adjusting to swivel?

[mobileaudio25]

at the local gym i was using a cleto reyes 9x6 (loved it, faster than the 3 bags ive tried) on a bull hook swivel. i could hit accurately and fast.

i built my own home platform (pretty much vibrant resistant) on a watkins ball hook swivel. im having A LOT more trouble with my combinations on this swivel. is this normal? have been exchanging bags so i havnt had a lot of practice to just bag, i seem to be picky about my bags. thanks,kyle

[ukspeedbag]

at the local gym i was using a cleto reyes 9x6 (loved it, faster than the 3 bags ive tried) on a bull hook swivel. i could hit accurately and fast.

i built my own home platform (pretty much vibrant resistant) on a watkins ball hook swivel. im having A LOT more trouble with my combinations on this swivel. is this normal? have been exchanging bags so i havnt had a lot of practice to just bag, i seem to be picky about my bags. thanks,kyle

I haven't used a watkins swivel mate but, would say just stick at it and you will become accustomed to it. I used a U bolt swivel and changed to a ball hook. It took some time to get used to it.

[Speedbag]

I haven't used a watkins swivel mate but, would say just stick at it and you will become accustomed to it. I used a U bolt swivel and changed to a ball hook. It took some time to get used to it.

Do you like the ball hook now? Judging by your latest punching, it seems to like you.

[Griffin]

This was a topic I was about to bring up --

I haven't been hitting long at all, just under two months -- this was entirely on a platform at the local gym with a U-hook style swivel.

Well, I just today got everything together on my home platform (AND received Alan's book and DVD's!) -- the platform has a ball hook swivel, based on recommendations from the forum.... and my quick report is it is a TOTALLY different experience.

It seems to me that the U-hook is MUCH more forgiving, and I now realize my true level=Beginning Beginner. LOL!

Wow, is all I can say -- the ball hook demands a TON more precision, in my very inexperienced opinion. Just keeping my basic beginner punching going is more of a challenge, but a good one.

I'm definitely sticking with it though, for this reason: I believe it will ultimately prove to be a superior swivel, especially on side punches, which the U-hook does not perform well with....

My $.02....

[ukspeedbag]

Do you like the ball hook now? Judging by your latest punching, it seems to like you.

I wouldn't change it for any thing else. I purchased the plastic ball hook swivel, installed it, found it hard to control and removed it for the U bolt. Then after reading so many views on the ball hooks, I thought I'd fit it again and persevere. Best thing I ever done!

[Griffin]

Yup, I can see why you stuck with it --

I followed Alan's tip and put the Watkin's ball hook swivel in the plastic Everlast base with a pinch of white lithium grease (ran 1/4" brass machine screws through the platform, and sucked it all down with large wingnuts.)

It's crazy smooth and fairly quiet.

Now if I could just tame the helicopter....!

[royalewifcheese]

at the local gym i was using a cleto reyes 9x6 (loved it, faster than the 3 bags ive tried) on a bull hook swivel. i could hit accurately and fast.

i built my own home platform (pretty much vibrant resistant) on a watkins ball hook swivel. im having A LOT more trouble with my combinations on this swivel. is this normal? have been exchanging bags so i havnt had a lot of practice to just bag, i seem to be picky about my bags. thanks,kyle

ma25,

you're not crazy, you have come accustomed to the equipment at your gym. so did i. the gym that i go to has a chain link a bad chain link. however i have compensated to hit well with it. my point is just give it time you'll get accustomed to the watkins. you will have to put more power behind the punches to get the same rebounds. i'm going to get my dremel tool out and polish up the ball and the housing inside the base. it's kind of like a performance mod.

bags are different and like you i was hitting the larger bag at my gym. non boxing gyms tend to go with the bigger bags because they require less skill. i love my everlast 4 x 6. i've found that once i got used to it, it's much easier especially when i'm behind the bag.

i think you're trying to look for the gym experience on your own equipment. it won't happen. you may have to take a few steps back before making progress with the new gear.

[paranday]

... i'm going to get my dremel tool out and polish up the ball and the housing inside the base. it's kind of like a performance mod.

Blueprinting a swivel, great concept!

[SpeedBagScissorhands]

good question,
ive always used a U swivel- ive only used a ball hook once or twice and its a different feel. you just have to get used to each swivel. the ball hook is probably easier to land the side punches i would imagine because the ball rolls in the direction you punch. i like the U and will stick with it. im too lazy to unscrew my platform

[spinsmashpop]

I honestly like them all. My favorite is the metal ball hook. And after bagging on Skunk's custom and having him explain that he likes a longer distance on the shaft out of the ball because it gives him that split second of time to get around the bag with all his super-advanced elbow combos, I can now see why.
The U-bolt is cool too for controlling basic speed. I don't work on that enough and need to step that up a bit. The same goes for the chain link. I think the two are quite comparable. The sides punches don't happen as easily, but if you take it a bit slow, you can get it going.
The Speed Bag Truck's metal ball hook swiv is a custom from Alan Kahn. The shaft is screwed as far into the ball as it can go. Plus, it is a faster-than-normal swiv. Put a Everlast 6x4 up on that and it is total speed! But if you're like Skunk, and have long arms, yet have great power, you want a little distance in the swiv shaft dept.
I think the main thing to remember, as far as I can tell is; every combination of board, swiv and bag is different. I don't think you can narrow an analysis down to science. We all know the ball hook is the hardest to control, but the U bolt and Chain are faster, but the 6x4 Everlast on the Kahn custom metal ball hook is gonna be faster than 8x5 gyro on a Ubolt.
Bascially, if your sitting under the board with time to bag, that's half the battle beaten right there!
BAG ON!

[SpeedBagScissorhands]

to me the chain link is hardest to control. you hit the bag and it bounces in any random direction. its really all about the bagger likes and wants to use. i know one thing- i hate the chain link swivels!

[fingers]

good question,
ive always used a U swivel- ive only used a ball hook once or twice and its a different feel. you just have to get used to each swivel. the ball hook is probably easier to land the side punches i would imagine because the ball rolls in the direction you punch. i like the U and will stick with it. im too lazy to unscrew my platform

Me too! i think i will stick to the u bar....i don't do much in the way of side punches anyway that's 2 members for the u bar appreciation section then

[mobileaudio25]

"The Speed Bag Truck's metal ball hook swiv is a custom from Alan Kahn"?? what swivel(s) does this involve? im all about speed, i box at a local gym. elbows are awesome though

[Tim]

"The Speed Bag Truck's metal ball hook swiv is a custom from Alan Kahn"?? what swivel(s) does this involve? im all about speed, i box at a local gym. elbows are awesome though

I think I have a closeup pic of it, I'll look for it later tonight. Basically it's an Everlast metal ball hook where the eye hook is mounted way far into the ball, which significantly reduces the rebound arc of the bag.

[Tim]

"The Speed Bag Truck's metal ball hook swiv is a custom from Alan Kahn"?? what swivel(s) does this involve? im all about speed, i box at a local gym. elbows are awesome though

Here it is