Punch bag training

[Reload]

I'm thinking of getting a punch bag to add a bit of variety to my training, but I have absolutely no idea what I'm looking for, so I'm wondering if anybody can offer me some advice.

I'm after something solely for punching rather than kicking/dodging/jabbing. I've seen a few 3 foot bags priced between £30.00 up the £50.00 mark which I think would be best size-wise. However, only one of them states the weight - 20kg (rag filled - see below link)

http://www.jjbsports.com/everlast-3ft-punchbag-/bo...

Would this be about right for what I'm wanting out of my training? Would my weight or size determine what weight bag I should look at getting? For the record I'm a tad shy of 6 foot, weigh 12 stone 11 pounds (at last weigh in!) and I'd say I'm fairly well built.

Would what I weight train with give an indication as to my requirement? (again, for the record my current basic 3 are bicep curl 15kg, bench press 70kg and tricep extension 10kg).

Also, any advice on gloves would be appreciated, as there seem to be an array out there of which I'm not sure what's best for using with a bag!

Thanks in advance.

[Wildfire]

Apologies, but I can't help with the weight, but just to say that be aware of the weight and how much load whatevery you are going to be hanging it from can take.

[Sheets Tabuer]

You will want bag gloves, 8-12oz

Bag seems a bit light.

[Reload]

Sheets Tabuer said:

You will want bag gloves, 8-12oz

Bag seems a bit light.

Thanks for your help. When you say bag gloves, are they the same as training gloves? E.g. http://www.sportsdirect.com/lonsdale-pro-training-...

Do you know if it's possible to increase the weight of the bag, or would it be best getting something heavier from the off?

[Reload]

Wildfire said:

Apologies, but I can't help with the weight, but just to say that be aware of the weight and how much load whatevery you are going to be hanging it from can take.

Cheers for your advice. I'll be hanging it in the garage which has steel roof beams so it should be ok.

[Animal]

Sheets Tabuer said:

You will want bag gloves, 8-12oz

Bag seems a bit light.

I'd go for a heavier bag, but also heavier gloves. My gloves are 16oz and I use wraps as well and even then I get sore hands. Admittedly I am obviously a sissy, but even so surely it's better to have more padding?

[Sheets Tabuer]

Reload said:

Sheets Tabuer said:

You will want bag gloves, 8-12oz

Bag seems a bit light.

Thanks for your help. When you say bag gloves, are they the same as training gloves? E.g. http://www.sportsdirect.com/lonsdale-pro-training-...

Do you know if it's possible to increase the weight of the bag, or would it be best getting something heavier from the off?

Anything will be good as long as you can get it on and off yourself, if you are looking for some wrist support then look at those that do up around the wrist, if not you can get some types that almost slip off like mittens, if you are looking for speed then you will want as light as possible. If you get a heavier bag get heavier gloves, I have 8oz for bags, 14oz for sparring and 16oz for the ring.

They don't need to be 16oz though, you are not hitting a hard skull

I don't know if that bag can be made heavier but with proper technique in the cross (pivot on the foot as you punch) you'd probably knock that bag clean across the room so check the hooks on it.

ETA: I wouldn't spend much if you haven't done it before, you'll have to go for a lie down after 3 minutes

Edited by Sheets Tabuer on Wednesday 23 June 12:02

[Halb]

This will be mine when I have the room.
http://www.boxfituk.com/punch-bags/lonsdale-39-col...

That site has good bags and gloves.
Last time we had this chat banana bag was advised, and it looks good, and you fill it yourself.

Make sure you wrap your wrists up nice and snug.

[surrey7er]

For punching only, I would recommend something you can uppercut as well... I have a 30kg maize bag and it's ace!

[Reload]

surrey7er said:

For punching only, I would recommend something you can uppercut as well... I have a 30kg maize bag and it's ace!

Do you mind me asking what sort it is/where you got it from?

[Phooey]

Halb said:

This will be mine when I have the room.
http://www.boxfituk.com/punch-bags/lonsdale-39-col...

That site has good bags and gloves.
Last time we had this chat banana bag was advised, and it looks good, and you fill it yourself.

Make sure you wrap your wrists up nice and snug.

Sorry to the op for the topic hijack. Just had a look on the above site - loads of equipment

I want a bag to hang in the warehouse to have a play on - saw this one on that site - http://www.boxfituk.com/punch-bags/heavy-duty-pu-b...

What are peoples opinions on these kind of bags? OR with a budget of say £100 - which bag would you choose from that site?

Might order it today

[surrey7er]

Reload said:

surrey7er said:

For punching only, I would recommend something you can uppercut as well... I have a 30kg maize bag and it's ace!

Do you mind me asking what sort it is/where you got it from?

http://www.sugarrays.co.uk/shop/pro-box-maize-bag.html

this one mate.

It wasnt cheap, but then, I've bought a cheap bag in the past, and I really think YGWYPF.

Check this guy out, introduced to me by PHer Animal's posts. He goes on to a Maize bag half way through:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YFfy9lXFGE&fea...

[Phooey]

Phooey said:

Halb said:

This will be mine when I have the room.
http://www.boxfituk.com/punch-bags/lonsdale-39-col...

That site has good bags and gloves.
Last time we had this chat banana bag was advised, and it looks good, and you fill it yourself.

Make sure you wrap your wrists up nice and snug.

Sorry to the op for the topic hijack. Just had a look on the above site - loads of equipment

I want a bag to hang in the warehouse to have a play on - saw this one on that site - http://www.boxfituk.com/punch-bags/heavy-duty-pu-b...

