Inside work drill

Inside shovel-hook digging

Develops short, visible scoring shots at close range while protecting balance and exit options.

LevelIntermediate
CategoryInside work
Boxers2 boxers
EquipmentGloves
Timing2 min round / 30s rest

By DrillGrid Admin

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Purpose

Develops short, visible scoring shots at close range while protecting balance and exit options.

Setup

  • Pair two boxers as A and B with gloves
  • Begin at the distance required by the sequence, agree cooperative technical contact, and let Boxer A feed or present targets while Boxer B performs the action
  • Keep the floor clear and match speed to the less experienced boxer

Run it

  1. Set Boxer A as the feeder or target holder and Boxer B as the working boxer; begin at a controlled technical pace.
  2. Partners stay in the pocket (forehead to forehead). Partner A throws short, alternating 'shovel hooks' to the ribs while Partner B holds gloves tight to their own body.
  3. Reset in stance after each clean repetition. Work for 2 min round / 30s rest, switch roles halfway where appropriate, and stop the round if shape or control breaks down.

Coach checks

  • Drop your center of gravity by bending the knees, not the waist, to keep eyes on the target.
  • Turn the knuckles over and drive through the target, ensuring the non-punching hand remains glued to the temple.
  • Contact and head position stay controlled: no leaning, shoving, holding or blind turns.

Scale it

  • Easier: remove the counter or movement layer and repeat the base action from a fixed start.
  • Harder: make the feed semi-random, then require a clean exit or defensive recovery after scoring.

Common faults

  • Turning the drill into wrestling - use brief legal frames and release control immediately.
  • Making wide punches at close range - shorten the arc and keep the opposite hand protecting.

Amateur relevance

Clean short punches, balanced body scoring and a clear exit make close-range work easier for judges to see without creating untidy holding exchanges.

Use it

Use this in the main technical block for two or three short rounds after the movement warm-up. It suits intermediate boxers when the feed, speed and contact are scaled to experience.