Boxing Basics: How To Throw The Perfect Hook

With Boxing basics, there’s is rampant confusion over whether to throw the hook with the fist in a thumb up position (if you were to take your fist as you execute the hook and open up your hand the thumb would point to the sky) or the palm down position (if you were to open up your fist at the moment of impact for the hook, your palm would face the floor).

The answer is that the tool should augment to fit the target.  The mistake is for someone to throw a hook in a thumb up position always, regardless of the target or body positioning

If you have a clear opening to the jaw line of your opponent, use the palm down position for the fist.  You will make contact on his jaw with as many knuckles of your fist as possible.

On most men, the mandible, or lower jaw, sticks out farther than the upper jaw, the maxilla.  If you have a thumb up position as you strike his jaw, you may break your pinkie finger knuckle or ring finger knuckle since it will only be one of these knuckles that will make first contact.

By using the palm down position, more of the force will be spread out along your knuckles, typically the last 3 knuckles- the pinkie, ring finger and middle finger knuckles – and you’ll save yourself a broken hand.

Now, if you have an opponent that is all covered up, you can still get inside if you throw your hook past his head and then rake in with a chopping hook behind his forearm nailing him directly on the ear or on the temple.

This works best with a thumb up position.  The fist is narrower and can slide in behind the forearm cover.  If you have a palm down version of a fist with this attack you’ll probably still get in and be able to hit him, but it will be with the knuckle of your thumb or with the knuckle of your index finger. Punching in this manner will most likely cause you to break your hand.