1. OPEN YOUR HANDS
While learning it is important not to make a fist or hit the speedball with your knuckles. Beginners who hit with their knuckles will quickly lose control and end up hitting the bag too hard or too fast. Hitting with the fingers will help you slow down the pace and get use to the rhythm. This is probably the best discovery for helping others learn how to hit the speedball.
2. HOLD BOTH HANDS CLOSE TO THE BALL
Keeping your hands close will allow you to hit the ball without having to race your hands to it. If you let your hands get too far from the ball you’ll end up hitting it too hard and fast. So, try to remember that when one hand is hitting, the other hand should be waiting right under the ball.
3. HIT IN SMALL CIRCLES
Your hand should travel in make small circles in the air when you hit the speedball. You’re not swinging your fists back and forth, you are making small circles in the air. You can even practice making small circles in the air to get use to the motion before trying it on the speed bag.
4. GET INTO A RIGHT - RIGHT - LEFT - LEFT RHYTHM
The best rhythm for beginners is to go right-right-left-left. This means hitting twice with your right hand, then twice with your left hand, and repeat. On the first hit, you use the front of your fist. On the second hit, you use the bottom of your fist. It should feel like a natural setup for when you switch to the other hand.
Some trainers will recommend going 3 times for each hand. It’s up to you.
5. STAND SQUARE
You should not be in a boxing stance. Instead you should be standing square in front of the ball with both feet at equal distance from the speedball. Stand a little closer than arm’s length from the ball and move closer or further until it feels comfortable. Your eyes should also be level with the bottom of the speedball, but a little lower or higher is also okay.
Want to give it a go? See our range of speedballs here.
Still want more speedball advice? Watch our video on 'How to Speedball'.