Punching dummy BOB vs. punching bag. Can you replace the rubber sparring partner with a heavy or free-standing punching bag?
What is the best punching dummy BOB? These products are available in different weights, sizes, and shapes. They can be unfilled or filled, with a variety of filling to choose from. The type of filling influences the stability of your punching dummy BOB. Another important factor to consider is the type of material. The most durable ones include canvas, synthetic plastics, leather, and rubber. Also, we recommend opting for a training bag that offers adjustable height.
| Century B.O.B. Body Opponent Bag | |
| CHECK THE CURRENT PRICE | |
| Century BOB XL with Base Unit | |
| CHECK THE CURRENT PRICE | |
| Everlast 70-Pound MMA Heavy-Bag Kit | |
| CHECK THE CURRENT PRICE | |
| Century Original Wavemaster Punching Bag | |
| CHECK THE CURRENT PRICE | |
| Ringside Cobra Reflex Boxing Punching Bag | |
| CHECK THE CURRENT PRICE |
BOB, that is, the body opponent bag, appeared when classic bags for boxing already existed. It is not just a free-standing punching bag but a mannequin-shaped one made of rubber that fully imitates the torso and the head of a very severe robust fellow – and everyone just fell in love with this almost live opponent. Does he not look like your "favourite" boss, on whom you can let off steam after a hard-working day?
There was also an even more feature-rich Slam man. This was a real robot for training with all kinds of flashing lights and whistles built into it for training your reflexes and reaction. Moreover, several programs for training had been programmed in it. But despite its robotic features, Slam man turned out to be uncompetitive.
The high price and low quality of its assembly discouraged users. Nowadays, you won’t find Slam man anywhere, unlike BOB, which is still available.
But the price is way above one’s budget. Not everyone can afford it. So, what should you do? Should you give up on your dream? We decided to find out whether it is worth the money or not, and if we can find a decent alternative to it. We carried out an investigation and you can decide in the end, whether you need a BOB or an alternative in the form of a classic bag or a free-standing punch bag.
Table of Content:
- Why is Punching dummy BOB so popular?
- What punches is Bob most suitable for and can it be replaced with a punching bag?
- Top three alternatives to BOB
Pedro Bernardes, an expert on fitness and sports equipment at Gadget Reviews, explains what factors contribute to developing strength.
If you want to work out your fighting moves, Punching Dummies or Bags is great because it’s the only situation where you can really put all your strength into it, simulating what would happen in a real fight. Before you become a fighter or if just want to release some stress, you should learn how to hit, or else you are going to get injured.
I recommend that you choose your equipment according to your skills and goals. A Dummy is great to visualize where you hit your opponent, to workout technique and speed, but not so good to hit it very hard. A Standing Bag is for beginners who just want to have some fun. A Hanging Bag is for people who really want to develop their fighting skills.
There are also a lot of DVDs showing you how to use martial arts techniques, but to enhance the results, you should consider some training with a real instructor.
Top three alternatives to BOB
As you understand, Bob is not universal, especially when it comes to comprehensive training on a serious level. Therefore, in order to work on different techniques, different equipment is needed.
- Are you looking for a sustainable dummy to work on power punches?
– Get a heavy punching bag.
- Do you need to develop precision, technicality and coherence?
– Choose among the free-standing punchbags. For ideal training, you will need to have several bags and pear balls, but this is just an option if you are going to the gym. For working out at home, you can decide between getting a heavy or a free-standing punching bag.
We chose three Bob alternatives that will help you to work on various techniques. Even if you buy all three, it will be cheaper than buying a rubber opponent. But the main thing is not the number but the desire: the well-known Rocky Balboa did not train on pear balls but on frozen carcasses. Read, compare and choose!
A hanging heavy punching bag to work on power punches — Everlast 70-Pound MMA Heavy-Bag
The classic bag with sand by the famous sporting goods manufacturer Everlast. It is a bestseller in the Heavy punching bags category. The advantage of this choice for the beginner is a pair of gloves and bandages is included in the kit. This way you get a starter kit for the world of heavy sport.
The bag is made from a solid fibrous coating that prevents all kinds of cracks, which eventually form on synthetics with a glossy finish. Here is the main disadvantage – working out without gloves is not recommended because the surface is too rough.
