Does having a roll of quarters in your fist actually ever help in a fight? Is it just a myth or is there a biomechanical advantage?
In: Physics
Fingers (and also knuckles) are not of same strength. When you punch something, the weaker ones give first. You can test this by forming a fist and just pressing on fingers – some can compress further into palm than others.
Roll of quarters puts an uniform, solid wall behind them, so there’s no weaker links in the chain.
As for actual practicality in a fight, it’s quite desperate. If you’re really going to have a fight, it makes all the more sense to put those quarters in a sock or grab a random stick or stone. Even a short stick increases your possible damage by 5-10 times and lessens chance of injury perhaps as much. Fingers are fragile and weak. Few brawlers (doormen, really) I’ve met carry a sap for that same reason. All the power amplification and injury mitigation with no visible, flashy traces on yourself or your opponent. And nearly not lethal, unless you hit the head.
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