When you’re looking to get into fighting shape, you’ll eventually ask yourself if the speed bag or double end bag is the better pick for your regimen. To figure out if the speed bag or double end bag is the right bag for you, I’ve listed some information about them.
Speed bag vs Double-end bag: Which Is Better? The pro boxers work on both those bags to improve their speed, timing, rhythm, and precision. But if you have to pick just one of them, the double end is definitely the better choice. That’s because, unlike the speed bag, it stimulates a real fight, requires using a proper technique and improves your defense.
That doesn’t mean that the speed bag won’t help you build boxing skills or improve your stamina. In the rest of the article, there’s a breakdown of what makes them different, what bag is truly best for certain goals, how to use them, and I’ll also talk about which are the best bags, in my opinion.
| Pros | Cons | |
| Speedbag | • Working out at home • Improved reaction time • Improved coordination | • Doesn’t teach you proper technique • Doesn’t simulate a real fight |
| Double-end bag | • Working out at home • Great for developing boxing defense • Teaches proper use of energy | • Harder to land consistent shots • Not beginner-friendly |
What Does the Double End Bag Offer?
The double end bag is a piece of equipment that suspends on two strings and has a higher movement rate and motion compared to the speed bag. This bag is used with both boxing and MMA training and utilizes multiple methods to help you get comfortable to different striking styles and stances.
Aside from helping you nail down the proper form when striking, the double end bag can also help with head movements and blocking. This is going to be imperative if you’re looking for some time in the ring or need to defend yourself on the streets.
With a double end bag, you’ll be trained to miss punches, and while that sounds like a waste, the reality is that you’re going to miss a good portion of them, maybe often. Because of this, you’re going to have to learn how to use your energy wisely and really channel the power behind your punches. This works wonders when learning how to quickly go back into a defensive stance after missing.
Missing your target won’t be so common after you get more accustomed to it over time. Your target is small, and it’s going to move erratically after a few jabs, which will only increase your sense of rhythm.
Tips on Using the Double End Bag
If it’s your first time, then it will be a hard time getting that small target under control. Specifically, you’ll have trouble when trying to land any rear hand strikes due to its constant speed and movement.
Always try to make the bag swing back at you when attempting this. If it swings in another direction, then move to where you know it will come back. If it gets too fast for you, then just grab it with your hands to stop it, or give it a few solid hooks to slow it down enough so you can continue to practice.
You can strike however you want to, which means you can relax a bit more when training, but not too much. Remember to not wait for the bag, get those punches out there. Waiting for it to come to a standstill completely defeats the purpose of your training.
Finding a partner to train with can also help in the long run. You can push each other to practice at your best, and even give immediate feedback on the form to help each other. Raise the pacing and make each other more aggressive, and more accurate with your strikes.
What Does the Speed Bag Offer?
A speed bag is a specialized piece of boxing equipment that is primarily used to help you hone your striking speed and gain confidence when trying to hit fast-moving targets. It is one of the oldest tools in boxing training and is routinely used on all levels for competitors.
The speed bag is going to be your go-to for really learning how to strike quickly, and with accuracy. A quick hand with the same weight is going to hit significantly harder than a slow hand, therefore, when learning how to use your energy in the punch, it’s a good idea to start with speed instead of trying to bulk up your arms.
The speed bag is going to teach how to keep those hands up, for both protection and to help you learn to not waste your energy from incorrect stances. Your shoulders will get stronger over time, and keeping in a proper position will start to become normal when getting ready to use the bag.
The speed bag can help you build muscle. Keeping your arms up for a prolonged period of time with consistent, rapid striking can help tone your arms and shoulders, which make shedding fat a bonus when using it. Its intensity means your heart rate is constantly up, improving your endurance in the long run.
Tips on Using a Speedbag
When you first start out, don’t hit the bags with your knuckles. This is going to make the bag spin out of control, and you won’t have the skill to hit it efficiently like you need to. Instead, try and keep your hands open, and hit with your fingers to help slow it down and get accustomed to the pacing.
Do this in a RIGHT-RIGHT-LEFT-LEFT motion, and focus on making small circular motions when striking. You may find it better to mimic this before the bag to practice these motions on your strikes.
Stand closer than arm’s length to the bag, and keep those arms up. You don’t want to get popped in the face. Plus, it’s just an overall sloppy practice. Make sure your eye is at least eye level with the bag.
Counting when striking the bag can work for developing the rhythm you need, and you will find you won’t even have to use that method after a few rounds with your bag. Using the basics and proper timing, your skills on the bag will quickly increase.
So Which Bag Is Better for Me?
The double end bag is, without a doubt, the right choice for training. The speed bag certainly does come with benefits that the double end bag mimics, but it falls short to the overall range of how it helps you. Think in terms of learning to combine techniques together, such as striking before head movements and proper feedback with your energy usage.
The adjustability of the bag is a perk as well. You can lower or raise it, and set which speed it pops back at, helping you determine proper patterns and hand-eye coordination that come in handy with sparring.
What Are Good Brands?
For the Double-end bags, you may want to keep an eye out for brands like Ringside or Title Boxing, who’s been pumping out high-quality bags since day one. There’s a great Title Boxing double-end bag I found on Amazon.com. It’s really easy to set up and it’s extremely durable. You can check the price on Amazon.
Other good brands for the Double Bag include:
- Contender Fight Sports
- RDX
But what about Speed bags? You’ll want to keep your eye on some of these companies:
- Cleto Reyes
- TITLE
- Everlast
- Balas Lazar
- Max MMA
Remember that the quality and pricing of these brands are going to differ. One brand may hit your wallet harder than the other but may come with a better training item. If you are looking for the best speed bag, regardless of the price, I would suggest checking out Ringside Cleto Reyes Speed Bag. It has a great rebound and durability. Some people say that’s the best speed bag on the market right now. You can check it on Amazon here.
But if you don’t want to spend much money on a speedbag, there’s a nice bag from Title boxing that you may like. It’s very stable which is one of the most important things you want to look at in a speedbag and it’s made from quality materials that will last. I’m not sure how much it cost now, but you can check here on Amazon.com.