A heavy punchbag is called that way as it is supposed to be universal to work on any power punches, both with the hands and feet. Yes, while working with it, there is no speed reaction training as with the bouncing bags, but it was made for entirely different purposes.
Remember, that in contrast to the free-standing equipment, this bag tends to swing and some of the techniques cannot be worked on it. Despite this, the model is ideal for rookie fighters and for those who want to let off steam under the guidance of a coach to avoid injuries. But don’t forget that for a 70-pound bag, you still need to find a comfortable place that gives a margin for your manoeuvres.
Everlast 70-Pound MMA: Check the current price
The best free-standing punching bag to work on the technique, precision and speed — Everlast PowerCore Freestanding Heavy Bag
| | Everlast PowerCore Freestanding Heavy Bag - ✔ Tri-disc foam structure provides maximum energy dispersion ✔ PowerCore steel plate technology improves the overall strength - Price: |
Another bag by Everlast is also the best of its kind. The model is a free-standing one, suitable for almost all the same exercises that you can work out with Bob. The only disadvantage is the lack of body relief, which means that working on special techniques aimed at specific parts of the body (such as the shoulders or the head) will be uncomfortable.
It has a classic structure – a bag that is mounted in a hollow base from the inside and that increases in height from 52" to 65". The base should be filled with sand or water for stability.
Does this model give in to Bob? Power punches turn out to be more real with this bag but it also bounces because of the punches, so in this type of training, such equipment still gives in to the hanging one. Releasing stress and threshing the bag for fun is also possible but developing a professional technique without assistance and other specialized devices will be problematic.
This model is ideal for working on punching techniques and cardio workouts, both for rookies and skillful fighters. Working on leg kicks is a contentious issue. The main thing is, as in other cases, not to invest so much strength in the punch focusing on the technique.
Everlast PowerCore Freestanding: Check the current price
Products with 5-star rating
Testing & Customers Reviews
We found reviews from YouTube bloggers about the products in our article.
dwselfdefense: "Let's get this out of the way BOB is pretty expensive. This is the XL version and it sells for about four hundred dollars. What makes it the XL version is that it's got a lower section from about the belly button to the groin and that allows you to do knees and low kicks. While I like using it for that, I don't use it for that often. And you can buy the BOB regular version for about 300 dollars, and it doesn't come with that lower section. So I would say unless you're planning to use a lot of knees on it I would just go with the regular version. The reason I don't use it that much for low kicks and knees is that it's got a hard plastic base and it's easy to miss and hit your knee on something hard. So it's not the best for that. If you're just starting out you probably, don't need it.
BOB, in general, is pretty durable. It's this soft rubber, and it's got foam inside. This is my second BOB. My first one lasted about five years. I worked down on it a lot. I really beat the crap out of it and eventually, it developed some tears. There was a tear under the nose, and so whenever I'd hit him in the face, this foam snot would come out, which was kind of a nice effect. And then his neck got severed, I don't know how and so his head kept falling off I taped the whole thing up with duct tape for a while, and I was using it but eventually, I just needed to get something new. I would say that if you work out hard on BOB consistently, he should last you about five years. It's pretty good for something like this to last that long. But if you really want something to last forever then you've really got to get a traditional leather heavy bag. Those things last almost decades. The other thing I would say is that you've got to take care of it. I wouldn't leave it outside. You don't want it to get you to know rained on. You don't want it to have dust and garbage outside. You don't want it to bake in the sun. And I wouldn't use any sticks on it or weapons or even practice knives. It's you'll cut it up, you'll mess it up and it won't work. So I use padded gloves usually, and I take care of it.
