What would you say makes a fighter's jab good?
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What would you say makes a fighter's jab good?
Form: Generally overall, it should be loose and fluid, tensing up with a good snap 2-3 at the end that's targeting a spot 2-3 inches behind the target. It should return high and recoil to a position where it can be fired again, allowing for rapid fire deployment. Your weight will be distributed evenly but shift to the ball of your fore foot as you're extending toward the snap.(I used to use a sheet on a clothesline when practicing my jabs when solo training. If you hit it dead center and get a good snap, you'll hear it and the sheet will pop and indent jumping up from the bottom; if you're pushing it instead, you'll notice the lack of movement in the sheet.
Some fighters step into their jabs to give it a little extra oomph (over just shifting weight) on it like a power jab. Its effective for keeping especially heavier opponents off balance. If you have an opponent that likes to parry you have to beware of over committing yourself with it as that step as it widens your stance and brings you further in range.
When jabbing to the body, you should be dipping at the waist and knees to avoid keeping your shoulders high, jabbing low and exposing yourself. Also you'll make the most of your reach horizontally.
Its all about results really. That will tell you if you're using it effectively. Due to differences in reach, height, and technique your opponent can negate your jab rather well.
Defensively: It should keep keep your opponent off balance, keep him/her for setting their feet and give you a good idea of range and line of sight (i.e. to avoid being a sitting duck for the overhand right if hes an ortho--you either want to be to the left or the right of that center line.. if your dead center and can touch them with the jab, they can go for broke with that right hand).
Offensively: it should set up your other punches, distract your opponent and keep them honest. You can hope to open them up, but some fighters just cut/ swell easy and other don't.
If your opponent is stuffing your jab effectively, it can still be used for feinting. Defensively, it can cause that second of hesitation, allowing you to use your footwork to get you the hell out of dodge. Offensively, if you have an opponent that likes to parry feinting a jab motion from the shoulder can get their hand high (pulling that elbow away from their side) momentarily.
Sorry for the long post but this is really the abridged version... volumes can be written on just the jab...
When your opponents nose is bloody, his cheeks are red, and he's more worried about you jab than anything else, you probably have an excellent one. IMO
Accurate
Varied speed
Setting up the combination
Tempo setter
Watch Tommy Hearns and work it out for yourself.
It breaks the opponents rhythm. Many offensive fighters like Pacquiao and GGG are very predictable. But if you allow them to do what they want they steamroll. A small beginning leads to a long sustained and brutal attack. If you can break the rhythm the entire attack must start over. Breaking a fighters rhythm can change an entire fight.
Good post OP; you've summed it up perfectly.
The sport has thrown up many fighters who were great jabbers.
In terms of the HWs, I think the two best were Sonny Liston & Larry Holmes.
They were both different, but very effective nonetheless.
Sonny had a ramrod jab that was slower, but very powerful & he used it to break his opponents down.
Larry had piston like jab that was faster & sharper, but not as hard, but crucially for him, his whole fight plan stemmed from his jab.
I can also think of other fighters from smaller weights & the not often mentioned Vernon Forrest springs to mind.
He used his jab to negate Shane Mosley's speed & that's another example of of the jab being used very effectively.
There's many other examples, but I don't want to waffle on forever.:D
I just re-read The Straight Left and How to Cultivate It by Jim Driscoll. He fought from 1901-1918 but what he says about drawing leads, controlling distance, disrupting rhythm, maintaining the line of the body, accuracy and force...it is still fist fighting and his words are very true.