Prime (KS3) Freestanding Kit

Assembly Instructions

The instructions below will help you correctly assemble the Prime (KS3) Freestanding Kit for optimum performance. Before assembling the kit, watch the short video above covering three important things to check when setting up your KS3 cobra bag.

Step 1: Assemble the Platform Paddles with the Base Connector

The first step is to assemble the Platform Paddles with the Base Connector to form the freestanding platform of your cobra bag. Correct assembly of the Paddles is important for reliable performance.

You will need the following:

• A set of 4 Platform Paddles, supplied with a bag containing 8 small black screws and one large chrome screw and nut;
• The Base Connector, supplied with a steel clamp that fits around its collar; and
• Your favourite Phillips screwdriver, which is not provided.

If the Mast is already inserted into the Base Connector, remove the steel clamp from around the collar. Press both buttons on the Mast firmly while twisting and pulling the Mast out of the Connector. To make this easier, place the Base Connector on the floor and stand over it with your feet partly over the sides to hold it down.

If the Mast feels too tight, you can insert a screwdriver through one of its top holes for extra leverage. Make sure that you continue pressing both buttons firmly while twisting.

Hold the Base Connector upside down and insert two of the Platform Paddles loosely into it. Thread the chrome nut partly onto the chrome screw and position it in the centre of the Paddles, with the screw head on the outside and the nut on the inside.

Insert the third and fourth Paddles, sliding each one underneath the screw head. Push all four Paddles fully into the cavity of the Base Connector, then tighten the chrome screw. Use your finger on the inside of the Connector to stop the nut from spinning until it finds grip.

Once the Paddles are securely in place, insert the 8 black screws through the top of the Base Connector and into the Paddles. Do not overtighten them. They should be hand-tight and sit relatively flush with the top surface.

Step 2: Insert the Mast & Tighten the Steel Clamp

Place the assembled platform on a firm, level floor. Insert the Mast into the Base Connector while pressing both push buttons. Push it all the way in and twist it until the buttons pop out through the holes in the Connector.

Tip: If the fit is very tight, insert a screwdriver through one of the top holes in the Mast and use it as leverage while twisting.

Once the buttons have popped out through the holes and the Mast is firmly in place, position the steel clamp around the collar of the Base Connector and tighten it as firmly as you can by hand. Check that the Mast feels rigid.

From time to time, check the clamp around the collar to make sure it remains tight. The rigidity of the Mast has a direct impact on the performance of your cobra bag.

Step 3: Insert the Click Bar into the Mast

Insert one end of a Click Bar into the top of the Mast while pressing both buttons on the Click Bar. Slide it down until the buttons pop out through a pair of adjacent holes in the Mast.

Selecting different pairs of holes allows you to adjust the overall height of your cobra bag.

Step 4: Mount the Prime (KS3) Spring onto the Click Bar

Press both buttons at the top of the Click Bar and mount the Prime (KS3) Spring onto it. Slide the Spring down until the buttons pop out through a pair of adjacent holes in the lower Spring connector.

There are two pairs of holes in the Spring connector, allowing you to make a further fine adjustment to the height.

Step 5: Insert the Click Bar or Red Bar into the Top of the KS3 Spring

The Prime (KS3) Freestanding Kit includes two Click Bars. The second Click Bar can be inserted into the top of the Spring to create a standard setup with greater reach.

The kit also includes a shorter and lighter Polymer Red Bar. Insert the Red Bar into the top of the Spring instead of the second Click Bar when you want a shorter top section with a faster, more intense rebound.

Swapping between the Click Bar and the Red Bar gives you greater variety in your reflex training.

Step 6: Assemble the Prime Target & Target Adapter

Open the Velcro strap at the opening of the Target Ball and unzip it all the way, revealing the bladder and the protective tongue. The tongue is there to reinforce the zip.

The tongue is designed to sit flat between the diaphragm of the Target Adapter and the zip, so pull the tongue out as you insert the Adapter. Make sure that the bladder is sitting inside the diaphragm of the Adapter and that the tongue is on the outside, immediately underneath the zip.

It is deliberately a tight fit. Push the outer edge of the Adapter diaphragm in with your thumb, slowly working your way around until the entire diaphragm is inside the Target Ball.

Once it is fully inserted, adjust the position so that the tongue sits on the outside of the diaphragm, then pull the zip down as far as it will go.

Note: With some targets, including the Prime Target, the zipper may not close all the way. To prevent the zipper clasp from sliding back up, I recommend securing the bottom with electrical tape.

Using a ball pump with a wet needle, which is not provided, inflate the Target Ball about halfway. Squeeze the ball gently and feel around it to make sure that the bladder is sitting centrally and has not become caught on the edge of the diaphragm.

Do not twist the Target Adapter, as this may twist the bladder inside the ball. Once you are satisfied that nothing is caught or twisted, inflate the ball fully until it feels firm but not rock-hard. It is important not to over-inflate it.

Mount the assembled Target Adapter onto the top bar of your cobra bag. The Adapter has several pairs of holes in its stem for adjusting the reach. There are also two pairs of holes at the upper end of the KS3 Spring for making a further fine adjustment to the reach length.

Step 7: Fill the Sandbags to Weigh Down Your Cobra Bag

Your cobra bag will perform best when the Platform Paddles are properly weighed down. Each included sandbag is designed to weigh roughly 45 pounds (20kg) when completely filled with sand.

I strongly recommend lining the inside of each sandbag with a large, heavy-duty bin liner bag to prevent sand from seeping through the stitched seams.

As you fill each bag, push the sand out towards the far corners and lift the bag occasionally to allow the sand to settle. Fill the bag all the way to the top so that it becomes slightly bulging, then tie the liner bag loosely and close the Velcro flaps.

Place one filled sandbag across two of the Platform Paddles, immediately next to the Mast. Secure the Velcro handle straps around the Mast to prevent the bag from sliding off during training. Place the second sandbag on the opposite side in the same way.

Tip: More weight will improve the performance of the cobra bag. Wet sand is ideal because it makes each sandbag approximately 20% heavier. The combined weight should be at least 90–100 pounds for solid performance. If you need additional stability, you can also add a second pair of sandbags on top of the first pair.

Optimum Tip: Using Olympic weight plates above the sandbags is an excellent way to increase not only the overall weight, but also the rigidity of the Mast. The included Olympic Weight Plate Sleeve slides onto the Mast and holds one or two of your own Olympic weight plates securely in place. Because the plates brace the Mast at a higher point, they can greatly enhance the performance of your cobra bag.

Optional Short Setup for Small Children

The Prime (KS3) Freestanding Kit can also be converted into a shorter setup for small children as young as five. Remove the Mast and Click Bar, insert the Prime (KS3) Spring directly into the Base Connector and tighten the steel clamp around the Base Connector collar to hold the Spring securely in place.

This creates a compact version of the cobra bag at a comfortable height for younger users. As they grow, the Mast and Click Bar can be added gradually to increase the height.

Adult Supervision: An adult should always assemble the cobra bag and supervise children during use.

Make sure to check out my YouTube channel for more tips and ideas, as well as training videos and the latest add-ons. I hope you enjoy your KEWLUS cobra bag. If you have any questions, use the Contact Page to get in touch with me.