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