There are 10 major punching bag types, thousands of models, and hundreds of brands that are manufacturing them.
In this article we will explain what punching bag types exist, the major differences between them, their advantages and disadvantages, and what kind of workout or martial art is recommended or best suited for them.
Of course, you know that a heavy bag workout is an important part of every training. No matter do you sport MMA, Boxing, Muay Thai or other martial art, the benefits of bag training are limitless.
Depending on these punching bag types, you may work for your technique, drilling skills, head or body defense, punching power, coordination, and speed.
Each type of heavy bag has its differences regarding size, mounting, and shape. Choosing the right one is essential for achieving your goals.
Are you interested? Let’s begin then!
Traditional hanging heavy bag(western style)
The most popular type of heavy bag in every boxing or fitness club. If you like chess, consider the traditional hanging boxing bag as the queen on the board.
Even if you do not use the other types of boxing bags, the traditional bag will cover eighty percent of your needs for a quality workout. It is essential for every beginner practitioner and is necessary for any advanced boxer.
Most often they are mounted to the ceiling by a chain and, in rare cases, by a rope. Their standard length is between 120-150 centimeters (4-5 feet). There needs to be more space around them because this type of hanging allows you to walk around the bag throwing powerful blows.
Depending on the filler used, they can be very hard and durable (sand), or softer which kickbacks better and makes less damage to the hands (water).
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SUITABLE WITH
- Boxing
- MMA
- Muay Thai
- Karate
- Taekwondo
- Kickboxing
JP Boxing Bag Punching Bag Set | Heavy Punch Bag 3, 4 & 5-Feet UnFilled with Wall Bracket and Chain (5 Feet)
PostSOTF Heavy Bag Boxing Set Punching Bags for Adults Heavy Duty Hanging Punching Bag Unfilled name
ZTTENLLY Hanging Punching Bag with Gloves – PU Leather & Adjustable Height Strap – Heavy Boxing Bag Set for Adults Kids Great for Boxing, MMA, Kickboxing (Unfilled)st name
Traditional Muyai Thai “Banana” Long Heavy Bag
This type of heavy bag can be used for both hand and leg training, especially low and high kicks. They are usually 180 centimeters long (6 feet) and thinner in comparison to classic heavy bags.
Many of them have a bottom ring for better hanging to the floor in case you want to limit swinging to the maximum.
They are used by Muay Thai fighters for training mainly on their elbows, knees and low kicks so they tend to be filled with harder materials.
Because of their longer length and hard materials used, they swing less compared to classic heavy bags, which sometimes hinder active footwork.
The disadvantage is that over time the filling falls (as with all heavy bags) and because of the bigger length when you hit in the middle they curve.
Apart from this little inconvenience, they are ideal for any workout, especially if you work more with your low kicks.
SUITABLE WITH
- Kung Fu
- MMA
- Muay Thai
- Karate
- Taekwondo
- Kickboxing
Post namePROLAST No-rip 5 ft UNFILLED Heavy Punching Bag for and Kicking Great for Boxing, MMA, Muay Thai and Kickboxing for The Best Fitness Workouts
Fairtex Heavy Bag UNFILLED Banana, Tear Drop, Bowling, 7ft Pole, Angle Bag, HB3 HB4 HB6 HB7 HB10 HB12 for Muay Thai, Boxing, Kickboxing, MMA
Ringside 100-pound Leather Muay Thai Punching Heavy Bag (Unfilled)
Freestanding heavy bags
If you do not have a lot of free space or you prefer to change the position of your training gear often, this type of heavy bag is definitely for you.
Unlike hanging heavy bags, free-standing heavy bags are attached to a stable base and most often are connected to it by a mobile “neck”.Тhe base is filled with water or sand, which prevents the bag from being knocked over … if you do not hit too hard.
You should understand that these bags are ideal for beginners, for women and children but are not suitable for heavy punchers.
If you hit hard, you can easily knock down this type of heavy bag so they are not suitable for Muay Thai practitioners or professional boxers.
Free-standing heavy bags are a preferred choice for traditional martial arts where the focus is mainly on precise impact, speed, and coordination.
They are a very good solution if you just want to have an excellent cardio workout that focuses on burning calories.
A model I like very much is the B.O.B. (body opponent bag) who simulates a human body. For many years I have been practicing traditional martial arts, and especially this type of free-standing bag allows me to practice karate and Wing Chung techniques with open hands without risking injury to my hands.
Very useful device especially if you want to be prepared to protect yourself or your family on the street. There are no rules and gloves for protection.
SUITABLE WITH
- Traditional martial arts
- Self-defense
- Wing Chung
- Karate
- Amateur boxing
- Amateur kickboxing
UNSUITABLE WITH
- Muay Thai
- Professional boxing
- Professional kickboxing
Everlast Unisex Power Core Freestanding Punch Bag
Title Boxing Hydro-Flex H2O Freestanding Torso Bag
JUOIFIP Freestanding Punching Bags for Adults – 69″ Heavy Punching Bag with Stand – Men Standing Boxing Bag Inflatable Kickboxing Bag for Training MMA Muay Thai Fitness
Speedbag. What’s a speed bag?
The speed bags are small sacks filled with air and tied to the top of a platform parallel to the floor. They can go horizontally and vertically.
