Expert: Alan Kahn - 11/21/2007

Question
Hello, I'm 5'5" and I weigh 185lbs.  I've been hitting a small bag with a water tank on the bottom.  I want to get a heavy bag to hang from the rafters in the garage.  I use handwraps when hitting the bag and I was wondering what size, (70lb or 100lb) also sence I am shorter, should I put the bag up higher so I get use to punching higher?
thanks

Answer
HI Drew,

For your size and weight I would think an 80-100 pound bag would work. If you are still growing and gaining weight, you might kick that up to a 100 lb or 120 lb, particularly if you are a really powerful puncher.

I would hang the bag at the proper height for you, which will put your fists landing on a straight punch about 3/4 of the way up. Hanging it a bit higher, so your hands would hit lower on the bag, might be alright depending on the type of bag you get. The old standard fill types tend to "settle", with time and the bottom 1/3 of the bag gets harder and harder as the fill material settles. That can end up really hurting your hands. If you do that, just be aware it may happen, and lower the bag with time.  You can always punch higher up on a normally hung bag, unless it is so low you are hitting up in close to the chains. That isn't good either, for it give the bag a poor rebound swing, as well as may kick the bottom outwards toward your legs. At your medium height of 5'5", a normally hung bag should do very well for you.  

good luck and train safe (keep wearing those hand wraps!)

sincerely,

Alan Kahn
author, The Speed Bag Bible