Heavy bag vs. Focus Mitts

[MDS8405]

Advantages of both? Disadvantages? The place I box at right now is only an hour long class, 4-5 times a week. Its taught by an ex-pro, but all it is is just working combos on focus mitts. However, I've been using this preciously short time to get in sparring rounds instead. Gonna need to setup something in my garage if I want to train any harder. Plan on putting in a heavy bag, speed bad, and double end bag.

[Scrap]

The heavy bag is a great peice of kit unfortunatly its very rare you see it being used as it should be. Use it for movement and footwork not to see how hard you can hit it.

[Lords Gym]

Excellent advise Scrap , also depending on the drills, I like to do punch outs on the bag non stop for ,, and also have drills where I basically envision an opponent in front of me , you need to envision the bag as someone ready to counter you punch, , once you punch , you got to remember to slip, move the feet , jot to the side.. So important to be in motion . The Heavybag can be used for so many great things.

[Von Milash]

I love to see how hard I can hit it.

[Karlos]

I'm getting a heavy bag soon Do you all think 75 pounds is a reasonable weight?

[Von Milash]

yes

[AirJordanIV]

Have to agree with Scrap. I used to stand in one place and smother my punches on the heavy bag, constantly reseting every time the bag didn't sit where I wanted. Now, I move with the bag as it sways. I now manuever and pivot around the bag practicing footwork and developing good range for puches rather than smothering them.
Focus mitts are crucial because they develop your combos and the pad holder throws back at you as you develop more defense.

[gyrokai]

I'm going to use the bag for combinations. I have to get those combos ingrained into my brain. Not to mention the stamina benifits. Not permanently doing this, but I like to concentrate on one learning thing at a time. Quick, short punches, something many young fighters have no idea of. Basically I want to imitate Riddick Bowe in Holyfield 1, in case I have to fight a brawler who likes to have his way on the inside.