How to Punch Harder and Faster – Top 10 Destructive Punches

Are you curious about how to punch harder and faster? It’s interesting to think about what ‘harder’ means. In this video I’ll give you 3 punches from 2 boxing stances and with 1 additional skill and we’ll combine them in different ways. At the same time, we’ll measure the peak velocity of each punch and work out which are most destructive (my word for ‘harder’).

So here’s the list of variations that I use in this video:

• Backhand straight
• Backhand straight with lead foot step
• Left hook bladed stance
• Left hook blade stance with slip
• Left hook square stance
• Left hook square stance with slip
• Right hook bladed stance
• Right hook bladed stance with slip
• Right hook square stance
• Right hook square stance with slip

Which of these variations are harder and faster? To work out the faster bit I’ve used a Hykso device, which measures the peak velocity of each punch. I threw 10 of each punch and recorded the average peak velocity.

Obviously how fast the punch is is only part of the equation. For me tho throw a hard punch I have to get mass behind the punch. So, I am about 176lb, and I’m going for the assumption that my technique for each punch delivers the maximum mass that can be delivered.

So, velocity coupled with mass enables me to deliver a more destructive punch.

I started this off thinking that a squared stance delivers more power (there we are, another description of ‘harder’) in all circumstances. I was not quite right on that one.

Here’s the results:

Rank	Punch	km/h
1	Left hook square stance with slip	34.4
2	Right hook square stance with slip	29.6
3	Right hook bladed stance with slip	29.2
4	Right hook bladed stance	28.7
5	Right hook square stance	26.5
6	Backhand straight with lead foot step	25
7	Backhand straight	24
8	Left hook blade stance with slip	23
9	Left hook bladed stance	22.9
10	Left hook square stance	22.4

When it comes to how fast these punches are, there is a pretty big difference between the 1st place punch (left hook from the squared stance with a slip) and the last placed punch (left hook with a squared stance). Simply by adding a slip, the same punch increased in peak velocity by 35%.

What does this video suggest about how to punch harder and faster:

• Generally, the dominant hand drives peak velocity – 6 of the top 7 punches re with my dominant hand.
• To maximimze peak velocity, add a slip…in general. The 3 top ranked punches all had a slip included.
• The squared stance is the best for driving peak velocity.
• Don’t mistake any of this stuff as equating to a higher chance of a knockout. This video is called ‘How to punch harder and faster’, not how to knock someone out. There are more variables involved in a knockout than simply how hard or how fast the punch is. There is the set up, the diversion, the opponent’s awareness of the punch, the timing and so on. Knockouts are a different question.
• Don’t adapt your whole boxing style just to get into the position to deliver most peak velocity. So, don’t change everything just to put yourself in a position to constantly put yourself in a position to execute a left hook from the squared stance with a slip. Do that and you will become predictable. Stay versatile.

Any comments or questions let me have them below.

Cheers

Fran

by