Does this thing move around? It does a little bit. So it's got an empty plastic base, and you could fill it with water or sand or both. I fill it with as much as humanly possible. I went to the hardware store I bought these 50-pound bags of sand. I'd recommend getting really dry sand because if it's damp at all it'll be very difficult to pour into the unit. So I got dry sand I got a funnel, and I just put I would say five bags of 50-pound sand into it. So that was 250 pounds, and then I put a hose in there and added as much water as I could. So they say the max weight is about 270 pounds. I bet this is about 300 pounds. So it's really heavy and hard to move around, but if you kick it and you punch it hard it does start to move, especially if you've got it on the pavement. So when I'm working out on BOB, he does tend to slip around a little bit because I've got a hard pavement floor but it's not that bad. He never tips over or anything like that. But I would say that he's difficult to move around on purpose. So when I want to drag him across the floor it really takes some effort and I always worry about cracking the base. Century Martial Arts kind of recommends tilting him and then rolling the base but I think that's how I cracked my first base. I had again almost 300 pounds in there of water and sand and I was constantly moving him and rolling him around and eventually that hard plastic just cracked. Ideally, you don't move BOB around that much you kind of put him in one place and you use him where he is. You maybe can move him around a little bit but I wouldn't count on moving him that much.
So let's talk about the pros of BOB. First, let me say outright that this is my favorite piece of training equipment. I've got all kinds of heavy bags and water bags all types of different punching bags. This is the go-to bag that I use the most. And I think it's because it's soft, which makes it easy on the joints it's realistic, and I don't know, there's just something I like about working out with him. A second pro with bob is that he's great at using angle shots. So many of the strikes that I use whether they're palm heels that come up or hammer fish that come down, or even uppercuts are all really difficult to practice on a regular heavy bag because it's just vertical. But you've got all these great angles with bob and is very realistic, so you can practice all of those.
Another pro is that you can practice eye attacks. Eye attacks are really useful in a real self-defense situation. Obviously, they're dangerous so you only want to use it when your life is really in danger but being able to rake the eyes like that or gouge the eyes with your thumb those are great things to know. And you can't practice those against a real training partner. But with BOB, I find there are lots of opportunities to really jam your fingers into his eyes. Or you can rake the eye with a preemptive strike and hit him over the head with a hammer fist. All these types of things I would never be able to practice on a regular heavy bag. Another pro is that you can throw ghee on him or a sweatshirt or a hoodie and dress him up. So it's more realistic for a real fight. There really are times when it makes sense to grab some guy's hoodie and pull it over his head like in hockey fights or to grab the fabric on his arm or his lapel to control him. Those are all great things to do and you can't do any of that with a regular heavy bag. Another one of my favorite ways to use BOB is to practice chokes. Like a simple rear naked choke. Again you can't do this with a heavy bag. You need some kind of punching dummy. And you don't always have training partners who are willing to be choked out all the time.
Another pro is that you can make BOB in different sizes. You just grab the base you kind of shift it, and you can lock it in at you know lower heights or you can make him six-five. This is great for practicing on different size opponents. It gives you a realistic sense of what it would look like and what shots make the most sense against someone like that. Another pro is that you can practice striking the neck. I don't do a lot of these because I find that they're actually hard to hit, but a lot of people like to practice throat shots which you can do or shoot toes to the neck which you can also do. Those are supposed to be pretty effective. And the last pro I would say is that because he's soft and he has a lot of give to him it's very forgiving on your joints. One of the dangers of working out with a heavy bag is that you're pounding something very heavy and hard and it really takes a toll on your elbows, and you can cause damage and injury. Bob has so much given to him that you know I wear simple MMA gloves and I'm fine. My joints are always fine. So I really like that I can train with him a lot work out hard and not worry too much about injuring my joints."
Shredded Dad Garage Gym: "I have two of these. I have the Original and I also have the XXL the extra-extra-large. If you're just somebody that's using this for a garage journey home, gym Century Original Wavemaster Punching Bag will probably be your best option due to the fact that you can get the same workout you can punch you can kick it's a hell of a cardio workout but this is gonna take up a lot less space. It's adjustable and it'll go from 47 inches all the way up to 68 inches in height. Now also with this one it's easier to move around because it's a lot smaller so all you have to do is turn it to its side and because the base is a circle you can just roll it around from place to place. So it's portable.
