Free standing bag experiences

[AdamGB]

I fucked my wrist up big time on one... I was messing about on one they had at the college gym so I hadn't wrapped my hands.

Never used one before and I will tell you this: do not hit it like you would a normal punch bag... if you throw with any power to the body ( particularly with hooks) then be prepared for the fact that the bag will not swing away with the shot or absorb the blow.... tooks months for my wrist to recover!

Also be aware that when you throw a head shot, the bag will move backwards a lot more than a conventional hanging bag, the slightest jab can knock the thing out of range of your cross, kind of good in a way... as that's what an opponent is more likely to do.... just be careful you don't over reach and hyper extend a joint.

[AdamGB]

Oh and make sure the padding is fairly thick... most of them are a hard polycarbonate tube with an inch or two of padding around them... but again, if you can bring it to the body this padding might just compress right down and you'll feel like you're punching a fucking tree... this is what did my wrist in!

[HerbM]

Most bags, especially most free sanding bags, don't take hits like people get hit.

Foam is also bad, and in my opinion so are the very hard traditional 'sawdust' or whatever heavy packed bags.

I am much more of a fan of water bags, especially quality ones with some baffles AND some small padding which can combine to make it react much closer to a human being -- after all, we are 90% plus water and we move some when we get hit (hard enough.)

But hey, you got to make do with what you can afford, store, have etc. As always be careful, wrap your hands, and use the equipment within the limitations you know it has (and learn those limitations carefully at first.)

[BigSkinny87]

My own personal suggestion would be either of these:

TITLE Boxing Headhunter Reflex Freestanding Bag | Freestanding Punching Bags | Boxing Heavy Bags & Heavy Bag Stands | Punching Bags & Punching Bag Stands from Title Boxing

TITLE Boxing Power Reflex Freestanding Heavy Bag | TITLE MMA Heavy Bags | TITLE MMA | Shop by Brand from Title Boxing

The second one being most likely the better of the two. Adjusts to well over 6' offers spring recoil so you are not just hitting something that is stationary.

I myself have a wavemaster. Bought it at Big 5 on sale. I filled the base with water and it tends to wobble a lot, the foam wears out rather quickly, and I'm 6'3" so even at it's hightest adjustment it is still kind of short.

If the bag from the 1st link was available when I bought my wavemaster, I definitely would have gone with the Title bag. Seems like a good value for the money.