I just bought and installed a double end bag. Can I gets some tips how to use it properly. Is it good for only straight punches of can you use hooks, etc? Also how high should it be set up? Right now I have the center of the ball at chin height...
TTT--
Jab,Slip left slip right. jab right,slip,slip,1-2-3,slip 1234.slip. 2-3 slip slip.
Stay really close to the bag, hit it and "slip" it when it bounces back at you. Move around it and throw hooks too. Good practice for timing a moving target.
When i hit the bag with a hook the bag goes crazy and I have a really hard time controling it. I guess the secret it to move around the bag and not just keep one position...????
In my opinion, the double end bag is one of the best bags in the gym, to develop handspeed, and accuracy.
Most fighters have a hard time hitting the double end bag, because they don't have any balance. Think about how hard it is to miss a heavybag..Alot of fighters will get on a heavybag and hit it as hard as they can, but never think about how off balance they would be if they miss.
One of the reasons you might be having a problem hitting the double end bag with your hook, is that you might be trying to follow through with your hook. In boxing, there are essentially five punches. From a right handed fighters perspective, he has a left jab, a straight right, a left hook, and uppercuts with both hands. Of course, you can also throw these punches to the body. Essentially any other punches are just slight variations of those five punches.
Think about what happens when you throw an uppercut, and try to follow through with it, but miss? Your hand that you are punching with ends up about a foot above your intended target. The same go's for a hook, if you miss your left hook, and follow through, then you are off balance and unable to through your right hand afterwards.
The double end bag forces you to have balance. A heavybag is great, but most people never realize what happens when they miss a punch. Work on following though, and getting the the correct distancing on your left jab and right hand (opposite if you are a southpaw), and work on throwing your hooks and uppercuts while retaining balance. Follow through a little past the center of your opponent on your hooks, and throw no uppercuts that will go above the eye level of your opponent if you miss. In my opinion, balance is the most important thing to have in boxing. Every other attribute works off of it. Hope this helped.
Keith,
Thanks so much for your reply. Yes your post does make a lot of sence..
A few questions.
At what height should the bag be set up at. The center of mine is at about chin level?
Is it best to just throw straight punches and work on the slips? Or should I force myself to throw hooks?
When you talk about the punches. You did not mention the rear hook punch (right hand hook). I wonder why?
Do you move around the bag or just stay pretty much in one place.
I am asking because I do not want to develope bad habits from the get go...
Anybody in addition to Keith can reply as well...
Thanks all...
I always thought the double end bag was useful for throwing straight punches only. I would like someone to explain how to throw hooks at a double end bag without it wobbling all over the place? Thanks
Hi, Hitmeharder. It sounds like the double end bag is at about the right height for you. The hooks you throw to a fighters head should be aimed about shoulder height, instead of higher, (at eye level for instance), because a shoulder height thrown hook is hard to get under.
Once you become used to throwing straight punches at the double end bag, start throwing hooks. A common mistake most fighters make when they are on the double end bag, is pulling back when they throw the hook, because they are trying to avoid the bag hitting them. Stay in there and throw the hook without pulling way.
Move around the bag. Use defensive, or I like to call them come-around jabs. Jabs in which you are moving to your left. Definitely avoid staying in one spot right in front of the bag.
I didn't mention the rear handed hook, (right hook for an orthodox fighter) because of how much it leaves you open to an orthodox (right handed fighters) left hook, if the fighter throwing the left hook has proper hand positioning with his left hand. Alot of fighters hold their left hand to far inward in sort of a peekaboo type style, when the left hand should be a little farther out. It's pretty hard to explain unless I have pictures or videos to prove it. You hear that right hands beat left hooks, but if the the left hand is positioned properly, the left hook will often beat a straight right hand. Again, it's hard to show in words. lol.
Let me know if there are any other questions you have, or if I can go into further detail explaining things.