You may be missing your daily boxing workout due to your congested work routine. Then, how about setting up a gym and punching bags in the garage?
Sounds cool right?
As you’d guess, adding a punching bag to your home gym will revamp your exercise regime.
Don’t worry, we have you covered with some useful tips on hanging heavy bags in the garage.
A Punching Bag
A punching bag, a considerably heavy bag, is a sturdy bag designed for improving one’s punching and kicking technique. It is usually a large, well-built, and cylindrical bag that is suspended by chains or ropes.
It encourages big bodily movements, strength training, and overall power development. As such, it is advised to pair it with punch mitts or pads to avoid unnecessary bruises.
Punching bags are usually filled with grains, sand, rags, and other material, however, there are also punching bags filled with water and are used very actively by the boxers.
The Advantages of Hanging Punching Bag In Garage
More convenient
Since it’s inside the premises of your home, you simply have to take a few steps, and then surprise, you’ve reached your heavy bag. In just a matter of time, you can now throw your punch and kick to perfect your technique.
With that, it is thus far more efficient in terms of location and time.
Money-wise
Setting it up inside your house means zero cost for the entrance fee. Therefore, it’s a lot cheaper than signing up for a gym membership.
The initial setup cost of buying and installing it might cause you a couple of bucks, but after that, no further costs will be your concern. In the long run, it’ll be a low-cost investment as compared to gym fees.
High Accessibility
In the gym, the number of people sometimes goes beyond the number of available equipment and facilities in place. Thus, the accessibility of some amenities won’t be as commodious as it’s supposed to be.
However, if it’s right inside your house, you won’t have to wait for the equipment to be freed up just so you can start your workout.
Sanitation
For hygienic purposes, especially amid COVID-19, it is safer and ideal to set your punching bag at home. No shade intended, but who are you to say that your local gym is sanitized well?
And even if it’s well-cleaned, there is no way to assure that other gym members adhere to proper hygiene too. That being so, just go on about your home gym!
THE DIY Methods for Hanging Heavy Bag In Garage
Method 1: Using a Mount to Hang a Heavy Bag
First and foremost, you can try using a mount to hang your punching bag. Then, you can find ceiling joists or support beams.
Afterward, mark the place where all joists meet with a cross beam. Make sure to hang the bag on a middle joist, so a crossbeam can support it.
And then, use a level to drill holes into the ceiling joists so a hardwood board can be attached thereafter. After finishing it, you can now attach the mount to the hardwood board.
To reduce vibration, try putting heavy bag chains or springs. And for the last step, hang your bag and start punching.
Method 2: Hanging Heavy Bag Using a Beam
After deciding the place and repeating the same process, find an intense support beam. And then, drill a hole so you can place an eye bolt into it.
You can opt to use hooks, but it is not necessarily advisable as they can not bear the weight of heavy bags.
And finally, hang the bag to complete the installation. But don’t forget to attach the chains to the corners of the bag and place an S-hook. After which, you can proceed with your strikes!
Method 3: Use a Wall Mount
If you are hesitant about whether your ceilings, beams, or joists can hold the heavy bag, then the best way to hang a punching bag in the garage is by using a wall mount.
The first step in doing this method is to drill walls to do the setup. Then, the bracket of a wall mount will be screwed into the wall close to the ceiling.
Once you have completed these tasks, you can hang your punching bag on the hook. After all, a wall mount is one of the safest methods available.
Method 4: Mounting a Punching Bag in the Garage Using a Stand
If hanging a heavy bag from the ceiling or wall is impossible, then you have to buy a stand that can hold the bag for you.
There are many free stands available online as well as offline that work best for heavy bags. You can also find positions having wheels.
This feature works best for mobility. This way, you can even put it aside when not using the punching bag. Moreover, there is no need for drilling or installing anything.
Just get your heavy bag free-stand and start your boxing routine.
The Capacity of a Ceiling Joist
Before installing a heavy bag, or anything for that matter, it is important to know how much weight your ceiling joist can hold.
In an average house, a 2 x 6-inch roof joist will hold a weight of up to 50 pounds per square foot.
If you don’t consider this, your ceiling joist will rafter. It may also appear to sag from the strain.
In the worst-case scenario, however atypical, your ceiling joists can collapse from too much weight.
And you wouldn’t want that to happen, right?
The Height of a Punching Bag Hang
To determine this, the head-height approach can be a helpful basis. In simpler terms, the top of the bag should be leveled with the top of your head.
Suppose your heavy bag is your opponent. And so, to deliver a head blow, the target should be at head height.
One indicator that the bag is hung at the proper height is when it moves backward with your punches.
However, if the bag kicks back, then some adjustments should be made.
Final Words
Hanging your punching bag in your garage, basement, or elsewhere is a wise move.
With the right DIY method, you can easily turn your heavy bag into robust, solid-built, and portable home gym equipment.
Just drop everything and hang your punching bag now. And then, with the right set of boxing gloves and other essential protective gear, your boxing skills will move past perfection.
Utilize that space in your home and turn it into a boxing haven!