How to Throw a Cross in Boxing (the Straight Right)

The cross is your main power punch, and it is the second half of the famous one-two. The secret is that the power does not come from your arm. It comes from your feet and hips.

Quick answer: From your stance, pivot the rear foot and rotate your rear hip and torso forward, driving the rear hand straight out from chin level. Land palm-down, then snap back to your guard. Power comes from the rotation and the pivot, not the arm.

This guide assumes an orthodox stance, left foot forward. Southpaws mirror everything.

How to throw a cross, step by step

1. Load slightly on the rear leg in your stance, hands up, chin down.
2. Drive off the ball of your rear foot and pivot it, turning the heel outward toward the target.
3. Let that pivot rotate your rear hip and torso forward. Your weight transfers from the rear leg toward the lead leg.
4. The rotation drives the rear hand straight out from chin level. Do not drop the hand or wind up first.
5. Turn the fist over to land palm-down on the first two knuckles, and lift your rear shoulder to guard your chin.
6. Retract straight back to your guard. Keep your lead hand up and chin tucked the whole time.

Where the power comes from

Power is a chain that runs from the ground up:

• Feet: you drive off and pivot the rear foot.
• Hips: the hips rotate, which is the biggest source of power.
• Core: the torso follows the hips like a whip.
• Arm: last, the shoulder and arm deliver the energy.

If your cross feels like it is all arm, you are leaking power. Get the foot and hips involved and the same motion hits far harder.

Key cues

• Pivot the rear foot. Without it, your hips cannot rotate and you are left arm-punching.
• Rotate, do not lunge. Keep the power in the turn of your hips, not in falling forward.
• Keep it straight. The cross travels in a straight line from your chin to the target.

Common mistakes

• No foot pivot, which means no power.
• Lunging the body forward instead of rotating, which wrecks your balance and walks you into counters.
• Dropping the lead hand while the cross is out.
• Overreaching past your base so your weight spills past your lead foot.

How much weight you transfer forward is partly a style choice. Pressure fighters load the lead leg more, while defensive boxers keep weight back to stay mobile. Either way, never let your weight fall past your front foot.

A safety note

Do not snap the elbow into a violent full lock-out. Extend firmly but protect the joint. Keep your wrist straight and aligned behind your knuckles, and bring the rear hand straight back to your cheek. As with all technique, a coach who can watch you is worth more than any article. Use our technique library to see the movement.

Put it together

The jab and cross form the one-two, the backbone of boxing. If you have not yet, sharpen your jab first, then add the hook and the uppercut. To see how punches chain into combinations, read boxing punch numbers and build a round with our free combo generator.