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When you punch make sure you only clinch your hands right befor impact to prevent being stiff and slowing you down.

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A couple of you have mentioned something alomg the lines of the above quote and I have to say i respectfully disagree.

Especially for a beginer in boxing theres a lot of head movement involved and you will not always land a punch where or when you inteneded to meaning if you land a punch too early then your unclenched fist/wrist could break.

Commit your punch from the moment you let it fly especially if youre a beginer and are likely to misjudge your punches.

I was taught this from our Muay Thai coach and hes trained UK and Scottish champions

Honestly dont know the point of unclenching your fist anyway, its not like it adds anything apart from risk.

Havnt read through everyone elses comments, but theres really only a few ways to increase punching speed.
A) Punch the bag harder/faster, progress
B) Do some Power/Strength oriented weightlifting

Before you even give a crap about speed and power and all that, get the technique perfect.
Its like trying to play a piano song really fast, without knowing how to play it.

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Before you even give a crap about speed and power and all that, get the technique perfect.
Its like trying to play a piano song really fast, without knowing how to play it.

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thats a very nice way of putting it.

Props to that mate. No point in finishing the test first if you had to guess the answers.

Water benders UNITE!!

With regards to clenching/unclenching the fist:

I don't believe that it actually makes a difference to the speed of your punch unless you're really trying to crush your own palm. Personally I clench my fist mid flight simply because I don't like to stand there clenching my fists all day, so prepunch they are lose.

I was once told by a very good boxer that he left his hands unclenched on his jabs before impact for the extra little bit of reach he could get. He said with gloves on it didn't really matter if he made contact with his fist unlenched, though he clenched it if contact was guaranteed for better power transfer. Basically a good way to score cheap points in amateur boxing.

If you wish to develop punching speed the only real advise I have is to get out on the heavy bag every day. Try doing three one minute rounds of just pounding the bag with straights as quickly as you possibly can, then rest for 15 seconds. If you have trouble with one minute rounds go for 30 seconds, key thing is not to overdo it so that you can keep getting out there and doing it every day (or 6 days a week). This is just a drill I became fond of, any punching drills will increase your speed, there is no secret or trick to it as far as I know.

i found practicing at slow speeds to get the technique right first then slowly incresing in speed while consentrating on technique and accuricy, the speed with practice will come. also i was taught that speed and accuricy are far more important that power as you don't need power if your striking the right places.

find a cactus and start punching it