Which knuckles do the hitting in boxing?

[Scrap]

I make Him right, plus if the Hands are wrapped a certain way theres no problem. plus the Biomechanics are correct

[Youngblood]

Wnen in doubt, jam your thumb in their eye.

[Chris Nagel]

If you feel any trouble in your smaller knuckles when punching, first make sure your hands are wrapped properly in that your hand-wraps do not impede your ability to make a good solid fist (i.e. too much bandage over your palms). The same applies with gloves, make sure you can make a proper fist with them on. Wrapping your fingers around the bar of the glove will help too, as well as to ensure that the small metacarpals in your hand won't shift around when you punch. Then assuming you're throwing your punches properly, and aren't coping a hand injury, the three-knuckle landing as advised by Dempsey should be fine.

Landing with the other knuckles can depend. Say for instance with a long overhand right, the larger knuckles may be better suited, since the force may not be distributed equally if attempted to land with the three knuckles instead. The same maybe true with a jab thrown in an arc to get around a guard.

[HerbM]

Thanks Chris, especially the additional information about the wraps and gloves as I think I might need to pay a little more attention to this.

Do you think the differences in the various strikes you describe require conscious effort, or is that just the result of the angles and directions?

Yesterday, I adopted a 'gel wrap' glove-like substitute for my Mexican wraps. They're Title fingerless, and mostly palmless, gloves with gel on the striking surface and a length of wrap for finishing the security.

My hands are large enough that I already have trouble getting into the gloves unless I turn them just right.

And the gloves don't seem to bend fully, e.g., not quite enough to pull the finger tips easily down and away from the target -- my finger tips are right at the end of the gloves.

I also need to practice with Dempsey's advice to aim with the ring finger to hit with the last three knuckles.

Does any of this make an actual difference?
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Herb

[Chris Nagel]

It'd probably take some conscious effort at first, perhaps a little more so with hooks. I also noticed in Dempsey's book that he emphasized the three knuckle landing with all of the various punches. It might help to take off your gloves and see how your punches would land for a better idea.

I haven't used the gel-wrap before, so I can't really comment on it. As for gloves, they do come in sizes that accommodate larger hands. It'd be worth checking out. As for feel, I had a good experience with Ringside gloves, larger Reyes are nice too, although pricey. Everlast wasn't too bad after becoming well worn.

It's just too bad that there's such a limited selection at sporting goods stores. The best way is probably to order them from catalogs or online, and if you don't like it send it back and try another pair.

[HerbM]

I bought really cheap Everlast gloves for my starter pair -- not even leather. I figure by the time I tear up the surface that the foam padding will be going and I will know more about what to buy next. (And, I did order them online.)

My index finger knuckles (mostly on my right/power hand) first started getting a little sore last week so I ordered the gel wraps.

Wore them second time today, and they weren't helping much -- neither better nor worse really as far as I can tell.

The pain isn't a big deal, except if it is a warning of either doing something wrong or that it will get worse.

None of the pain has much to do with my question about which knuckles to use but came up from reading Dempsey and questions of others at the gym.

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HerbM

[HerbM]

So I went to the noon boxing class today and when it came to the heavy bag my power-right hand index knuckle was still VERY slightly sore so I concentrated on hitting with the smaller knuckles.

Here is what happened:

1. It didn't hurt so that was an improvement
2. It seemed like I was hitting harder (very subjective)
3. It seemed that I was rotating better (shoulders/waist)

Subjectively it really did feel like I was getting a better line (Dempsey calls it the "power line") from the foot to the knuckles.

This and the slightly improved rotation would actually make for a harder hit.

So for now I am a (tentative) believer.

Thanks for the help.

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HerbM