personally i use pads to work with newbs confidence and balance...partner work is best all round but in the states you usually get two guys beating holy hell out of each other and in 30 days you get to sit and watch cause all your fighters quit.hard sparring has a place every day? no.pads are a TOOL. regard it as such, it surely isn't boxing but the holder has to take charge, and make it live.i hit and hit back often..i also hit hard. depending on what i am using, thai style kick pads or reg boxing one sit will hurt. plus with my thai boxers i kick them. hard. it helps when they miss the first punch and get hit...they re-set quick and keep going...just mho