What are peoples opinions on these kind of bags? OR with a budget of say £100 - which bag would you choose from that site?

Might order it today

For anyone that is interested - i bought a bag and gloves from this site/store and can thoroughly recommended them

Ordered Wednesday - arrived yesterday. Good advice from the chap when i rang them too

[Lost_BMW]

Phooey said:

Halb said:

This will be mine when I have the room.
http://www.boxfituk.com/punch-bags/lonsdale-39-col...

That site has good bags and gloves.
Last time we had this chat banana bag was advised, and it looks good, and you fill it yourself.

Make sure you wrap your wrists up nice and snug.

Sorry to the op for the topic hijack. Just had a look on the above site - loads of equipment

I want a bag to hang in the warehouse to have a play on - saw this one on that site - http://www.boxfituk.com/punch-bags/heavy-duty-pu-b...

What are peoples opinions on these kind of bags? OR with a budget of say £100 - which bag would you choose from that site?

Might order it today

To both you and the OP.

I've had god knows how many over the years from the bad to the ridiculous (+ a couple of good ones!) so think false economy is a danger.

Weight wise you are likely to get frustrated by one that is too light as it will swing everywhere, unless you tether it to the floor with stiff cable etc.

So, if heavy you could also do with one with decent padding like Halb recommended - I'm moving to the Ringside bag below with a 2"foam liner as I've scoured hundreds of reviews + talked to fighters and it seems to be the best for the wrist and hands ( + is seen in more and more top gyms which says something) It's pricey and over one budget mentioned but Lonsdale & BBE do similar.

As others have said, if it's you're only bag an uppercut bag or 3 in 1 bag might be more interesting/ fun as it's easier to work some combinations on. Plus, I love my Maize bag - again a top quality heavy one from BBE.

Hand wise they may be sore to start with but I'd be far more concerned long term with your wrists - get your technique right before putting too much into it. Wrists go quickly and take a lot of time to heal if you land at the wrong angle.

Good bag gloves and wraps too - I neglected the latter for bag work for years and now reckon I should have been less lazy. If that's a hassle the Everlast or similar gel-wrap gloves are OK esp. if you can get them under a glove too = loads of padding + decent wrist wrap protection.

Edited by Lost_BMW on Saturday 26th June 11:39

[Phooey]

The one i bought is not on their website. r.r.p. £120, i paid £90. It is an Adidas canvas (or nylon whatever you call it) 32kg 4ft bag. I also bought some of these http://www.boxfituk.com/boxing-gloves/lonsdale-sup...

Just been to Halfords and bought a tow-rope and i'm going to hang it from a wooden beam which is approx 12-15ft high. The chap did strongly advise wrist wraps, but i declined these - thinking i perhaps should of now

[Lost_BMW]

Phooey said:

The one i bought is not on their website. r.r.p. £120, i paid £90. It is an Adidas canvas (or nylon whatever you call it) 32kg 4ft bag. I also bought some of these http://www.boxfituk.com/boxing-gloves/lonsdale-sup...

Just been to Halfords and bought a tow-rope and i'm going to hang it from a wooden beam which is approx 12-15ft high. The chap did strongly advise wrist wraps, but i declined these - thinking i perhaps should of now

I would - wraps that is. You can get them pretty cheap (I think the longer the better) so could have a set to use whilst the other(s) is in the wash. There's on-line guides on how to use them but if you make sure you've got a decent wrap of the wrists and then some over the knuckles + gloves you should be forearmed.

Good technique is the safest route though so don't be proud about getting tuition assuming you haven't boxed before?

[Phooey]

Lost_BMW said:

Phooey said:

The one i bought is not on their website. r.r.p. £120, i paid £90. It is an Adidas canvas (or nylon whatever you call it) 32kg 4ft bag. I also bought some of these http://www.boxfituk.com/boxing-gloves/lonsdale-sup...

Just been to Halfords and bought a tow-rope and i'm going to hang it from a wooden beam which is approx 12-15ft high. The chap did strongly advise wrist wraps, but i declined these - thinking i perhaps should of now

I would - wraps that is. You can get them pretty cheap (I think the longer the better) so could have a set to use whilst the other(s) is in the wash. There's on-line guides on how to use them but if you make sure you've got a decent wrap of the wrists and then some over the knuckles + gloves you should be forearmed.

Good technique is the safest route though so don't be proud about getting tuition assuming you haven't boxed before?

[EmmaP]

Definitely get tuition on punching from somebody who knows what they are talking about rather than thinks they know. You are far more susceptible to damaging your wrists using a heavy punch bag so good technique coupled with straight wrist from wrapping is the key to avoiding injury.

Interesting to see recommendations of weighted gloves. I've started bag training using bag mits. Makes sense to use weighted gloves thinking about it.

[Reload]

Thanks for your advice Lost BMW, really helpful.

I do have one knackered wrist (scaphoid healed in two seperate bits) which plays up sometimes so wrist wraps would be essential I think.

Do you know if replacing bag contents would help with weight? I've heard sawdust packed in is an option, but I don't know how different that would be to say, rags. I notice a lot of people are talking about maize - could I fill it with that or would I need a certain bag?

[Dr_Gonzo]

Wraps aren't just to protect your wrists. They also prevent the bones in your hand from moving around too much when you punch. Without wraps your metacarpels are being forced apart slightly each impact. Overtime this can cause quite serious, lasting damage.