Left hook technique

[cocobeware]

When throwing the left hook should the forearm be parallel to the floor at the moment of impact or should the elbow be lower than the fist and then become parallel on the follow through,I find that if my forearm is parallel at the moment of impact i get a pain in my left shoulder blade and sometimes when trying to throw longer range hooks.

[boxingbantz]

When throwing the left hook should the forearm be parallel to the floor at the moment of impact or should the elbow be lower than the fist and then become parallel on the follow through,I find that if my forearm is parallel at the moment of impact i get a pain in my left shoulder blade and sometimes when trying to throw longer range hooks.

It's taught different ways but I'm taught to have my elbow lower. Being parrallel feels 'awkward' for me.

[Scrap]

Put your Fist on someones Chin, a partners Chin turn the Hand where your Knuckles are in line with His Jawbone. See where the Elbow finnishes naturaly.

[HerbM]

Read Scrap's post (again) then think about WHERE you are hitting....

If you hit with a left hook to the head you are likely going to have to come over his shoulder (or arm) AND want to get a straight (not glancing) blow into his head -- having the elbow up, and forearm perpendicular to the target surface is usually going to be more efficient, but....

Sometimes you can't get it all the way up to a level forearm or the target may not be a vertical surface (like the side of the head) so you do the best you can (in the first instance) aiming to get it up, and you adjust it appropriately (in the second case) and hit directly into (perpendicular) the target shuch as hitting up under the ribs for a body shot hook to the liver.

Shovel hooks (are not uppercuts and) hit almost vertically upward with the elbow down on or near the hip so they represent the extreme of the elbow being low.

See Dempsey's book for a good explanation of (various kinds) of hooks.

--
HerbM

[Dadi Astthorsson]

The pain you describe might be a technique issue. You don't want to hit something with your elbow above or at around 90° angle to your trunk. However, you can change the angle of the trunk to the ground without changing the relative angle of the shoulder joint. Resulting in better shoulder health and a more effective hooking technique. You are very probably not putting enough emphasis on dropping the weight on you rear leg (to aforementioned effect) as you punch and overemphasizing the movement of the arm, which is merely there as a conductor.

[Scrap]

Great point, well spotted Dadi

[gramm]

Read Scrap's post (again) then think about WHERE you are hitting....

If you hit with a left hook to the head you are likely going to have to come over his shoulder (or arm) AND want to get a straight (not glancing) blow into his head -- having the elbow up, and forearm perpendicular to the target surface is usually going to be more efficient, but....

Sometimes you can't get it all the way up to a level forearm or the target may not be a vertical surface (like the side of the head) so you do the best you can (in the first instance) aiming to get it up, and you adjust it appropriately (in the second case) and hit directly into (perpendicular) the target shuch as hitting up under the ribs for a body shot hook to the liver.

Shovel hooks (are not uppercuts and) hit almost vertically upward with the elbow down on or near the hip so they represent the extreme of the elbow being low.

See Dempsey's book for a good explanation of (various kinds) of hooks.

--
HerbM

Which dempsey book are you talking about? wat year?

[HerbM]

Which dempsey book are you talking about? wat year?[/QUOTE]

The one on "how to box" (not the biography nor the conditioning book):

Championship Fighting - Explosive Punching

Love that book.