Punching bags are made to take a beating whether it's from the fists, the elements or a naughty pet. Sometimes the demand is too much for the tough outside material of the bag. Fix a ripped bag promptly to extend the useful life of the bag and prevent the inside material from spilling out. Aim for a simple clean-looking fix that will leave your bag ready for many more assaults.
Cut frayed edges, loose threads and dangling material around the rip.
Tuck loose stuffing back into the bag through the rip. Make sure the outside material encapsulates the stuffing completely.
Clean the surface of the bag around the tear to ensure the tape will adhere properly.
Tape strips of duct tape in vertical overlapping columns over the ripped section. The strips should extend at least 2 inches beyond the rip all the way around. Each strip should overlap half the previous strip.
Lock the vertical overlapping columns by taping two strips of duct tape horizontally across the top and bottom ends of the vertical strips. These lock strips should adhere to the bag surface and the vertical strips.
Seal the repair and finish the punching surface by applying athletic tape over the duct tape. This can be accomplished with horizontal overlapping strips extending just beyond the repair. Alternately, the athletic tape may be applied in concentric circles or a continuous spiral around the bag until the repair is covered.
Tips
Choose an athletic tape color that matches your punching bag to make the repair less noticeable.
Warnings
Be creative but safe with your repair; when in doubt and whenever possible hire a professional to repair your punching bag.