Some people feel like their time at the gym is not enough. If you happen to be one of them, you may want to get your own punching bag for home workouts. Fortunately, there are lots of punching bags to choose from. However, many do not realise that different punching bags serve different things people look out for in a workout.
There are various punching bags available in the market such as those for boxing, Muay Thai, Karate, and MMA just to name a few. Therefore, the variety of punching bags in Singapore can be astounding. Fret not though as, we have created this guide to enlighten you on the different types of punching bags, what to look for when purchasing them, and how to find the best ones.
What Are Punching Bags Used For?
Punching bags can serve as dummies for training your punches, kicks, and even takedowns. They are also crucial for developing agility, endurance, strength, and power. In addition, they are highly useful for those who have little interest in sparring. Provided you have a partner, punching bags can also be used for learning how to dodge. It also has the added benefit to improve the execution of offensive moves, shape one’s body, and improve willpower and focus.
You can reap many other benefits depending on the type of punching bag you buy and some even provide additional benefits that others might not have. Now, let us explore the different types of punching bags and their uses.
Types of Punching Bags
Standard Punching Bags
Standard punching bags are free-hanging punching bags with a cylindrical shape. Technicians use a rope or chain to hang these on the ceiling or wall bracket. On average, they are usually 1.2 to 1.5 metres long and 28-32 centimeters wide.
Standard punching bags are normally filled with sand or grain. Moreover, this filling is enclosed by either synthetic leather or natural leather. In terms of weight, standard punching bags are lighter than heavy punching bags.
Standard punching bags are useful for increasing strength, power, and endurance as well as developing the arms, legs, and torso. Furthermore, they are commonly used in sports such as boxing, MMA, karate, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and taekwondo.
One benefit of using standard punching bags is that they help in improving kicks, punches, and take-downs. They also help in enhancing leg and body strength and can be utilized to sharpen reflexes.
Heavy Punching Bags
Heavy punching bags look closely similar to standard punching bags. That said, they can easily be identified since they are more difficult to transport. In fact, heavy punching bags can weigh between 154-440 kilograms. This is mainly due to the sand or pellets found behind the leather exterior.
Unlike standard punching bags, heavy punching bags do not tear easily despite strong punches and kicks. As such, they are highly ideal for professional fighters.
Heavy punching bags have similar benefits to standard punching bags. However, you may want to prioritise the former if you have relatively powerful punches and kicks.
Speed Bags
Speed bags are small punching bags filled with air and hung on a rebound platform or board. Speed bags are usually installed at a high position since they are mainly used for developing punches, rhythmic movement/stance, and hand/eye coordination.
You can also train with speed bags to acquire power, endurance, and strength. However, take note that they are not as effective as heavy or standard punching bags in certain areas such as strength and power.
Compared to most punching bag types, speed bags can be quite tricky to train with. This is because they tend to recoil or rebound and can offset punches. Thus, you will have to time your punches appropriately when using them.
Speed bags are very popular among boxers since they help them develop quick-returning jabs. Other benefits of speed bags include development of punch speed and accuracy as well as hand/eye coordination. Speed bags can also enhance your reaction time and improve your hand and arm endurance.
Banana Punching Bags
Banana punching bags are longer than punching bags and boxing bags and are commonly available in sizes ranging between 1.83 to 2.44 metres. However, they have a narrower shape and are therefore not recommended for practicing jabs, hooks, and uppercuts.
On the other hand, banana punching bags help significantly in training low and high kicks as well as developing leg strength. Because of their narrow construction, they sway easily and prevent injury to the legs. Apart from this, they are also useful for practicing knee attacks.
Unlike installed boxing bags, it is rare for banana punching bags to be used in boxing gyms. Nevertheless, you can find them in various Muay Thai, MMA, Karate, and Taekwondo gyms around Singapore.
Teardrop Bags
Teardrop bags are large heavy bags shaped like teardrops. These bags are not only used to train punches. They are also incredibly useful for honing kicks, developing the knees, and even practicing grapples. This is due to their unique shape that is meant to simulate grappling an opponent. For this reason, they are widely found in many MMA and Muay Thai gyms.
