Southpaw front hook landing?

[Winter king]

My struggle as a southpaw is that on the bag my front hook to the head and especially to the body is my absolute best punch. The snap of those punches is just big, but in sparring I find it very hard to land those punches as my opponents front hand gets stuck in mine or at least glances it a little taking away a lot from my punches. You might have some suggestions for me.

[p4p1]

It's most likely down to angles and set up. Your front hook should work well against a righty and be able to come around the guard. So much of it is down to footwork, timing and speed. Are you setting up the punch or just throwing it? How about your movement? What is that like?

[Winter king]

It's most likely down to angles and set up. Your front hook should work well against a righty and be able to come around the guard. So much of it is down to footwork, timing and speed. Are you setting up the punch or just throwing it? How about your movement? What is that like?

Well I am 6foot (183cm) so Im being the shortest heavyweight in my group so I think thats one of the problems. I try to keep my front feet on the outside of my opponents feet. I do feints with succes depending on the opponent. I usually do head body combos that tends to help me to land something but most of the time unless someone is in the corner I struggle to land my right hooks clean. To be honest I m pretty slow. Pulling on guards works sometimes.

[p4p1]

It's most likely down to angles and set up. Your front hook should work well against a righty and be able to come around the guard. So much of it is down to footwork, timing and speed. Are you setting up the punch or just throwing it? How about your movement? What is that like?

Well I am 6foot (183cm) so Im being the shortest heavyweight in my group so I think thats one of the problems. I try to keep my front feet on the outside of my opponents feet. I do feints with succes depending on the opponent. I usually do head body combos that tends to help me to land something but most of the time unless someone is in the corner I struggle to land my right hooks clean. To be honest I m pretty slow. Pulling on guards works sometimes.

I'm a lefty as well so I'm hoping that will mean I can help you out a little.

Do you throw anything before your right hook? If you lead with a straight left it *should* help to bring your opponent guard to the front of their face so you can throw the right hook around their guard more effectively. I used to spar guys bigger than me fairly often, a trick I used to use was trying to throw my jab progressively shorter. Start with a normal jab but as the round goes on shorten it up to trick your opponent about your distance. Eventually they will think they're out of range due to you throwing short punches and BAM throw your left hand out as long as you can behind a short jab.

If you're shorter your footwork is probably the most important thing to work on. Footwork can make up for reach disadvantages. Try to continue changing the angle to your right as your punching. Pac and Loma are great examples of that. Not every punch needs to land and most of them wont especially if you are a bit slower but work rate, footwork and angles can make up for speed and length. When I was starting out my very first trainer was real big on footwork, it could get boring but as I got older and better the foundation he gave me was a huge advantage over a lot of guys. Another thing that should help you get inside is throwing a double jab and left, but instead of throwing the first jab, fake it but take the step forward as you normally would if not more so, then throw the 1 2 behind it. The second jab should be used to get your opponents guard where you need it so your left has a clean shot down the middle. If you're having trouble landing clean hooks and you know that then use your lead hook as a setup to land something else.

[Winter king]

It's most likely down to angles and set up. Your front hook should work well against a righty and be able to come around the guard. So much of it is down to footwork, timing and speed. Are you setting up the punch or just throwing it? How about your movement? What is that like?

Well I am 6foot (183cm) so Im being the shortest heavyweight in my group so I think thats one of the problems. I try to keep my front feet on the outside of my opponents feet. I do feints with succes depending on the opponent. I usually do head body combos that tends to help me to land something but most of the time unless someone is in the corner I struggle to land my right hooks clean. To be honest I m pretty slow. Pulling on guards works sometimes.

I'm a lefty as well so I'm hoping that will mean I can help you out a little.

Do you throw anything before your right hook? If you lead with a straight left it *should* help to bring your opponent guard to the front of their face so you can throw the right hook around their guard more effectively. I used to spar guys bigger than me fairly often, a trick I used to use was trying to throw my jab progressively shorter. Start with a normal jab but as the round goes on shorten it up to trick your opponent about your distance. Eventually they will think they're out of range due to you throwing short punches and BAM throw your left hand out as long as you can behind a short jab.

If you're shorter your footwork is probably the most important thing to work on. Footwork can make up for reach disadvantages. Try to continue changing the angle to your right as your punching. Pac and Loma are great examples of that. Not every punch needs to land and most of them wont especially if you are a bit slower but work rate, footwork and angles can make up for speed and length. When I was starting out my very first trainer was real big on footwork, it could get boring but as I got older and better the foundation he gave me was a huge advantage over a lot of guys. Another thing that should help you get inside is throwing a double jab and left, but instead of throwing the first jab, fake it but take the step forward as you normally would if not more so, then throw the 1 2 behind it. The second jab should be used to get your opponents guard where you need it so your left has a clean shot down the middle. If you're having trouble landing clean hooks and you know that then use your lead hook as a setup to land something else.

