Quote Originally Posted by expertboxing View Post
The elbow is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS at the same level of the fist when you hook. If the elbow is BELOW the fist (then that makes it a hookercut... which is useful depending on the situation).

So why is the elbow always at the same level as the fist?
- more power and solid reinforcement behind the fist making it a stronger hook
- the elbow shields the puncher's chin from a face-level counter-attack like a straight right
- if the opponent is in close enough and the hook misses, the elbow will catch the opponent.


I was taught by numerous trainers to always have the elbow high. It's the de-facto standard for all boxers. It's seriously common knowledge and I wouldn't recommend for you to do otherwise.
I would agree when the range to the target is appropriate i.e. the opponent's head is equal to or more than the length of your upper arm away. If the opponent's head is closer than the length of your upper arm, then the hook would sail past the back of their head or you would need to 'back off' to give yourself room. My sense is that if the angle of the shot is about 45 degrees, this enables maximum power to be delivered during infighting (I guess this is what you describe as a 'hookercut', whereas I'd call it a short range left hook.)

Interesting point though.