Quote Originally Posted by Von Milash
Lately I've been experimenting with keeping it out a bit farther a la Roy Jones Jr, especially when sparring with shorter guys. True, it has less pop that way, but 2 things occur to me... 1. the shorter the punch the faster it gets there and 2. if I can keep it in his face, even if the shots aren't as hard, it will make it harder for him to see. Plus it keeps your man away from you. But.... The trouble as I see it is that if you leave it out there you make yourself look like you're pawing it, you might be more succesptible to a right hand, as well you make your shoulder more tired from having to hold your arm up all the time.

any thoughts or feelings on this? when can or should it be done?

I don't know how you look? or how effective you are doing that. the problem comes when the opponent completely eats that weak ( jab) you left out there away from the body . , and then steps in at the right time and now he have you by the snatch box and proceed to unload them shots . I personally like to bring everything back in tight , bring my punches back fast.. hard out and back fast to a proper tight position with elbows tucked. I have better leverage punchingfrom this position . This way I ready to slip shots and ready to fire. .. However I am a shorter fighter , if you Tall and rangy , and most important slick.. (good foot work) you going to do things a bit different then me. . However if your foot work is shit.. you bring your hands back as fast as you can.. As a general rule. leaving your hands out there away from the body is a BIG NO NO !