Buying guide for best golf impact bags
If you're a golfer, you're always looking for an edge, whether it’s a tweak to your swing to gain accuracy or a new driver to pick up a few yards of distance. Ultimately, though, practice may be the best way to improve your performance on the course.
A great way to gain strength and distance in your golf swing is by practicing with a golf impact bag. As the club head connects with the impact bag, you’ll be able to feel any imbalance in your swing path that you might not feel when connecting with a golf ball. You’ll also be able to feel when your hands are trailing the club head as you strike the bag.
Conveniently, a golf impact bag is portable — you can use it to work on your game anywhere. Use it on the course as you warm up before a round. Use it at home, in the garage, or in the yard, to build your swing strength. You could even take it with you on a business trip to work on your swing in the hotel room.
Key considerations
Material
Your primary consideration when purchasing a golf impact bag should be the quality of the material. Because you will be repeatedly striking the bag, it must stand up to rough treatment. As such, many golf impact bags are made of heavy waterproof vinyl. If you’ll be using the bag outdoors in wet grass, this material is ideal. However, even an impact bag that is waterproof should not be left outside, as the elements could shorten its lifespan.
Some impact bags have a canvas exterior that is not waterproof. Canvas won’t last as long as vinyl, but some golfers like the feel of canvas better than the feel of vinyl when they strike. Canvas has quite a bit more give than thick vinyl.
Size
The average impact bag measures 15 to 18 inches in diameter and 10 to 12 inches in height. Most have a cylindrical shape, although a few have a boxy shape.
If you choose a bag on the smaller side, note it may not give you the resistance you want when striking it. However, a larger-than-average bag could be too heavy, which means it could damage your club.
If you are going to store the impact bag for a few weeks or longer, remove the fill and flatten the bag to minimize the storage area required.
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Features
Method of fill
Nearly all impact bags require that you fill them yourself. You may occasionally find one with fill included, but this is uncommon.
The bag may have a zippered seam around the circumference of the top of the cylinder where you can add fill material. More commonly, a zipper seam or Velcro strip seam runs across the diameter of the top segment of the bag. Many people prefer the latter design over the former because, with the seam around the circumference of the top layer of the bag, you could inadvertently strike it with your club and damage the club.
Handle
If you want an impact bag that’s easy to carry, look for one with a sturdy handle sewn into the material across the top. A golf impact bag without a handle can be awkward to carry.
Printing
Many golf impact bags have a design or target printed on the side. Some have several targets spread around the circumference of the bag. The target provides an aiming point, which many golfers appreciate. However, another good practice is to rotate the bag every few swings so you do not contact the same point on the bag repeatedly. If you do this, the target will change positions, so it won’t be as valuable to have on the bag.
DID YOU KNOW?
Learning to repeat a consistent swing with a golf impact bag will hopefully translate into muscle memory that you can use on the course.
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Accessories
Putting mat: Putt-A-Bout Grassroots Putting Green
A putting mat gives you the opportunity to work on your putting game anywhere and any time. This model’s putting surface is built to withstand regular use, giving you a practice green that does a good job mimicking the actual greens on a golf course.
Putt trainer: Putting Arc MS-3D
A putting trainer can help you learn to keep your putter on line. The MS-3D differs from other trainers in that you can see how your putting stroke moves in three dimensions rather than just two.
Golf swing trainer: SKLZ Gold Flex Golf Swing Trainer
A swing trainer gives you the opportunity to work on your swing and to build strength anywhere. This SKLZ trainer has a weighted head on a fiberglass shaft, which maximizes muscle-building when practicing.
Golf practice net: Rukket Sports Haack Golf Net
For those times when you just need to hit a ball with a full swing at home, this practice net can catch the ball for you. The Rukket net dimensions of 10 x 7 feet are perfect for large indoor spaces as well as outdoor use.
Golf impact bag prices
Unlike the many other types of golf equipment, golf impact bags do not have a significant cost difference from low to high.
Low-cost: Low-cost golf impact bags are priced from $15 to $25.
High-cost: For a bag with waterproof materials and a more durable outer fabric, you could pay $25 to $50.
Average cost: The majority of golf impact bags cost between $20 and $40. Some bags that cost more than $40 may include more than one type of swing training aid.
If the impact bag slides a foot or more each time you strike, it probably needs more fill. It should slide a few inches each time.
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Tips
Here are some tips for making use of a golf impact bag in your practice time.
- Position the bag by placing it opposite the front foot of your stance.
- At the time of impact, the majority of your weight should be shifted to your front leg.
- Your hands should be a little bit farther forward than the club head when you strike the bag. At impact, they should not be behind the club head.
- The left arm should remain straight at impact. A bent left arm indicates a swing flaw.
- If the heel or toe of your club strikes the bag first, your club face is not square to the target. This could mean you are rotating your wrists and forearms.
FAQ
Q. Can I use a golf impact bag outdoors?
A. Yes. It should hold up well outdoors. Even if it is waterproof, though, avoid using it in rain or snow, as persistent moisture could create problems over time. You can also use it indoors if you have enough free space to accommodate the backswing of your club, such as in the garage.
Q. Is using an impact bag better than going to the driving range to practice?
A. It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish with your practice time. An impact bag helps you build strength in your swinging muscles. It also helps you learn how the club should feel at the point of impact. Some people prefer the feel of hitting golf balls at the range because they need to see the results of each shot to figure out what works and what doesn’t. If there are times when it’s easier to stay home and practice, however, an impact bag is a convenient (and affordable) piece of equipment to have on hand.
Q. What is best filling for a golf impact bag?
A. You can fill an impact bag with almost any kind of item that has some give to it. Old T-shirts, towels, and pillows are commonly used. You could also buy fill material, such as chunks of foam. Take care not to use extra-firm material like sand and gravel. The bag should have quite a bit of give. A bag filled with firm sand or gravel could potentially damage your club.