Now because this one is adjustable, it can also be good for different heights and different people. So kids can use this too. This has a cap that you just screw or unscrew, and you can either fill it up with water, or you can use sand. Now it's a lot easier to just use water because you can just put a hose into it and then whenever you want to move it around if you're traveling somewhere you can just get rid of the water without having to figure out what to do with the sand. It's made of a solid heavy-duty material. It's definitely something that if you want to practice at home. It'll be very very durable and it'll last for a very long time."
csquaredboxing: "So I have this Ringside Cobra Reflex Bag, and you can see here at the very top it's a soft solid foam ball. There's no air inside here. It is not inflatable. One piece of solid foam. You also have this foam sleeve that just slides onto the pole to cover up the screws, so you don't end up cutting yourself or scratching your gloves. So just adds a layer of protection around the pole. This aluminum pole is of decent quality. I would compare it to a nicer-grade shower rod. And then here's the bread and butter of the reflux bag is the spring it's a nice heavy-duty spring that's coiled around this bar.
The bag has this adjustment knob. Once you unscrew it and loosen it up you can pull it out and then from here, you can pick the adjustment that you wanted out. So you can go higher or lower. It comes with this metal base plate that uses four screws. You can just literally drill into the concrete and then anchor this down to the ground. If you don't want to do that and you like the mobility of being able to move this bag around, it actually comes with a plastic base that fills up with water or sand. That is about 17 gallons of water in total to fill it up. I filled it with water, and when I'm hitting this bag, I don't feel like this thing was jiggling around. It's pretty sturdy. The base of it doesn't slide around. With the water or whatever you use to fill it up it's not going anywhere. If you feel like you need any more weight than that, put the dumbbells on top just to kind of keep it even more heavier.
I like the way it rebounds, and I like the design of it where the spring is located at to give it that rebound. It rebounds a little bit different than a MMA bag, and the way that it arcs over. It's really nice, especially for slipping punches. If you're trying just to simulate your defense and slipping, I really like that. But it's different from a double-end bag. With this, the rebounding is dictated on how hard you punch it. So obviously, if you hit it with a good shot, then the bag will rebound a lot more. Or you can just kind of tap it just to kind of get a rhythm if you're a beginner to it. It's a really really dense foam so when you hit it you get a really good feeling from the punch. It's pretty satisfying. It doesn't feel like a speed bag because it doesn't really compress in. I would compare the actual feel of this foam to be like a really stiff, heavy bag. you definitely get a good workout with this."
Inflatable free-standing punching bag to work on the technique and precision
If you want to, you can bring down a hail with powerful punches and hold the inflatable pear ball in a horizontal position. As soon as you stop, the bag will get into the starting position without your help. The pear ball is the easiest one and is even suitable for children.
There are two types of training with it – with a weighted base and with an empty one. In the first case, it will be more difficult to lay the equipment on the ground, and in the second one, it will be easier; this option is more suitable for children.
You can pretend to be Bruce Lee and beat it with your hands, feet, and head, run and jump over it knocking it down to the ground: if you do it with a bag of sand or with Bob, such feints will not work at all. One more thing – be careful when filling the bag with water or sand as many complain about the rather problematic process of pouring.
On the equipment’s surface, scattered points for attacks allow you to stick to the technique, withstanding punches of a certain strength and height.
That thing is highly specialized and will not replace a full bag, but together with a heavy punch bag, it can be a good alternative to Bob.
To make it easy to compare, we created a short table where you can compare the punching bags mentioned above.
Punching Dummies and Punching Bags Comparison Chart
| Model | What kind of training is it suitable for? | Type of equipment | Pros. | Cons. |
| Century Body Opponent Bag (BOB) | Technique, precision, speed, self-defense and special techniques | Freestanding punching dummy | Unique style, convenience for certain types of training | High price, lack of universality |
| Everlast 70-Pound MMA Heavy-Bag Kit | Work on power punches | Heavy punch bag | High quality of materials, gloves included | Inconvenience for some type of trainings |
| Everlast PowerCore Freestanding Heavy Bag | Technique, precision, speed | Freestanding punch bag | High assembly quality, security | Inconvenience with some type of training |
| YAVOCOS Inflatable MMA Training / Punching Bag | Technique, precision | Bounce back punching bag | Low price, compact size | Narrow-focused, lightweight |
Best-Selling Punching Dummy BOBs and Punching Bags | Comparison Table
Most Popular
Mytra Bob Punching Dummy Target Face Dummy with by Farabi Fight Gear
- REALISTIC PARTNER TRAINING: Lifelike dimensions offer the most realistic training you can get without a live training partner. Properly target the correct anatomy with precision strikes using this life like training manikin.
