Padwork

[Chris Nagel]

I don't know of anyone using them before Charlie Goldman. Hitting someone's hands has probably been around since the beginning of fist fighting. I can imagine that some boxing trainer had someone puncher hit his hands and thought, "This fooking hurts!" Thus out of necessity, the punch pads were born.

[shafty85]

I enjoy using the pads. In my very inexperienced opinion they seem to build up the muscle memory for combinations so I don't have to think about hitting, instinct just throws a 2-3 shot combo. That being said, it definitely is very different than sparring.

[JazMerkin]

Padwork is often about routine, especially with people who're weaker on the pads. Also too many average coaches seem to just stand still & use it as a straight punching system, ie 1,2, 1,2, 4, 6 etc. Good quality padwork, where punches are thrown back that you have to slip & weave under at random is worthwhile, however with so many people becoming coaches, often with little experience, padwork can be very weak. Last week I had a guy about my age, who didn't move me around the ring at all, slapped my punches down (as in started so he would slapping down onto my wrists as I punched not slapping into the punches) & then bitched when I pointed out what he was doing wrong. I think the problem is there's too many guys coming in who want to be Roger Mayweather immediately rather than taking the time (often years) to actually learn how to do these things properly, & you end up with padwork being about knowing how to punch in a routine rather than with any invention or reflex

[iceman]

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