Factors to Look Out For When Purchasing Punching Bags
Body Measurements
When buying punching bags, it is best to choose those that complement your physique and weight. In other words, the punching bag you decide to purchase should not be too big nor too small for your size so that the workout remains effective.
Training with a big punching bag can put you at a significant disadvantage. You might not be able to make it budge due to its resistance, hardness, and weight. It can also cause injury which will stop you from being to complete any workout at all.
In the same manner, a punching bag that is too small for you will be inconvenient. Due to its light size, it will not do well in helping you to develop your endurance, speed, strength, and power. This renders the workout much less effective.
To know which punching bag fits your size, simply divide your weight by two. For example, a person who weighs 60 kilograms will do well with a 30 kilogram punching bag. Take note however that specific bags might entail further calculation. Punching bags can often be filled up more if the bag is not heavy enough.
To be safe, you should stick to buying a punching bag that is at least 30 kilograms for an average person if you are a beginner. That way, you will be able to train easily and more efficiently.
Determine Your Goals
Before purchasing a punching bag, it is important that you determine your purpose for using it. Some people may want to buy a punching bag to improve their kicks while others prefer to use it to develop their punches. In general, punching bags are very good for general fitness as it works many areas of the body from your arms to your legs.
The different types of punching bags mentioned previously are each produced for specific training objectives. Some are made to develop power and strength, endurance and power, while others are intended to enhance accuracy and speed. It is recommended that you buy a speed bag if your aim is to improve your reflexes, punching speed, and hand/eye coordination. In contrast, purchase a standard punching bag or heavy bag if you are also aiming to build your physique.
Choose According To Sport and Type
To buy the right punching bag for you, it is best to choose according to sport and type rather than design. For instance, you may not want to buy banana bags if you are into boxing. Buying punching bags where the height is not adjustable is not recommended since these can prove to be highly inconvenient. Adjustable punching bags are more useful as you can adjust their height and they can be used by other people besides yourself.
What Are Mounts?
Mounts are components that allow the punching bags to hang freely. There are two kinds of popular mounts: ceiling mounts and wall mounts.
Wall mounts use a wall bracket for hanging a punching bag. They are considered highly useful for those who do not have enough ceiling space for training. However, the downside of a wall-mounted punching bag is that the movement of the bag is limited and it cannot swing freely.
As the name implies, ceiling mounts use brackets that attach to the ceiling. The greatest advantage of ceiling mounted punching bags is that they sway freely. and greatly maximise the use of training space.
Things to Look Out for in an Installation Service Provider
Look For Sellers Offering Installation Services
You can always opt to install a punching bag without professional help. However, this process is quite tricky just due to the weight of the punching bag. Moreover, you will have to spend significant time affixing screws and bolts. You may even struggle in determining if your punching bag has been installed correctly.
One of the techniques for finding the best punching bag deals is to look for sellers who offer free installation services. That way, you will be able to have your punching bag installed properly without the risk of damaging your walls or your new punching bag.
Seller Reviews
Looking at reviews is one of the most helpful things you can do in case you want to purchase a punching bag. This is because they provide a glimpse of how good a certain company’s products or services are. Thus, go for online stores that have a reviews or testimonials section on their webpage.
When assessing reviews, be careful of false claims made by some users. If you are in doubt, you can try consulting punching bag forums which contain recommendations of the best punching bag sellers in Singapore.
Conclusion
Once you have decided on a punching bag, contact Punching Bags Pro Singapore to install it for you. We can easily provide you with services to ensure that you have the best training experience possible. Contact us to know more about our servicing costs.
Punching Bags Pro Singapore provides the quickest solution for your punching bag installation needs. From our friendly customer service support team, to the quality workmanship during installation, we are the preferred choice. Our one-stop service aims to provide utmost convenience for customers getting a new punching bag. Our range of products includes Punching Bags, Speed Bags, and Muay Thai Punching Bags along with our installation services which include Punching Bag Installation and Speed Bag Installation. Feel free to read through our Punching Bag Buying Guide to figure out which punching bag fits your needs. Do not hesitate to contact us via WhatsApp at +65 8241 0032 if you have any queries or need recommendations for your punching bag!