Melon ball ... mortally wounded

[Tim]

Gentlemen,
I knew this day was coming... melon ball is mortally wounded. I fear the unique rebound and punching experience that can only be provided by a basketball shaped speed bag is coming quickly to an end. If ever there was a "speed ball" , this was it.

See attachments. It's developing a rip, and it's growing quite rapidly. Pictured is melon ball, in better times, and today, after the daily thrashing.

What are my options? I suppose I could try to stitch it together with fishing line in the hopes of keeping the rip to the current size? I would just let nature takes its course and buy another, but i believe this bag was a unique odd ball.

Melon ball in better times:
CWwkzF5tzKs

[Speedbag]

DRAT! That has now become what I call "the baggers bag". That bag so worn by time and service that it's parts start falling off, but still, it rebounds on. I have had a few of those myself, and the only two words that ever worked for me:

Duct Tape.

It may extend the life of your loved one, but speed bags, like men, are mortal. I can see a bunch of us standing around, gazing at that bag, saying: "the last melon..." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCsesF4OeS8&feature=related) (* 1:50sec in this clip).

[spinsmashpop]

Tim.... that's some great footage!
Great combos!
And that bag is FUGLY!
It's looks like some disease you get growing off your foot!!!
haha....
But is sure does hit nice!
Sorry.....didn't mean to insult your bags looks!!! haha...
BAG ON!

You should punch to some John Cougar Melonball!!!!!

[paranday]

Yeah, it is a mugly other, haha.

[Biff]

Old bags never die, they just fade away.

[Crapsterface]

if the bladder lasts perhaps u can get som canvas to wrap around it. can u get bladders for it ?

[Roc Stone]

An excellent flurry of combinations there Tim.

Shame about the bag.

I have seen and used bags with stitching in them and they weren't to bad.

It may be something you want to attack earlier rather than later.

[Crapsterface]

you may be able to take it to a leatherworker.

[Dutchman]

The more I look at it, the more it looks like someone stuck a DEB bladder in it instead of a speed bag bladder when it was made.

[Speedbag]

The more I look at it, the more it looks like someone stuck a DEB bladder in it instead of a speed bag bladder when it was made.

Now that is an interesting point of view. Obviously the outer bag leather has a specific shape (teardrop) but since it's pliable it could easily adapt to the shape of the bladder inflated inside. I never considered puting a DEB inside a speed bag. In all honesty, I have never seen a DEB bladder or worked with one.

Great observation, Dutchman.

[spinsmashpop]

The more I look at it, the more it looks like someone stuck a DEB bladder in it instead of a speed bag bladder when it was made.

Now that is an interesting point of view. Obviously the outer bag leather has a specific shape (teardrop) but since it's pliable it could easily adapt to the shape of the bladder inflated inside. I never considered puting a DEB inside a speed bag. In all honesty, I have never seen a DEB bladder or worked with one.

Great observation, Dutchman.

Totally great observation! I have the same bag (the 9.99 special). I like how it hits but Tim's is like the ugly stepchild! Mine has the same kind of shape, but never went that haywire!
I think he should just put a thin piece of leather on the inside and outside and glue-gun it on! Would that work? I don't know anything about that stuff... I usually try to fix everything under the sun with duct tape!
Hey! Duct Tape! That's it!

[Roc Stone]

Well observed Dutchman

[Jordan]

That poor defensless bag

[BlackCatXIII]

try shoe goo. or since its vinyl, a tent repair kit.

[SpeedBagScissorhands]

damm that sucks tim, i know the feeling, i would put a band-aid on it or just buy a new one.one of my favorite bags has a similiar wound on it and i havent been using it because i fear it will be totally destroyed:(:(:(:(:(

[atgatt]

Tim, it's a pleasure to watch your bag-craft. Great work.

Personally, I'd leave if for fear if anything was added to it, the extra weight wouldn't go well or it could throw it off balance. We grow old which gives us character, so let the bag do the same. When you talk to it, you can say, "You ol' bag."

[Tim]

The more I look at it, the more it looks like someone stuck a DEB bladder in it instead of a speed bag bladder when it was made.

Give this man a prize. It's definitely a round bladder. I took it out and it's not tear drop shaped. However, there is more to the secret sauce than just the roundness of the bladder. I put a regular tear drop shaped bladder from a Fighting sports 9x6 and the bag hits very similarly.

Thanks for the advice everybody. I do think I'm going to try and get the rip repaired somehow.

[Dutchman]

See if you can locate an old school shoe repair shop, or possibly a saddlery to restitch it. If it's the fau leather stuff which is vinyl covered canvas, maybe a sailmaker can do a repair.

[Roc Stone]

:confused:

'there is more to the secret sauce than just the roundness of the bladder. I put a regular tear drop shaped bladder from a Fighting sports 9x6 and the bag hits very similarly.'

I think you better give us an update with some more vid Timbo.

I imagine having a DEB bladder in a speed bag is ultimately what caused the tear, undue stress in the wrong area of what was possibly a weaker cut of leather made for that pannel.

If the bag still looks the same, its because the leather's been stretched :eek: into that shape, largely unbeknowing to you, because you've probably beaten the crapper out of it. You may wanna try a larger bladder and over inflate it, and to see if you can restore its original shape in any form you better keep beat'n the crapper out of it.:p

After its had surgery of course.:cool: