Best Speed Bag Swivels

Why do you need a good speed bag swivel?

The most obvious answer to this question is simply so that you can use the speed bag. Click here for our speed bag reviews. Most of the time, when you buy a speed bag it will not come with a swivel, and you will be stuck with a speed bag that you cannot install.

It’s very common when reading reviews about speed bags to hear things like “the bag doesn’t bounce well”, “it’s too slow”, “the balance is off and therefore is less predictable”, etc. Yes, sometimes this is because of problems with the speed bag itself. However, it’s just as likely that the swivel is the problem and you’re actually not taking full advantage of what might be a great speed bag.

Remember, although you are hitting the speed bag, the swivel provides the motion in all directions with respect to the stationary platform. If you have a cheap plastic swivel that doesn’t move as freely as a brand new stainless steel swivel, then chances are your experience hitting the bag can be vastly improved.

We highlight some of the best speed bag swivels in the table below, and provide our recommendations for the top rated speed bag swivel as well as best value speed bag swivel. For information on gloves that may help protect your hands while using a speed bag, please click here.

Things to Look for in a Speed Bag Swivel

Material

It’s pretty simple. Most speed bag swivels are now made of stainless steel. This is a good thing. That being said, some companies do provide plastic speed bag swivels at a very low cost. Don’t buy those ones. They may not be the absolute worst in terms of performance (at first), but they’ll crap out before you know it. It’s pretty basic – if you’re going to be hitting something repeatedly, it should be built well.

Bag Attachment

Not all speed bag swivels are constructed in the same manner. The basic theory is similar across the board, but there are some major differences in swivel components, namely hook/loop type.

A ball-hook swivel is perhaps the most simple. It is effective because there is nothing to interfere with the bag, so theoretically, nothing should alter the angle of rebound. In addition to easy changing of the speed bag, it provides fast smooth movement, but it’s also one of the louder types you can get. An example of a ball-hook style speed bag swivel listed on this page is the Everlast Standard Swivel. If this speed bag swivel was made entirely with stainless steel, it likely would have been much better, as the ball-hook feature can be nice to have.

A U-bolt speed bag swivel is likely the most popular type of speed bag swivel at this point. If the swivel incorporates a ball-bearing design, which it likely does, then this will provide a very fast, resistance free motion, which is probably the main reason they are so popular. Often times they also have the push-pin feature, which makes changing the speed bag quick and easy. The only drawback is that it’s possible for the swivel to interfere the odd time with the angle of rebound, but with a well constructed swivel this isn’t really an issue. The TITLE Boxing Deluxe Pro Swivel is an example of a good U-bolt speed bag swivel.

The chain-link speed bag swivels aren’t as popular as the U-bolt swivels, and this is likely because it can be fairly difficult to change a bag on this design. They tend to be a little more quiet than the ball-hook design, but from my personal experience, they tend to require a little more maintenance. This is often simple maintenance like rockin some WD-40. An example of a chain-link speed bag swivel that we reviewed is the TITLE Pro Swivel.

Individual Customer Reviews

Checking out the individual customer reviews is never a bad idea, but in the case of speed bag swivels it may give you an extra little bit of knowledge that will affect your decision. For example, some swivels, like the Ringside Super Swivel, are sometimes known to be a little funky for experienced users, and sometimes to get the most out of it you will need to improvise or upgrade components (e.g. screws). These are usually just minor adjustments, so if you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty there shouldn’t be a problem. If you would rather not deal with that, then definitely check out some individual customer reviews.

As with any product, there’s always a chance you’re going to get something that’s a little faulty. Individual customer reviews are also good, as they may provide insight into someone’s experience trying to return/exchange the product.

Individual Reviews

1. Everlast Standard Swivel

I hate to start the Individual Review section with a bad review, but let’s get it out of the way. With an old-school ball-hook design, which CAN be great, we were a little more hopeful that this would be a good swivel. NOPE.

The main reason this is a bad speed bag swivel is because of the plastic construction. I know plastic can be strong, but this is something that will be taking a lot of repeated punishment. The cost of this swivel reflects the quality and durability.

In terms of performance, it’s actually not the worst to begin with. But what’s the point if the thing falls apart shortly after buying it? The difference in price between this swivel and a solid stainless steel swivel really isn’t that much, so it’s definitely worth the upgrade.

2. Everlast Professional Speed Bag Swivel

This is a way better speed bag swivel than the Everlast Standard Swivel. The main reason being that it’s not plastic, but instead machine crafted stainless steel. It also incorporates ball-bearing technology for faster smoother movement and comes complete with screws for mounting.

One of the main complaints is that the speed bag can be a little difficult to put on or take off, but if you have a good speed bag it’s not really anything to worry about, as you shouldn’t be changing it that often anyway. Even if you do, most people find a pair of pliers does the trick.

This comes at a mid range price with good performance and durability, which is the main reason we voted it as the number one best value speed bag swivel. Definitely recommended.

3. TITLE Boxing Deluxe Pro Swivel

This speed bag swivel is very similar to the Everlast Professional Speed Bag Swivel, just at a slightly higher price. Triple chrome plated for solid durability, it also boasts sealed inner ball-bearings for fast quiet movement.

One extra feature this swivel has is the push-pin change style, which allows for easy exchanging of speed bags. If you have a bag that constantly needs re-inflation, or you have a couple different sized bags that you like to switch in and out, this could be a deal breaker. Otherwise, it’s nothing crazy.

I’ve never set up this swivel on my own, so I cannot personally agree or disagree with this, but the main complaint is that some people find they have to upgrade the screws that come with it. However, this is a simple task and if you don’t mind making a quick stop by your local hardware store this can be an excellent speed bag swivel. This is the main reason it earned our number one pick for best speed bag swivel (but not necessarily best value).

4. TITLE Pro Swivel

This is a chain-link style speed bag swivel, that otherwise is similar to other better quality swivels we reviewed (triple chrome plated with ball bearing technology).

It’s built well, but in our opinion isn’t as good as the TITLE Boxing Deluxe Pro Swivel, as the chain can be a little finicky and some oil is oftne necessary for smooth quiet movement.

This speed bag swivel is cheaper than Deluxe Pro model, so if you’re looking to save a couple bucks, it could be right for you. Therefore, we recommend this speed bag swivel if you’re sticking to a really tight budget. Nothing great about it, but nothing terrible either.

5. Ringside Mexican-Style Swivel

This durable stainless steel swivel has a unique 1″ center cylinder that helps provide a smooth rebound. It also uses a push-pin for convenient swapping of speed bags. Screws are included.

This is a good quality speed bag swivel that is durable and provides smooth quiet movement. The swivel itself is heavier than most, and some customers have found that this leads to slightly slower motion than they expected, but regardless, it’s a very durable, well-performing speed bag swivel. If paired with a smaller speed bag, this could be a dynamite combo.

Tutorial – A Visual Guide to Speed Bag Swivels

Check out this video for valuable information on speed bags swivels! Also, check out the frame Ernie built. Not bad!