- WITHSTAND THE PUNISHMENT: Built tough enough to stand up to anything you can throw at it, Mytra BOB Punch Bag essential will take the beating and stand ready for more. Face Shots, Head Kicks, Crosses, Hooks, Jabs. This guy can eat them all and come back for another round.
- DETACHABLE: The detachable punching target can fit on any punching bag and gives the authority to the athlete to try out the punching techniques in a more realistic setting.
Online DVD workout for Muay-Thai, MMA, and Kickboxing Exercise Videos
Have you thought about adding a kickboxing segment to your workout, but aren't sure where to start? The Kickboxing Muay Thai & MMA Workout video might be the answer.
Unlike some fitness videos, this one is designed to appeal to everyone, regardless of age or skill level. Whether you're a first-timer or a burgeoning expert, this workout can be added seamlessly to your fitness regimen. You won't have to sign up for a professional class that might not fit into your schedule - just pop this DVD into the machine whenever you're ready to fire up the burners. This material is 100 percent exclusive, meaning you'll have access to specialized tips that aren't available anywhere else.
The Kickboxing Muay Thai & MMA Workout runs about 24 minutes and is designed to appeal to both male and female athletes. No equipment is required. The versatility and comprehensive nature of this video make it easy to recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can women train using this workout?
Yes! The regimen can be followed by any able-bodied individual who has an interest in learning or maintaining some basic kickboxing moves.
Will the program help me to lose weight?
The program focuses more on balance and strength than on weight loss, but any additional activity can help you burn more calories. You may also become more mindful of your posture while following this workout, which could improve core strength and therefore lead to a slimmer appearance.
If I enjoy this workout, are there any follow-up videos I can graduate to next?
As of this writing, there were no follow-up videos available. However, this is a relatively new program, so more could be forthcoming. In the meantime, the web-based company has interactive training available online, but to paid subscribers only.
Century Bob Body Opponent Review
BOB is really interesting. Even the most ascetic specialists who prefer a minimum set of devices for training do not deny the advantages of its design. Are you ready to pay a high price and add Bob to your sports equipment? Feel free to do so!
If you are just starting your fighting career, you should get an ordinary punching bag first – martial arts legends started theirs with it. And, of course, remember that to learn the subtleties of a fight, you will need a good coach and not a rubber mannequin.
We often use dummies to practice boxing, usually just a training bag with sand hanging on a rope. But it is not always convenient and safe. They are good for training your punches, but you would need an instructor that will aid you to train effectively and not just continuously punch in one place. If you think that you do not need an instructor, or just do not want to pay for his services - then a boxing dummy can be a useful purchase.
The most popular items if this category for boxers of a beginner or intermediate level are Century Bob Body Opponent Training Bag and Slam Man Training System. SlamMan was a sales leader for a very long time: people loved him for his training programs, a pair of boxing gloves, training video and feeding program for athletes.
But unfortunately SlamMan has been discontinued and now it is not available for sale. As you know, the holy place is never empty, so SlamMan is replaced by exactly the same boxing robot but with a different name – Pure Boxing The Man Punching Bag.
It looks like the SlamMan' twin. It's characteristics are identical to the old SlamMan. And since there is no other Punching Bag with sensors in the market, we will call a new analogue - "SlamMan".
We have compared the Century Bob and the SlamMan System in our Product Review based on customers reviews. First, let’s know what technical characteristics have been announced by the manufactures of both items:
Century Body Opponent Bag (BOB)
- Adjustable height
- One Year Warranty
- Low profile base fills with sand or water; unit weighs approximately 270 pounds when filled
- Seven height adjustments
- Made in the USA
P.S. This model doesn’t turn around its base.
Origin of the training box
Century Bob Body: The manufacturer points out that the item has been produced in America.
The boxing robot material and its filling
Century Bob Body: The base of a bob boxing dummy is made up of plastic, while the head and the torso form a sturdy rubber construction: «Rubber is soft enough for gloveless punishment but it would probably be better on the wrists to get some extra padding». Customers have also noted that the material is rather resistant to blows. Some people use also nunchuks without injuring. Of course, you are not supposed to pierce the simulator by any sharp objects.
