Exploring anatomical alignment at the first point of impact.
Where should a boxing glove land first?
Ideally, a punch connects through the index and middle knuckles. This creates a stronger line for transferring force through the hand, wrist, and into the forearm.
But punches aren’t always ideal.
Angles change. Fatigue creeps in. Technique slowly fades.
So we wanted to know:
When technique starts to break down, which knuckles does the glove naturally position behind the first point of contact?
How We Tested It
Concentrated airflow was directed toward the punching surface of the glove at 30 mph. The first area to interrupt the airflow revealed the glove's most forward point (the area positioned to make contact first)
We then compared that point with the previously mapped position of the index and middle knuckles inside the glove.
If the glove’s first point of contact sits directly over the index and middle knuckles, we can confirm that the exterior punching surface is aligned with the correct knuckles inside.
What We Found
VECTOR™ prototypes consistently made first contact over the index and middle knuckles.
That matters because no fighter is spared from fatigue. A fighter can maintain proper punching alignment when fresh. But as fatigue sets in and technique deteriorates, the glove should naturally favour the strongest possible impact position rather than work against it.
How It Shaped VECTOR™
We attribute the result to two of our Pro Fist Principles: Square Fist Alignment, which controls the orientation of the fist, and MCP Connect Grip Bar, which helps position the knuckles correctly inside the glove.
Both were developed during our original ergonomic trials using X-ray imaging of the hand inside the glove.
The wind tunnel gave us a way to examine the glove's exterior contact point and knuckle position inside.
The results allowed us to verify the alignment before creating the final VECTOR™ design.
