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A standing punching bag is a pad mounted on a round base, which is filled with a ballast material such as sand, gravel or water.
The advantage of a standing punching bag is
- that it is much easier to move when needed
- plus they are ideal for small gyms, DIY gyms and outdoor use
What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
How should you set up a free-standing punching bag?
All standing punching bags (best reviewed here) have the same basic components:
- There is the plastic base standing on the floor
- a core with all the filling around it
- a neck or connector connecting the two
The exact way they are assembled varies by manufacturer, but their basic elements are the same.
Filling your standing punching bag
How can you prevent a free-standing punching bag from moving during the boxing?
Freestanding punching bags move when hit and can do quite a lot depending on a number of factors that can be annoying to boxers.
Not to mention that a lot of the sliding can potentially wear out the product faster, which is a shame after your expensive purchase!
Honestly, the best thing you can do to get the most out of your standing punching bag for longer is to reduce the amount of sliding the bar does.
Fill your standing boxing post with sand instead of water
Instead of filling your freestanding bag with water, you can fill it with sand instead. Sand is heavier than water in the same volume, so doing so can reduce the extra sliding.
If that's not enough, you can do two more things:
- In addition to sand, add a little more water. Sand, of course, consists of a lot of loose grains and if you fill it to the brim, there is always some space between all the grains. You can let water seep through that for an even heavier base.
- Put some sandbags around the punching bag, which should either hold it completely in place or reduce a lot of movement. You can pick up some sandbags at your favorite hardware store and it might cost less than a few bucks.
Place material underneath
One of the most practical ways to minimize the movement of the post when struck is to place something underneath it that has more friction than just your floor.
The amount of movement the post will have initially depends entirely on what it is placed on, as tile, hardwood, and concrete offer varying degrees of resistance.
An additional advantage of the sound dampening mats as I discussed above is that your post will slide less, but if you are only looking to reduce friction you could also use other surfaces or mats.
You might think that all the limiting of that extra sliding of the post when hit is simply not necessary, but putting it down properly is certainly very important.
Due to the natural shifting of the bar, you have to hit it from all sorts of angles to keep it in one place that requires good footwork, so you can't focus your training on hitting the punching post correctly.
Also read: this is the most intensive freestanding punching bag training you can follow