You may fill it with sand or water, the wet sand is better as the base becomes more stable. By the way, if you injure Bob Body Opponent accidentally and cause leak, you will be able to prevent the flood in home.
What does the set include?
Century Bob Body: Bob is supplied with the instructions for use only.
Height adjustment of dummy for boxing
Century Bob Body: 6 levels of height from 60 to 78 inches are available.
Training programs
Century Bob Body: no
Convenient use
Both items: Customers have told about the increased level of noise when using such simulators. Despite their large weight, the punchbags slide during a workout and vibrate when moving aside and returning back (Slam man doesn’t come back at hit) – generally, users believe that it is better to train in a large vacant room (you are lucky if you live in your own house) or when the neighbors are friendly and don’t react to the noise.
Dummies costs
A renewed model is available – Century Bob XL with Base Unit. This one includes 2 sets of bolts instead of one set in the previous model. According to the words of customers, it is made still better and is capable of turning around its base.
So, we have regarded the main technical features of the units, now it's time to know what customers think about these boxing dummies:
Century Bob Body
Pros:
- The optimal size of this punchbag:
“The upper section is the human form (without arms) and is fairly realistic in size and mass of an adult male”
- An excellent means to reduce tension.
As one of the customers has said: “Have anger issues? Get BOB. Have anxiety? Get BOB. Feeling destructive? Get BOB...”. He has also noted that the device has helped him to fall asleep and feel better as well as restrain himself.
- Bob can be useful not only for boxers.
Many people who are looking for a kickboxing bag or a simulator to train karate hits, often prefer this very product.
Cons:
- Customers have told that Bob requires to be dealt with as carefully as possible. Round nuts attaching the base to the body can become loose if using improperly.
- Yes, workouts with Bob turn into more noisy activity.
Tips about using of Century Bob Train Bag:
1. “For you to fill the simulator with sand easier, the funnel made up of thick paper should be used. By the way, you will need about 200 lb of sand”.
2. “I would not recommend to use Century bob in training facilities with lots of visitors as it will quickly become unfit. Though, it suits for personal use ideally”.
3. “For Bob to slide less on the floor, you may use a rough small carpet.”
4. “You may work with Bob Body Opponent even using nunchuks or a wooden sword, in which case you only need not to apply too much forceю Otherwise you risk to injure this dummy. And don’t use sharp objects, have pity for Bob!”
By the way, speaking about boxing gloves, some customers recommend to use them not to injure hands, it is true especially for beginners, while other customers are against this precaution. That is what they say: “Remember that if you are attacked on the streets, you will not have gloves to protect your hands”. You can also read all customers reviews about the Century Bob Box.
It is you who choose the best product! We hope that our Products Review will be useful for you. Good luck and sports victories!
Why is Punching dummy BOB so popular?
The body opponent bag or simply BOB is perhaps the most promoted alternative to a free-standing punch bag. Those who wish to join martial arts or simply get a bag or a pear ball to let off steam ask themselves very often the following questions: "Is it worth spending money on a rubber opponent? Does it really help during training?" Answers vary: some say, "Yes, BOB will turn you into a champion" and others suggest spending the money on a trainer.
Let’s see once again what is so special about BOB:
- The design imitates the human body and allows even the neophyte who got a training manual from the Internet to try to learn how to throw a perfect jab or a low kick. The keyword here is "try."
- In the XL version, "shorts" have been added to the torso, which allow you to work out kicks with your legs and knees. The price has been increased too and in the vast Internet network, hard-headed users found a life hack that suggests wrapping a mat around the base of a cheaper version of Bob in order to get a similar model with a mat instead of shorts because it is still possible to work out kicks on the legs.
Those were probably all cool features. If we discard advertising and beautiful promises, we should then talk about the cons.
- BOB, despite its harsh look, is a real sissy. The rubber coating is quite strong but you can damage it easily. People who are familiar with small gyms remember the bags wrapped with tape, in which holes and cracks appeared after thousands of punches. Bob can get similar damage, for example, from punches with nun chucks. The rubber companion will not recover from such a turn of fate and simple tape will not help him here. But if you train in gloves, you have nothing to worry about. The main thing is not to believe a word of the following expression: "A universal punch bag is for any punch".
