Description

Punching bags are often filled with grains, sand, rags, or other material, and are usually hung from the ceiling or affixed to a stand. Other bags have an internal bladder to allow them to be filled with air or water. The design of a punching bag allows it to take repeated and constant physical abuse without breaking. The bag must also absorb the impact of blows without causing harm to the user.

There are different types of punching bags, with different names based on their size,  and mounting method. Almost all punching bags are covered with either leather or synthetic materials such as vinyl which resist abrasion and mildew. Canvas can also be used as a bag material where there are lower use and humidity.

Speed bags are small, air-filled bags anchored at the top to a rebound platform parallel to the ground. Speed bags help a fighter learn to keep his or her hands up, improve hand-eye coordination, and learn to shift weight between feet when punching. They are also known as speedballs or speedball bags. They are generally filled with air and fitted around a tight PU- based or leather material. They come in various sizes, ranging from the large 13×10″ (33×25 cm) and 12×9″, midsize 11×8″, 10×7″ (25×18 cm) and 9×6″, to the small 8×5″, 7×4″ and 6×4″ (15×10 cm).
Generally the larger the bag, the slower it is and the more force is required to keep it going.

Large bags are used more for building strength and endurance, while smaller bags allow the training athlete to focus on faster hand speed, timing, and coordination. Beginners might view this bag more as a “control bag”, not a speed bag, for they will not be able to punch both quickly and repetitively until they gain control over their swinging force and speed.