Expert: Alan Kahn - 6/9/2008

Question
Hi iv just got a speedball and im asking weather or not i need    to use gloves with them and if yes what type? Also as it is my first time speedballing can you give me any advice or tips plz :)

Answer
Hi Lauren,

Welcome to the great activity of speed bagging!

Many of us hit the speed bag bare handed or with light gloves. If you are new to the speed bag you probably should start with hand protection. If you are NOT going to do a lot boxing and heavybag work, hard punching etc, you can use a good comfortable pair of training gloves. Personally I like the Harbinger Classic wrist wrap glove http://www.harbingerfitness.com/cgi-bin/6fyd-xxe5x.cgi?130&&sku
because of it's soft leather and no seams over the knuckles that contact the bag. I don't know if they have ladies sizes in this style, but in a weight training glove you want to be sure there are no seams over the contact areas of the fist (where the bag hits).

You can also bring gel type gloves http://store.titleboxing.com/pro-gel-speed-wraps.html

or you could use the old standard Hand wraps http://store.titleboxing.com/classic-weave-handwraps.html which actually offer more support to the hand bones than Gloves.

here is some tips on wrapping your hands with handwraps.
http://www.ringside.com/WrapYourHands.aspx
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As a beginner, I would refer you for a lot more general tips and helps to my speed bag teaching website: SpeedbagCentral.com
http://www.speedbagcentral.com/ssp/skill_levels

there are many pages of tips and help about the equipment and how to use it, plus many other areas of interest about speed bag training.

good luck and welcome to the world of speed bagging! Also, Check out speedbagforum.com and meet lots of other speed baggers and beginners.

Good luck and train safely.

sincerely,

Alan Kahn
author, The Speed Bag Bible