Good posts salty and scrap.

Pads and bags are tools and can be misused. I was determind to hook off the jab, spent the time rehersing it on the bag before I was able to land it well.

TBH I've found lots of good stuff in the american boxing manuals that I've not seen so much in UK gyms, more structure....maybe they did it when I wasn't round.

For example on the heavy bag, there's lots more you can do. It's all valid but left to our own devices we tend to get lazy, stick with what we know and work on our strengths.
3 different drills all working different modes all useful for boxing.
1 round just using the jab moving in and out or range, focus on speed and footwork.
1 round plant your feet, 3 punch combo focus on power.
1 round continuous punching

The same with sparring, most of the time I've seen two people just get thrown in the ring and they're left to get on with it might make you tough but not necessarily the most technical of fighters. How about 1 round just throwing the jab, 1 person attacks with 3 punch combos (light) the other defends. Set drills practicing jab-cross-slip(parry, sway, stepback) It goes on and on.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be hard sparring but not everytime you step in the gym. It should be progressive and have an aim to it.

I'll get off my soapbox now