Thanks mate. Thats really helpful.

[Counter-puncher]

I used to spar guys bigger than me fairly often, a trick I used to use was trying to throw my jab progressively shorter. Start with a normal jab but as the round goes on shorten it up to trick your opponent about your distance. Eventually they will think they're out of range due to you throwing short punches and BAM throw your left hand out as long as you can behind a short jab.

ha. this is an excellent point I was thinking about last night

If you're shorter your footwork is probably the most important thing to work on. Footwork can make up for reach disadvantages. Try to continue changing the angle to your right as your punching. Pac and Loma are great examples of that. Not every punch needs to land and most of them wont especially if you are a bit slower but work rate, footwork and angles can make up for speed and length. When I was starting out my very first trainer was real big on footwork, it could get boring but as I got older and better the foundation he gave me was a huge advantage over a lot of guys. Another thing that should help you get inside is throwing a double jab and left, but instead of throwing the first jab, fake it but take the step forward as you normally would if not more so, then throw the 1 2 behind it. The second jab should be used to get your opponents guard where you need it so your left has a clean shot down the middle. If you're having trouble landing clean hooks and you know that then use your lead hook as a setup to land something else.

all excellent advice

[p4p1]

Well I am 6foot (183cm) so Im being the shortest heavyweight in my group so I think thats one of the problems. I try to keep my front feet on the outside of my opponents feet. I do feints with succes depending on the opponent. I usually do head body combos that tends to help me to land something but most of the time unless someone is in the corner I struggle to land my right hooks clean. To be honest I m pretty slow. Pulling on guards works sometimes.

I'm a lefty as well so I'm hoping that will mean I can help you out a little.

Do you throw anything before your right hook? If you lead with a straight left it *should* help to bring your opponent guard to the front of their face so you can throw the right hook around their guard more effectively. I used to spar guys bigger than me fairly often, a trick I used to use was trying to throw my jab progressively shorter. Start with a normal jab but as the round goes on shorten it up to trick your opponent about your distance. Eventually they will think they're out of range due to you throwing short punches and BAM throw your left hand out as long as you can behind a short jab.

If you're shorter your footwork is probably the most important thing to work on. Footwork can make up for reach disadvantages. Try to continue changing the angle to your right as your punching. Pac and Loma are great examples of that. Not every punch needs to land and most of them wont especially if you are a bit slower but work rate, footwork and angles can make up for speed and length. When I was starting out my very first trainer was real big on footwork, it could get boring but as I got older and better the foundation he gave me was a huge advantage over a lot of guys. Another thing that should help you get inside is throwing a double jab and left, but instead of throwing the first jab, fake it but take the step forward as you normally would if not more so, then throw the 1 2 behind it. The second jab should be used to get your opponents guard where you need it so your left has a clean shot down the middle. If you're having trouble landing clean hooks and you know that then use your lead hook as a setup to land something else.

Thanks mate. Thats really helpful.

I hope it is mate.

[p4p1]

I used to spar guys bigger than me fairly often, a trick I used to use was trying to throw my jab progressively shorter. Start with a normal jab but as the round goes on shorten it up to trick your opponent about your distance. Eventually they will think they're out of range due to you throwing short punches and BAM throw your left hand out as long as you can behind a short jab.

ha. this is an excellent point I was thinking about last night

If you're shorter your footwork is probably the most important thing to work on. Footwork can make up for reach disadvantages. Try to continue changing the angle to your right as your punching. Pac and Loma are great examples of that. Not every punch needs to land and most of them wont especially if you are a bit slower but work rate, footwork and angles can make up for speed and length. When I was starting out my very first trainer was real big on footwork, it could get boring but as I got older and better the foundation he gave me was a huge advantage over a lot of guys. Another thing that should help you get inside is throwing a double jab and left, but instead of throwing the first jab, fake it but take the step forward as you normally would if not more so, then throw the 1 2 behind it. The second jab should be used to get your opponents guard where you need it so your left has a clean shot down the middle. If you're having trouble landing clean hooks and you know that then use your lead hook as a setup to land something else.

all excellent advice

Thanks mate.

[Coco]

Feinting is the key, show the jab, then straight left, right hook.

As a single shot, feint the southpaw left to the body, hopefully he will stop and drop his guard a bit and then step in with the lead right hook.

Look to load up with the left when they are in range(otherwise they will just move away), so they stop to cover up giving you the chance to step in with the lead right hook.

