Awkward for me to hit pads? (Boxing)

[KootenayKid]

It's easy for me to overthink and when the pads come up so quickly I stutter and throw punches (hooks especially) with bad form. It just feels really unnatural to be so regimented. I lose a lot of confidence after I've hit the pads.

When I spar though, I feel like I throw with good form and I just feel so much more loose.

I've done pads a lot and I just can't get the hang of it, anyone else have this problem?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[Reyesnuthugr]

Don't try to hit them as fast as you can. A lot of people think they're training their "reflexes" by getting all nervous, but no- they're shorting themselves and making themselves actually worse (+ plateau). Be relaxed and stay loose. But keep an eye on executing correct form.

Don't put pressure on yourself to play whack-a-mole. It's tempting, but you get no prizes

Do it as controlledly and smoothly as you can, and the speed/accuracy will come naturally with familiarity from repetition and smooth correctness of operation. It will become more automatic.

 

[freaky]

Yea what reyes said. The pad holder usually brings the pad up super fast. I just ignore it and go at my pace.

 

[Fire of Youth]

Pad holding is an important skill too. I can feel like a demon when one person is holding the pads well and then like an absolute gumby when someone else holds the pads.

 

[KootenayKid]

Don't try to hit them as fast as you can. A lot of people think they're training their "reflexes" by getting all nervous, but no- they're shorting themselves and making themselves actually worse (+ plateau). Be relaxed and stay loose. But keep an eye on executing correct form.

Don't put pressure on yourself to play whack-a-mole. It's tempting, but you get no prizes

Do it as controlledly and smoothly as you can, and the speed/accuracy will come naturally with familiarity from repetition and smooth correctness of operation. It will become more automatic.

I do try to focus on technique and stay loose but I keep getting encouraged to throw faster and it's throwing me off. I find I can throw the punches faster, smoother, and more technical in sparring because I'm just in complete control of what I'm gonna do.

I like your whack-a-mole line btw haha, thanks for your help.

 

[KootenayKid]

Pad holding is an important skill too. I can feel like a demon when one person is holding the pads well and then like an absolute gumby when someone else holds the pads.

So true, my two different coaches have contradicting styles when they hold pads.

 

[biscuitsbrah]

I like to hit pads slow until I get the form down very good. Nothing worse than sloppy form while going as fast as you can.

You wouldn't do an armbar as fast and as sloppy as you can, you would actually go really slow until the movement is into your brain and muscle.

 

[wilddeuces]

It's easy for me to overthink and when the pads come up so quickly I stutter and throw punches (hooks especially) with bad form. It just feels really unnatural to be so regimented. I lose a lot of confidence after I've hit the pads.

When I spar though, I feel like I throw with good form and I just feel so much more loose.

I've done pads a lot and I just can't get the hang of it, anyone else have this problem?

Thanks for any insight.

There's some videos on YouTube where a coach will pop the pads up and you shadowbox to that. It might work.

 

[KootenayKid]

There's some videos on YouTube where a coach will pop the pads up and you shadowbox to that. It might work.

Ok thanks, that could be helpful.

 

[fluffball]

Are you improvising on the pads or doing called combos? If improvising, try throwing combos you have pre-practiced extensively. Spend some time alone on a bag doing 1-3-2-3 or something just nonstop, then use it on the pads later. Eventually you'll have enough "notes" to combine or splice together combos and make a "song", and it will all feel familiar.

 

[Fire of Youth]

Eventually you'll have enough "notes" to combine or splice together combos and make a "song", and it will all feel familiar.

That is quite beautiful

 

[Mr Mojo Lane]

TS, what you are talking about is better than the polar opposite. It is better to be on the extreme that you are on even though a lot of people will not say that.