This allows you to maintain your hands, improving the coordination of the hands and eyes;
With this bag, you may learn how to change the weight between your legs when hit. The focus of the speed bags is on speed, rhythm, and coordination.
When you hit the bag it returns with bouncing speed, so if you do not hit the bag at the right time, you will lose the rhythm.
That is why the workout with a speed bag increases your hand-eye coordination, your reactions, and your fast punching abilities.
SUITABLE FOR
- Boxing
MaxxMMA Heavy Duty Adjustable Speed Bag Platform Kit 24″ + Speed Ball (10″ x 7″)
Meister SpeedKills Leather Speed Bag w/Lightweight Latex Bladder
FISTRAGE Speed Ball Boxing Bag Leather MMA Muay Thai Training Punching Dodge Striking Kit with Free Hanging Swivel Workout Speedball Kicking Platform Equipment (Black)
Double-ended Speed Bag (Mexican Speedbag)
Working with this type of speed bag is a bit more entertaining. Typically, they are about the size of a basketball ball which is stretched between the floor and the ceiling by two tight coils.
When you hit the Mexican speed bag, it returns like an opponent that repels you, which forces you to avoid and counter-attack.
This type of heavy bag can be adjusted according to the height and tightening of the ropes. If the ropes are tightened, the speed bag will faster bounce back.
SUITABLE WITH
- Boxing
- Kickboxing (hand and body workout)
UNSUITABLE WITH
- Kicking martial arts
Double End Bag Boxing Set – Double Ended Punching Ball – Double-End Punching Bags with Fully Adjustable Cords – PU Leather Punch Bag with Hand Wraps, Installation Double End Bag Accessories, Carry Bag
MaxxMMA Double End Striking Punching Bag Kit
Uppercut heavy bags
Traditional heavy bags, despite their many advantages, are not suited to landing good uppercuts.
For this purpose, specially designed uppercut bags were created.
Their shape is such, that correct uppercuts are applied with maximum power which lands in the right place at the right angle.
These bags can be mounted on the wall or freely swinging.
SUITABLE WITH
- Boxing
- Kickboxing (hand workout)
INNOLIFE Wall Mount Uppercut Boxing MMA Training Punching Target Size: S/L
Ringside Uppercut Bag Boxing MMA Muay Thai Fitness Workout Training Punching Heavy Bag
Teardrop heavy bags
As the name suggests, these are heavy bags that have the form of tears. The weight is distributed so that the heavy bottom creates more acceleration and momentum.
The teardrop bags are a few feet long and are lighter in comparison to classic heavy bags.
Therefore, thanks to the tear-shaped form and the lower weight they swing significantly faster.
The bottom may reach you very fast at the level of solar plexus, so it is a perfect tool for practicing close range punches, clinches, elbows and knee kicks.
Depending on your martial style the bag may be hanged at the level of the mid-chest plexus for boxing (uppercut drills) or at the waist level for MMA and Muay Thai (clinching knees).
SUITABLE WITH
- Boxing
- Kickboxing
- MMA
- Muay Thai
Ring to Cage Tear Drop Heavy Bag – Filled for Muay Thai, MMA, Kickboxing
Wrecking ball punching bag
This type of heavy bag is designed mainly for the training of powerful punches in all directions. They are the perfect training device for every boxer who wants to work on the combination of hits on a short distance.
Some fighters use this bag for knee training but I think that it is best suited for pure punchers.
SUITABLE WITH
- Boxing
- MMA
Ringside 65-pound Body Snatcher Powerhide Punching Heavy Bag (Soft Filled)
Maize bags
This special bag with a unique design is specially created for both hitting and slipping at the same time, so the maize bags are known as slip bags too.
the original maize bag is filled with maize so it’s easy to understand where the name comes from.
These types of heavy bags are similar to teardrop heavy bags with the same teardrop shape but are smaller and lighter.
Because of that, the maize bags swing faster even the teardrop bags which makes them perfect to avoid, slip and hit. They are extremely specialized in achieving this goal.
There is a standard maize bag (better for speed training) and a large maize bag(good for power training).
BEST SUITABLE WITH
- Boxing
Angled heavy bag
This type of heavy bag is similar to traditional heavy bags, with the difference that part of the surface is angular to provide better impact from different angles.
the angled heavy bag is a combination of a traditional heavy bag and a teardrop bag. So greatly offset both disadvantages (bad uppercut landing and less power punching workout)
This unique type of evolved heavy bag makes now possible to apply correct solid uppercuts at different angles with maximum force and power.
There are single-angled and double-angled variations of that type of heavy bag. Single-angled models are best suited for MMA and Kicking Martial Artists as double angled are better for pure uppercuts and hooks respectively for Boxers.
SUITABLE WITH
- Boxing
- MMA
- Muay Thai
- Karate
- Taekwondo
- Kickboxing
PROLAST Boxing Angle Heavy Bag – Punching Bag Best for Hook and Upper Cut- UNFILLED (Black and Red)
Ring to Cage Angle Punching Bag – Unfilled
Conclusion:
Once you have become familiar with all the various types of heavy bags and their specific features, advantages, and disadvantages, We hope you can make the most appropriate choice according to your needs, desires, and goals.
