this is something that has been on my mind for the longest. Me and my brother in law both has 70 LBs. Everlast heavybags. Mine is hanging from a hook from the ceiling, while his is on one of those heavy bag/speed bag stands ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0007Q30W2/sr=1-7/qid=1136133072/ref=sr_1_7/102-2746376-9916959?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=3400291&s=sporting-goods&v=glance )

Both of our bags, for the most part, are very very solid and stiff throughout except for one area going around, almost a sweet spot (every part of his bag feels like concrete except the sweet spot). Only thing is mine is toward the lower portion of the bag and his is high up around the everlast logo.

Anyways, is this normal? Every boxer's traiing video i have seen where they work the heavy bag, the heavy bag has looked soft. Is that by design, or from repeated use? And does the variation in "sweet spots" have any thing to do with his using the stand and me not (the stand has the chain at the top and the cable at the bottom to keep the bag from swaying)

All bags get like that. Bags usually get soft after about a months use, depending on how hard a hitter you are. Mine is soft almost everywhere but near the bottom from repeating whalloping it. It's hard to prevent it. That's exactly why the pro's bags look soft from training. Don't worry about it though, because it doesn't affect your workout much, besides maybe a less painful hand at the end.

your hands are not conditioned enuf, ur bags probably normal density, it just feel hard for u. do u know wat hard is, ill ya, MY BAG, its filled with SALT

Mines isnt all that hard, its just very stiff and solid. I developed a very bad habit of working the heavy bag barefisted on my bag, and I could hit it anywhere.. But if I try that shit on my brother's bag anywhere but the upper portion of the bag, I would shatter my hand. that shit feels like brick.