Do you guys look at the shoulders or head when sparring?

[chris5]

I notice against guys my height or taller, I seem to have better success staring at the neck/shoulder area rather then directly eye level. I think i'm able to pick off punches better b/c i seem them a split second earlier and can react and counter. The counters maybe aren't as clean bc I'm aiming for the top of the neck bc i can't even see the head (idk if this makes sense.)

Where as, if i'm sparring a guy shorter then me, i'm able to see all the punches coming just looking at their head. This of course makes my offense better b/c my punches are more precise.

Does this sound weird? i'm curious to know where you guys look depending on the situation.

[Left2theliver]

I was always taught to make a triangle with the opponent's shoulders and chin, and then look at the center of that.

[SplitSecond]

Defocused.

[chris5]

ok so this is pretty much what i'm doing with taller guys then. interesting to hear it referred to as a "triangle"

[chris5]

Defocused.

please explain?

[HedonisticFrog]

I've found that looking at their gloves was the best bet for me. You should play around and try different things and see what works best for you. Everyone is different.

[Boxfan83]

I've found that looking at their gloves was the best bet for me. You should play around and try different things and see what works best for you. Everyone is different.

This is what I was told and what i tell others to do because the shoulders can be very deceptive.

[HedonisticFrog]

This is what I was told and what i tell others to do because the shoulders can be very deceptive.

Exactly, if they have good technique and don't telegraph much the glove moving is the first thing you can see anyways.

[GGG Gloveking]

When I studied martial arts, we were taught to focus on the frame of a person and pay attention to the chest

[Rockin']

When I studied martial arts, we were taught to focus on the frame of a person and pay attention to the chest

Exactly, you should focus on the middle of your opponents chest, you'll see everything that matters. You know where his head is, you'll see your opponents shoulders hips and feet which cue you to whatever it is he is thinking of doing. As For looking at the gloves you will be tricked by any small movement of those gloves. Look him square in the chest and you'll see everything that you need to see using you the outside of your vision..........