Choosing the Right Golf Bag

When choosing your golf bag you have to decide what is best for you. There are many different styles and colors to choose from. They range in sizes from junior right up to professional. You must consider everything you will carry in your bag besides golf clubs. You need to carry rain gear, golf gloves, golf balls, golf tees, ball markers and something to drink.

Here are some different bags you might want to consider.

A) Cart bag: A cart bag is designed more for being put on a golf cart or for a push golf cart. They are a heavier bag and not meant for you to carry. They do have more storage than your average golf bag.

B) Carry bag: The carry bag is a golf bag that is more lightweight than the cart bag. They come with different types of straps. They have a single strap or a double V type strap. Most also come with a built in stand. You should experiment at your sports store and find the one that is the most comfortable and durable.

C) Junior bag: The junior bag is a golf bag designed for kids. These golf bags are much smaller and very lightweight. They hold fewer clubs and have less pockets for storage. They are much less expensive than regular golf bags so they are great for young kids who are just starting out.

D) Travel bag: A travel golf bag is great if you want to bring your golf clubs with you on a trip. They come with soft or hard sides. Some also come with locks not just a zipper so you won’t have to worry about getting anything stolen.

The prices for your average golf bag usually range from $100-$400. Just try to pick one out you like and get ready to stick some golf clubs in it and hit the links.

Punching Bag Training 101

Using the heavy bag can be a great way to improve your game. It is there to help better your endurance, strength, and to work on proper punching techniques and combinations. Despite the name, the punching bag shouldn’t just be a bag that you punch. It should be treated as a true opponent so that you can prepare as much as possible for the real thing. When fighting an opponent, important things to consider are blocking effectively and using many combos to keep your opponent on his toes.

The jab_____________________________

For a righty, the left jab is your lead punch. Although the jab isn’t as powerful as the cross (right/strong arm), it is there to setup scenarios where a cross can be landed- it is usually the start to every combination. The cross is meant to stun and trick your opponent so that a big punch can be landed.

With your right hand by your chin for protection against the punching bag (your opponent), a jab should be very quick. As a starting position both fists should be by your chin for protection. It is very important that after a jab is thrown, you return back to the starting position. The fist should be turned 90 degrees when throwing a jab, starting with your thumb faced up and making impact to the punching bag with your thumb to the side. Again, even though you may be training with a heavy bag that won’t necessarily attack you, it is important to always come back to your chin to protect yourself. Practice makes perfect.

Don’t let the punching bag win____________________

Whether it is the jab or any other punch, it is important to remember to make contact primarily with the pointer and middle finger knuckles. There are many injuries because punches are landed right between the middle two knuckles. These injuries can last months or years, so this is not something to scoff over. Injuries can occur with a bag or with an opponent.

Whenever you throw a punch, it is important to effectively transfer weight into your punches and to keep your opponent on his toes. I love this sport so I could chew your ear off forever giving you thousands of punching bag techniques- Instead of doing this, I just want to stress a few of my favorite shots and shifting your weight effectively.

Jab: Strive to punch straight forward and retreat straight back, using hips for power. To ensure a straight punch, line up your fist with a spot on the heavy bag and just focus on staying in line with that spot.

Left body shot: Lean in towards the heavy bag, use power from hips, pivoting off the ball of your left foot. Many times this shot is meant to contact the kidneys because it takes a lot out of your opponent. With proper pivoting and weight transfer, you should be able to move the punching bag a good amount.

Left hook: Ensure elbow is at the same elevation as your shoulder for a strong punch. With your arm bent at a right angle, pivot off your back foot. Again you should be able to move the punching bag a good amount.

Remember to have fun, stay focused and get the most out of training with your punching bag. Even though the heavy back won’t hit back, remember to keep the guard up. And even though it might be fun to just use your stronger arm and throw crosses constantly, the jab is really the shot that sets up the fight so that the stronger punches can have a place later.

Punching Bags: The Heavy Bag is Your Opponent

A great boxer understands the importance of strong punches and combinations to keep his opponent on his toes and to continually establish scenarios where he can land a strong punch. A punching bag is a great place to exercise combinations and build endurance. Below are a few of the most effective shots/combos out there.

Heavy Bag Shots and Combos________________________

Jab, double jab, triple jab-: While the jab isn’t the strongest punch, it plays an important role of distracting your opponent. Be sure to mix it up a bit. Don’t always do the standard single jab or jab-cross. Why not jab-jab-cross or jab-jab-jab cross. As long as you mix it up, your opponent won’t be able to predict you. Pick a spot on the punching bag and try to jab repeatedly hitting that same spot.

Right cross: Usually preceded by a jab, ensure that you really follow through when doing the right cross. You want it to be powerful yet quick. If it is two slow, the opponent can get a punch in over the bend in the elbow straight to your face whereas if your arm is straightened, your chin is protected by your shoulder.

Jab-right cross: The most well known combo. Throw the heavy bag a quick jab with the left and a powerful cross with the right, being sure to follow through and step out of the way after throwing the cross. The bag can still knock you over if you don’t step away after a hard punch, just like an opponent can throw a counter punch.

Regard the punching bag as your opponent_______________________________

After all combinations, practice rolling under the punching bag, ducking and dodging around the bag. Imagine that you just unleashed hell on you opponent, and the opponent is coming back with the counter-shot of a right hand. Strive to go under the right hand (heavy bag) and come up with a right hook. If you can dodge the punching bag, you can dodge your opponent’s cross.

We don’t want to just go out there and start swinging at the bag. Once we throw a combination, we should know which way to shift our weight. Again the most common way to counter a cross is to duck under the opponents arm (or the punching bag) and once under, you can take a crack at the body or chin.

After every punch, it’s best to keep moving or circle the punching bag as to get out of the path of your opponent. Most people move around the bag to the left since most out there are righties. Be sure to practice this both to the left and right. If you always go the same way, it’s easier for your opponent to predict, making it harder for you.

Use the heavy bag for everything it has to offer. Don’t just beat the crap out of it. Pretend it’s an opponent that fights back. When it swings back after you throw a cross, duck under it and counter with a hook or an uppercut. The punching bag is one of the best tools out there. Just be sure to use it right and regard it as an opponent and not just a psychological release.