Hi, what do you understand under Philly shell? The basic stance(sideways with the weight on the back foot) just with the front hand down(which elavetes your scholder automatically evan more). I think its pretty damn good (almost all of the great ones have used it in one way or oder...). It takes alittle bit skill. But when you master it you have much more options. You are very good covert passive when you bring your sholder up. With alittle bit movement from the waist and the feeds you can block all types of streights with your scholder and if you crouch alittle bit the right haymakers from your oponent will fly alay(just watch Tonney vs Jirov). The best part in blocking with the sholder ist the robustness. I am heavyweight and when i take the shots on my sholder i dont feel them... I dont know how it is for you, but taking punches on my gloves from a puncher dont make me feel good If you master the rolling with the sholder and the ducking you are going to be pretty hard to hit. In doing so you have taken all the punches from the oder guy... The side ways stance gives you all oder type of goodies... You are mobile, you can trow all punches with max power, you can duck really easy (safety first!), gives you proper distance , awesome jab and so on and so on... The problem with the stance is that it takes alittle bit skill. Alot of the new coaches out there dont understand some fundamental skills and they want to make you run befor you can walk... They tell you stay squer with hands up and you are ready to go. Of cource the truth is not this.. In doing so you have given up form all the punches except from the left hook, you are mobile like a stone and you have no control over the distance. Evan young Mike Tyson boxes from the back foot when he is on distance... As i like to say, If you have found your head on the street go box from the front foot with the hands up... And to summ all the madness that i have written...