Can you imagine practicing MMA or boxing without punching? Certainly not. Whether you go for a free-standing punching bag, a speed bag, or a hanging punching bag, the purpose is to give you precise and harder punches.
But do you know exactly how many types of punching bags are available today? Well, there is no tally counter for that. Depending on the size, nature, and formation of the punching, they have different training purposes.
If you are up for buying a punching bag, then read this guide till the end. We will discuss different types of punching bags from which you can choose one according to your desires and needs.
10 Different Types Of Punching Bags Listed Below:
Based on the bags’ weight and size, you can choose either a strength-building punching bag or skill perfecting punching bag. Let’s assume if you want to enhance the hand-eye coordination for boxing, then speed bags are what you need. Moreover, for thoughtful strikes and precision, you need a body opponent bag. Depending on its practice purpose, I’m dividing punching bags into two categories: punching bags for strength building and punching bags for sharpening skills.
Punching Bags For Strength Building
The most important thing during boxing practice is your muscle strength and resistance. For that, you need heavy bags. Heavy bags commonly have padding around that cushions your strikes. Besides, you can fill these bags with either water, grains, or sand. Let’s give you a detailed shot on types of heavy punching bags for strength building:
Hanging heavy bags are the most common type of punching bag. They usually stand 4-5 feet tall. Moreover, they comprise leather cover that can be either synthetic or genuine. They have a consistent cylindrical shape and usually fill up with sand or grains. You can hit them with punches, kicks, and perform combos. It is more of a beginner bag that they can use to step into boxing practice.
Who should buy it?
If you want a punching bag for home and have less space to spare, hanging a heavy bag is the best bet. You can build good muscle strength and even practice kickboxing at home with such loads as they have more resistance than any other punching bag.
2. Free-Standing Punching Bag
A free-standing punching bag goes toe to toe with hanging heavy bags, but the only difference is that they are affixed to the floor rather than the ceiling. The free-standing punching bag filling usually houses sand or water. You can fill up its base with your desirable content. While free-standing bags give you the versatility to move around but its cheaper model cannot withstand heavy strikes and can topple. Moreover, many brands provide bags that can be screwed to the floor to cope with toppling problems. Usually, a free-standing punch bag weighs 150-200 pounds, giving you enough resistance for strength building.
Who should buy it?
If you do not have the proper setup to hang the heavy bag, go for free-standing punching bags. Moreover, you can move them around too.
3. Banana Heavy Bag/ Long Heavy Bag
As the name depicts, this bag is the long and thinner version of the standard heavy bag. This heavy bag is long enough to touch the floor, and in some instances, it can even affix to the floor. Banana heavy bag’s construction material and formation are the same as hanging heavy bags and are more prevalent in Thailand. But remember that banana bags lack the swing of traditional heavy bags, which makes them not useful for boxing, although, for kickboxing, you can consider it.
Who should buy it?
If you are more inclined to Muay Thai or kickboxing, then banana heavy bags are the right pick for you. You can land low kicks and practice level-changing combos.
4. Pole Heavy Bag
The pole bag is the same as a banana heavy bag, but it’s a more beasted version of it. The pole bags can weigh around 140 pounds or more, which implies that you cannot hang them to the ceiling. Instead, you require a verticle pole to mount it from the top to duck sliding. The filling of the pole bags settles down after some time, making it’s bottom thicker than the upper part.
Who should buy it?
The pole bags are more versatile than banana bags as you can practice kickboxing and hard striking punches. Moreover, pole bags are more sturdy to endure hard strikes, so they are the best bet for pro boxers.
5. Angled Heavy Bag
Angled heavy bags have an angular shape, and they hang from the ceiling. Further, you will see that they are wider from the top and thinner from the bottom. The upper part of this bag offers much for landing straight punches and uppercuts. On the flip side, you can use the lower feature for throwing kicks and body hooks.
Who should buy it?
The angled heavy bags go hand in hand with your boxing-based combos. If you want advancement in your boxing practice goes for the angled heavy loads.
While the heavy bags help you out for strength building and heavy-hitting, there are a variety of bags that can focus on honing your skills. Some of them are:
6. Teardrop Punching Bag
As the name suggests, this bag has the shape of a teardrop. It has varying widths and sizes, but usually, it has a smaller height. Depending on its weight and size, you can either gain strength and precision. Suppose if you go for a broader and heavier bag, it will best serve for hard strikes. On the other hand, a slimmer and lighter teardrop bag will sharpen your head movement and defense skills owing to its swing.
Who should buy it?
If you want to enhance accuracy, timing, and speed, then teardrop bags are the best type of punching bag. Moreover, for uppercuts and hooks, it also serves well.
7. Maize Bag
Maize bags have a somewhat different shape than other punching bags. It has a rope chained from the ceiling, which gives them a swing while you hit it. When practicing with Maize bags, you have to be careful as they swing back towards the head after hitting. You see, these bags can sharpen your reflexes and head movements.
Who should buy it?
Maize bags can improve your defense skills and dodge. You can practice moving out of the way during the fight and practice more efficient and thoughtful punches with maize bags.
8. Speed Bag
You might have seen the speed bags in movies or TV shows. It’s a small waterdrop-shaped bag that hangs mostly from a swivel. It does not have any long ropes or chains. Instead, it moves back and forth while you hit as it is connected to a pivot. Speed bags ask for rhythmic movement of the hands, which in the long run enhances the boxer’s speed and precision. The way these bags bounces around is not easy to get used to instantly; instead, you have to stay patient and practice consistently to get the best out of your muscles and knuckles.
Who should buy it?
If you want to learn swift and speedy punching techniques with perfect timing, then speed bags are the ultimate solution. Moreover, it can increase your hand-eye coordination with rhythmic movements.
9. Uppercut Bag/Wall Bag
These are angular bags that can be fixed to the wall with screws. You can save space for free-standing and hanging bags, but they provide limited functionality as you only got one side to hit them. You cannot practice kickboxing on it, but still, you got a decent pick for practicing straight punches, hooks, and different combos.
Who should buy it?
The wall bags are a decent pick for practicing straight punches, hooks, and different combos.
10. Body Opponent Bag (BOB)
The BOB or Body Opponent Bag is more like a dummy of your boxing partner. The form factor of BOB is the same as free-standing punching bags, but the only difference is that they literally represent your opponent. The notion of BOB is that you can target specific parts rather than swaying punches and kicks. You can make more thoughtful hits and strikes on this bag. The body opponent bag comes with adjustable heights so that you can practice for both short and heightened opponents. Although this bag has many downsides than free-standing punching bags, like it is static, you can easily topple it.
Who should buy it?
For practicing karate or taekwondo, BOB is the best pick. Because it is more of a static punching bag, and when you practice individual strikes of karate or taekwondo, it serves best rather than when you apply different boxing combos.
The Take-Away?
With so many punching bag options, you get confused at the time about which one to buy. Well, for that, you need to be mindful of the purpose of purchasing a punching bag. If you want to work on your overall performance or you are just a beginner in boxing, then hanging heavy bags is the right decision to buy. Although if you cannot spare space at home, then go for free standing punching bags.
Moreover, if you are a pro boxer looking to practice precise strikes and sharp punches, you must have a speed bag and maize bag.
By and large, in MMA, Boxing, Muay Thai, or wrestling, you are exposed to a whole lot of techniques and depending on your practices, you ought to buy each type of punching bag. In any case, I hope this guide be helpful for you, and you find the besttype of punching bag for your practice.
Related Posts to * 10 PUNCHING BAG Types? Choose the Right One