Also by only showing your left you can't get counter punched.

[Yuzo]

I struggle to land my right hooks clean.

thats because a southpaw standing three quarter cant hit a orthodox boxer standing three quarter with a right hook.



he has to be squared or the shape of your arm has to be adjusted.



this punch has to start as a hook but end as a jab to fit into that gap.

[Counter-puncher]

Usyk is very good at changing the angle of his hook like that

Yuzo, what is it that happens when you do see opposite-stance matchups, where the lead hook lands in the 'traditional' manner and angle? cos I've certainly seen it happen...

is it when one or both fighters are stood quite square-on, giving them (both) the normal angle for the hook?

[Yuzo]

yes and just boxing you get mixed up into odd bearings and positions.

[Yuzo]

[Counter-puncher]

yeah I notice the foot position of his lead foot deep inside Barrios's lead foot and the hook coming at that angle outside the line of vision but close to the target as a result, nice gif as ever Yuzo

[Yuzo]

yeah I notice the foot position of his lead foot deep inside Barrios's lead foot

thats a good observation. you have good eyes.

[Counter-puncher]

yeah I notice the foot position of his lead foot deep inside Barrios's lead foot

thats a good observation. you have good eyes.

Cotto (EG) did the same to Martinez over and over from the opposite stance

I see people talking about stepping outside the lead foot like it's some holy grail in opposite stance matchups, like you can't possibly do anything unless you take that angle or you're fvcked if you end up with the inside foot position, it's BS, easier to land both the jab and the hook from the inside position.

[Counter-puncher]

yeah I notice the foot position of his lead foot deep inside Barrios's lead foot

thats a good observation. you have good eyes.

I don’t know if you’d agree but it also seems to me it’s a really tight compact hook, that he doesn’t get much whip on but where the big step in both creates momentum to add zip to the punch that isn’t hugely rotated through the hips, and changes the angle so the opponent will find it really hard to block the hook from that angle. It’s just a really beautiful concise movement.

[Yuzo]

I see people talking about stepping outside the lead foot like it's some holy grail in opposite stance matchups, like you can't possibly do anything unless you take that angle or you're fvcked if you end up with the inside foot position, it's BS, easier to land both the jab and the hook from the inside position.

yes i think thats true.

I don’t know if you’d agree but it also seems to me it’s a really tight compact hook, that he doesn’t get much whip on but where the big step in both creates momentum to add zip to the punch that isn’t hugely rotated through the hips, and changes the angle so the opponent will find it really hard to block the hook from that angle. It’s just a really beautiful concise movement.

the punch does start the way you are describing but becomes more straightened out at the follow through and thats the difference between the southpaw hook and the orthodox hook. the southpaw hook has to squeeze through a narrower pathway.

and you are right the step in does seem to create a distraction in one direction from the punch coming in the crosswise direction.

[Counter-puncher]

I see people talking about stepping outside the lead foot like it's some holy grail in opposite stance matchups, like you can't possibly do anything unless you take that angle or you're fvcked if you end up with the inside foot position, it's BS, easier to land both the jab and the hook from the inside position.

yes i think thats true.

I don’t know if you’d agree but it also seems to me it’s a really tight compact hook, that he doesn’t get much whip on but where the big step in both creates momentum to add zip to the punch that isn’t hugely rotated through the hips, and changes the angle so the opponent will find it really hard to block the hook from that angle. It’s just a really beautiful concise movement.

the punch does start the way you are describing but becomes more straightened out at the follow through and thats the difference between the southpaw hook and the orthodox hook. the southpaw hook has to squeeze through a narrower pathway.

and you are right the step in does seem to create a distraction in one direction from the punch coming in the crosswise direction.

nice one, thanks Yuzo I always enjoy and appreciate your input

[p4p1]

I watched Tszyu vs Mitchell 2 the other day and Tszyu was so masterful against southpaws. He set up a left hook against Mitch off a jab. It was almost like a double jab but Tszyu turns it into a hook at the last second. Tszyu used the lead good to hide is right hand down the middle which, if you've watched the fight had great results. Tszyu seemed to use the small hook to turn Mitchells head so he could throw the straight right at Mitchells right temple.

IMO this was just a small insite to Tszyu's genius as a boxer that often gets overshadowed by his big power. In his first title fight against Rodriguez who was a southpaw he throws a jab, fakes the double but still took the step forward and threw a rear hook. It was such a beatiful way to hide what is a really difficult punch against a southpaw or if you're a southpaw, against an orthadox fighter. I would suggest to all southpaws (I am one myself) to watch fights Tszyu had against lefties and see how he overcomes some of the issues that others have against them.