Expert: Alan Kahn - 11/11/2008

Question
What are the space requirements for a training punching bag?
How far should it be mounted from a wall and clear of other equipment?

Answer
Hi Tom

Well, when you say a "training punching bag" that can narrow it down to any of three of four type bags, such as heavy bag, Double End, Speed bag etc. I assume you mean a heavy bag.

There really is no "standard" distance that I know of about how far a heavy bag should be from a wall or other equipment, for I have seen them right up on a wall or far enough away to allow full swinging and not contact the wall. I would suggest that IF you bag will hit the wall that the wall be protected with some type of covering.  It also depends on if you are going to kick the bag or just punch it. I once had a HB in a spare bedroom, gave it a hard spinning back kick and sunk the end into the wall, caving in the sheetrock. I only did that once. :-)  (...But I did learn how to patch sheetrock so I guess it was educational in the long run)
Of course if you have a concrete wall or other more durable surface the bag contact might not be that big of an issue.

It looks like the standard wall hangers have about 4 feet of clearance.  Here is a sample link to Ringside boxing.


http://www.ringside.com/RS/ProductDetails/ProductDetails.aspx?pid={c9f93d8e-cef7...

I would think another point to consider is footwork. If you want to have full access to move all around the bag you will need to move it out further. MOst locations I have seen with a bag on a wall do not allow full access and you have to keep moving around the one side area.

I hope this answers your question.  Good luck with your bag.

Alan Kahn