- Despite Bob’s loud resistance and strength, it is not suitable for power punches. For working on your technique, precision and speed, it is absolutely suitable, but the mannequin begins to rattle and crawl on the floor from strong punches. And a professional athlete will not be able to carry out strength training with Bob. Why? Just look at how Bob flew away from a pair of slaps performed by Mayweather. Floyd played in the middleweight and featherweight categories, so you can imagine what will happen to poor Bob from ten heavyweight punches. Moreover, many users highlight Bob's tendency to fall: «I very much prefer a heavy bag. One of the BOBs at our gym that has a flaw that makes it fall over very easily so we practice stopping it from falling with» — says a user from Texas under the nickname Miss_Parker.
- Bob does not literally stand still. Even after having filled up 100 kg of sand in the base you will be faced with constant bouncing on the floor. And the heavier it is, the louder its noise will be. By the way, there is no single punch bag or dummy in the market, which don’t move at all. That is why saying that Bob is the perfect companion for any punching power training is an exaggeration. It is suitable for working on punching technique when a fighter invests minimum force and concentrates on the definition of movements.
What punches is Bob most suitable for, and can it be replaced with a punching bag? The opinions of athletes and fans
People who are not so familiar with martial arts, when seeing BOB’s complexion, immediately say something like: "This is better than a bag of sand because it feels like training with a live person", and turn out to be wrong. The first thing that a experienced fighter will tell you is that any mannequin, pear ball or bag will never replace exercises under the guidance of a coach.
Even Slam man could tell you where and when to throw a punch thanks to its winking indicators, and Bob will never turn an inexperienced rookie into a super fighter without the help of a coach. And you can safely put an equal sign between the other free-standing punching bags and Bob. The shape is similar (though without a body relief), disadvantages are almost the same, and most importantly – the purpose is absolutely the same.
So, what about the practicality of a free-standing bag based on the example of popular Bob in comparison with the classic hanging punch bag? «BOB is good for practising palm strikes, knifehand strikes, heel strikes etc,. Light punching is ok too but it really can't be used for kicks. If I had to choose between the two, I'd always go for the heavy bag.» — says Kevin, the administrator of one of the forums on martial artists.
A similar view is shared by dozens of other athletes. And here we get closer to the first clue to the question "What is better?" For comprehensive and effective training, according to some athletes, it is better to have a heavy punch bag that will help you to work on power punches even if you are the lucky one who got his own Bob: «I'd go with Bob probably just because it's more fun to kick. Heavy bags are good for boxing and simulating someone coming towards you while Bob is just made to beat on. Two different products really. One doesn't replace the other».
Some people get Bob for working on self-defence techniques, which is seen as an art for some coaches. One of them is Sammy Franco, the author of dozens of books on modern self-defence and well-known for one of the most systematic training. According to Franco, Bob is ideal for: widowmaker razing techniques, first strike scenarios, choking techniques, stick fighting training, ground fighting endurance work, spectator intervention training, edged weapon target orientation, target specificity training.
But the master of modern street fighting believes Bob to be ineffective for working on hard punches: «However, when it comes to developing true punching power, the BOB is a poor choice. For example, the head of the body opponent bag is simply too flimsy and cannot withstand the impact of heavy duty power punches.»
So, is it possible to replace BOB with a punching bag?
Based on the foregoing, we can make quite a logical conclusion: yes, Bob can be easily replaced with any free-standing bag. You will still be able to work on the technique with it, but it gives in to the hanging heavy punching bag in terms of working on power punches, as well as Bob. If you plan to work out every single day and seriously, it is highly recommended to get a heavy bag even you have the most expensive model of Bob.
Are you getting a dummy for fun and to let off steam and not for the championship belt? If you don’t care about spending money, you can safely buy Bob as it will give you a lot more fun than a regular punch bag.
Here is the paradox – you are overpaying, who to work out some super exclusive choking technique on, if not on the rubber mannequins? But the range of such positive aspects is so small that you do not want to pay more, and that is why we have found alternatives.
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