body and into that fist. hope this helps

Thanks Grey and Iceman. You guys know the sweet science, thanks to every one else as well.

It's tought trying to kill old habits, and re-learn proper form. I fear tension in my upper body leads to me slapping or pushing the right when I try to throw fast, hard shots.

Also, in regards to right (rear) foot position, I am trying to find the most comfortable spot for my right knee. The torque of pivoting on the ball of the foot, hurts the knee if I am not properly flexed...or could it be my weight position?

I did have a spill a few years back, longboarding down a steep hill ate shit on the pavement at about 25 mph and got a good gash on the tendon of the right knee.


I try to think "rubber band arms" and snap fists into bricks as they land, but like I said tension is something Ifight.

Thanks again guys, really appreciate it. For all my fellow Yanks, Happy 4th, and be safe.