Inside work drill
Short-range hook exchange
Develops short, visible scoring shots at close range while protecting balance and exit options.
By DrillGrid Admin
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 or focus pads
- Begin at the distance required by the sequence, agree light 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
- Set Boxer A as the feeder or target holder and Boxer B as the working boxer; begin at a controlled technical pace.
- At close range with light forehead-to-shoulder positioning, partners alternate one compact hook to a body- or head-height glove target, using hip rotation rather than arm swings.
- Reset in stance after each clean repetition. Work for 2 min work / 30s rest, switch roles halfway where appropriate, and stop the round if shape or control breaks down.
Coach checks
- Maintain 'Stance Integrity'—ensure feet never cross when transitioning from long range to the pocket.
- Active Recovery—use head movement and parries even when resetting to keep the opponent off-balance.
- 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.