shamster

Here is a free standing bag I found (last bag at the bottom of the page)...

Aries Free Standing Bag

It sounds like it won't shift backwards or sideways when hit hard enough, which is what I experienced when hitting the Wavemaster bag. Would this be the best alternative for someone who can't hang a heavy bag from the ceiling and doesn't want one of those big stands that take up a lot of space?

Thanks in advance!

Blue Wave Gym

That bag sounds like it will spend the majority of its time on the rebound.
Why not just buy a king cobra or a free standing heavy bag from ringside if you want to have a bag that rebounds.These bags rebound but still move if hit hard enough especially for kicks. Actually all free standing bags move if you kick them hard enough, but don't move as much when punched.The wave master xxl and the B.O.B are probably the best freestanding bags(I have bought and returned a number of other brands) I'd rather have a bag that moves a little than a bounce bag that provides unrealistic motion or is too whimpy. Try the freestanding bag from I&I sports if you want a bounce bag that's more like a freestanding bag. Most metal heavy bag stands are crap in my opinion(I've returned a few) You're right to say the regular wave masters are to whimpy so try the wavemaster XXL or the B.O.B.

Python

ON the contrary....the XXL bags from Century SUCK! Here is what I have experienced: My school has been open for 2 yrs plus. We started out with 4 XXL bags, and added 6 more over time. Well, when you use them in a 2 or 3 minute round fashion, the keep coming unscrewed at the base which causes too much "play" and wobble, so when a hard kick hits it puts a great deal of pressure on the shaft and the nut (these are only 1/8th inch thick plastic). The nuts began to crack at first and Century would send us more nuts, then the shafts began to break along the the thread seam. So Century sent us 5 new bags this past October to replace our broken ones that were under the 1 yr warranty. Well, ALL 5 of the replacement have broken in less than 6 months. The bags came in and they had waay too much wobble even when screwed on all the way (defective?). Century said they went by the original warranty which was no longer in effect. So the replacement bags had no warranty (bullshit!). They would not replace them and instead sent the hanging bags (6 of them) which I am using but they only cost a third of the XXL bags, so I lost out on cost as well. I have had alot of problems with the quality of Century products, in that they don't hold up to Muay Thai training. Don't go with Century if you train hard, that is my advice.

The ringside bag mentioned is a great bag. I had one years ago and I loved it. Having a school, it is not feasible because they do not offer school/wholesale programs. But for an individual it is an awesome bag.

That is my 2 cents

Blue Wave Gym

That the wave master xxl is such a piece of crap,I guess if i ever start kicking again it will soon be ruined, as far as the ring side bag(free standing) you mentioned I had to return it because it wobbled violently and nearly fell over and many times did fall over when throwing full power roundhouses, sidekicks(no I wasn't pushing the bag)so while the century free standing bag sounds like crap from what you've described,the ring side is just as much a piece of crap in IMHO that's why I returned it if it wasn't I'd have kept it and not had to pay return shipping. Why didn't you just go with hanging heavy bags for your school in the first place, many of the home freestanding metal bag stands are total crap but ringside has some gym quality free standing metal frames that may boxing gyms use. The only thing free standing bags are actually good for is for punches only and only for home training and only when filled with water because it acts as ashock absorber thus prolonging the life of the bag. No serious gym would use any wave master to train fighters on, I was just talking about people who can't hang a bag at home.BTW I've destroyed at least 2 hanging heavy bags when training kicks on them so nothing's perfect.But yes you should have tried to hang or mount a hanging heavy bag any way you could before you went to free standing bags. Sorry for the miscommunication.

Python

Ya know, now that I think back, my Ringside back would get knocked over sometimes too, but it held up good for me. But, I only weigh about 160, so not hitting as hard as some. The reason I went with the XXL's when opening my gym is 1) i didn't know how much abuse they would take, 2) they are very mobile, so I can move them around easily which makes them more versatile for various classes, and 3)I didn't have the right ceiling to hang bags, nor did I give the freestanding frames much thought, since the price was not that cheap. Now I have the hanging bags, and what is left of the XXL's, but with my different classes, I still would like some worthy freestanding bags just for the versatility alone.

I may soon put up an I-beam for "tracking" and have several hanging bags that can just be pushed out into the center when training and pushed back outta the way when needing more open space, we'll see.

Blue Wave Gym

youy probably know this already, but ringside has some sort of I beam system that allows the hanging bag to glide across the I beam so your fighters can practice chasing a backwords moving opponent.As for the ringside freestanding bag my inshape fighting weight is from 210#s to 220#s so When I used the bag it fell over alot when I did full power kicks,(and bange the shit out of my floor {on second flooor)so If I had it on a 1st floor or in a basement at least that whiplash action of the base wouldn't rattle the house(all free standing bags do to some extent that's why my wave master xxl is in the garage) the wavemaster xxl moved to much for proper kick training but at least it didn't fall over so that's why I thought it was better.But from what you say is true, then Some day both my wave master xxl and my b.o.b may break then I'm kinda s.o.l.
As for free standing bags there's one form I&I sports thats more close to a bounce bag but still acts like a heavy bag but it's expensive $200-$300, the aries one looks like a bounce bag which sucks for training fighters on. I hope you find a free standing bag that holds up let me know if you do.