There are many types of Freestyle Footbags available on the market. Some have 2 panels, some have over 100 panels. Some are filled with sand and some with plastic. Some are hand-stitched, while others are factory produced. Some are heavy, some light, some small, and some the size of your head. But what makes a footbag a Professional Footbag?
Over the years I have owned, whipped, and retired a greater number of bags ranging from the 2 panel vinyl novalty bag, to the $50 Abshire T50 Micro. I've kicked with sand, plastic, empty shelled, and spewing pellets. From this experience I've developed some what of a knack for spotting a "Choice" bag.
Professionals whether they kick with sand, plastic, heavy or light, they all want one common thing - Consistancy! A consistant bag is one that performs as expected everytime.
Back in the day in the BF (before freestyle) I liked to kick with a lopsided Hemp Hacky Sack that I bought at the local skate shop. Something about its ruggedness, or the fact it was hemp, or whatever it was, I liked to kick this bag. I didn't know it at the time, but other than adding quicker reflexes to my kicking game, I wasn't getting any closer to stalling the footbag. It wasn't until I played with a 'Professional Footbag" , I learned why it was better and I haven't looked back since.
A Pro Footbag is a round footbag. not square, or made of chain mail (I've kicked with one of those too). It is either a 32 panel soccerball style bag, or an 8 panel sand filled bag. Both are excellent choices. A Pro bag will stall perfectly and set with control. But there is much more than just these characteristics that make a bag worthy of their Professional status.
A Pro bag is generally hand-stitched by seasoned professionals and veterans of the sport. There are a number of top quality hand-stitchers on the market, that offer a range of customizations to 32 and 8 panel footbags.
The Abshire Proformance Footbag is a top choice in The USA and around the world. Planet Footbag also makes quality 32 Panel Bags. Freedom Footbags makes the best Sand Bags on the planet and is endorsed as such by many top 10 competitors.
All of these bags are top quality and Professionally made by Pros for Pros. They don't get any better. While I recommend these bags as the best way to go - I must warn you that with regards to the Sand Bag, the 32 Panels are not cheap, but are well worth the cost. Any other bag would be a novalty in comparison.
This doesn't mean that other bags aren't just as good. In fact, 1 out of every 10 el cheapo bags can break-in to be a choice bag. But who wants to buy 10 bags just to get one bags worth of kicking?
For more information about Pro Hand-Stitched footbags, please visit Footbags, or www.FreedomFootbags.com.
Compared with cheaper look-a-likes Pro bags stall softly. The material in most 32s is facile or ultra suede. The weight is between 40-50 grams. The Abshire Pro Mini is a smaller version of the standard 32 Panel and features a heavy centered density of metal and plastic that keeps the bag round in the air.
Freedom Footbags makes the Mr. Sandbag which has been regarded as the cheapest and best Professional bag on the market. It features a consistant inner fill and rugged, but soft outer shell. It colapses flat and sets straight up everytime.
Cheaper bags tend to fly lopsided, like my Hemp Sack. They also roll off instead of collapsing on a stall. They are over stuffed with plastic pellets that leave the bags weight too light to offer any real setting abilities. And finally they are over-sized, and as such, more difficult to kick or stall. Imagine trying to stall a coconut filled with Helium.
Whether you like Sand or Plastic, heavy or light, 32 Panel or 8, remember to have fun and not take the game too seriously. Pro equipment will give you an edge, but you still have to sharpen your skills yourself. Have Fun!
~peace