Quote Originally Posted by hitmandonny View Post
Recently I've become frustrated with the lack of quality padwork I've been receiving, but it's brought me to think of the methods of padwork I prefer.
Many Irish coaches hold the pads back and allow the fighter to throw full force punches at the pads, as hard and fast as possible. For me this isn't ideal as the combinations become sloppy and the fighter tires easily, which negates the ability to learn.

At the trainers course I was told under no citcumstances should I bring the pad forward, just to hold it back and let the fighter do the work. To be honest I think the best way to do is to bring the pad forward.
-I call the combination, which is thrown below full speed at half power and meet the punches as they extend to full length.
-Making it the responsibility of the coach to ensure the punches are correct. I find by throwing under optimum "fire power," the combinations are memorised better, thrown more correctly and with a better technique.

For example, it's so easy for a fighter to get into sloppy habits throwing the double jab. By "slapping" the pad a bit it makes the fighter connect well and with a sense of realism.

Any trainers or fighters have any thoughts?
My trainer slaps back with the pads and smacks me in the head or body if I get sloppy. He calls the combos, then I fire off. He'll also move me around and make me work on my footwork while working pad.

Scrap, it's funny you say that about pads. I spar with guy who just kills the pads - fast, sharp, great combos, good form. He's MUCH more impressive on the pads than I am. But put him in the ring, I own him. The first time we sparred, I though he was going to eat me up with his handspeed and combos - do a Calzaghe to my Jeff Lacy. Nope. Once he gets in the ring, it all goes out the window. It's a mental thing. Now we are working together with punch-counterpunch-slip drills and that helps us both a lot.