What Are Focus Pads?
If you have recently gotten involved with the sport of boxing, you may have heard of focus pads and thought – “what are focus pads?”. Well, look no further, as we aim to cover all things relating to focus pads in this article.
So, what are focus pads?
Focus pads, or focus mitts, are cushioned targets used by boxers, martial arts fighters and athletes for training. Using a focus pad helps the person strike, punch, jab or kick with better accuracy. Practising with focus pads also helps replicate a fighting environment, as you get to simulate punches and blows directly to your partner standing in front of you.
Training with focus pads is an excellent form of exercise. It increases your heart rate, burns calories and makes your fighting faster and smoother.
Focus pads are usually made from leather or synthetic leather. The material is breathable and built with absorption technology, to take the shock out of all blows and kicks.
To use focus pads, you will need a partner to train with. Your partner inserts the focus pads on their hands and fastens them with a strap. They then hold the focus pads at the correct position, facing you. You will wear boxing gloves and start punching at these pads in your desired combination.
At Sports Maxx, we sell a variety of focus pads which are sure to elevate your training and secure your optimal speed. The gel-cushioned surfaces, padded construction, and durable leather finish ensure that our focus pads protect both training partners.
Our focus pads are lightweight, which means they provide better comfort and hold. The glove design on the reverse fits snugly and securely over the hand, providing excellent protection and airflow for the fingers.
Types of focus pads
Whether you want to spar, punch harder, or improve accuracy or speed, you can experiment with different focus pads to see which one works best.
Here are a few different kinds of focus pads:
Straight focus pad
These are flat, which creates a bigger surface area for punches, strikes and martial arts kicks. They are comfortable to wear and highly efficient at blocking punches. They are also easy to clean.
Curved focus pad
These are curved, which is amazing for training and sparring. The contoured design naturally fits the curve of the hand. This creates a sweet spot to help the boxer land more accurate blows.
Micro mitt focus pad
These are the smallest type of focus pads and are typically used by professional boxers and martial artists. They are more lightweight than other focus pads, so they are designed for precision striking.
Hybrid focus pad
These are a cross between kick pads and focus mitts. They are ideal for training in Muay Thai, as they can withstand the heavy punishments inflicted during the Thai boxing sport, such as punches, elbows, knees and kicks.
How to train with focus pads
If you are a beginner, follow these tips below on how to train safely with focus pads:
Always warm up before using focus pads, to prepare your body.
Make sure the focus pads are securely fastened on your hands. If the focus pads slip off while your partner is delivering blows, you could seriously injure your hand and arm.
Make sure the person punching the pads wears boxing gloves.
You and your partner should discuss what drills and combinations you will be practising on the pads. This is so that you can both visualise where the punches will land and what positions the focus pads need to be in.
It is really important that you and your partner are well synchronised so that you both have a good awareness of what is going on. You should both feel safe and completely at ease during the training session.
To make it easier, try measuring where the punch will land on the focus pad first, so you can both observe the distance from your hand to the pads.
Always use the same rhythm when hitting the focus pads.
Remember to stay well hydrated and take rest breaks if you or your partner get tired.
When holding focus pads:
The person holding the pads should have their elbows bent. Don’t hold the pads close to your face, as you could get punched in the face by accident. You also shouldn’t hold your arms too far apart, as you need to protect your shoulders.
Hold the focus pads still and firm. Offer some resistance when your partner delivers blows. This will help you calculate the efficiency of their shots.
Allow yourself plenty of space, so that you can move around or step backwards if you need to. You probably won’t just stand in one stationary position, as you will have to adjust your stance if your partner is moving around.
Additionally, allow your partner plenty of space as they are delivering blows. They will need a lot of space for their movement and footwork. Your partner could be leaning, ducking, dodging and weaving. They could also be turning their body around at different angles and delivering blows at different heights.
What should you not do when training with focus pads?
- Only hit the pads when both you and your partner are ready and prepared.
- Do not get distracted. Turning your eyes or head away from your partner, even for just seconds, could cause a serious injury.
- If you and your partner are beginners, try not to throw any surprise moves at your partner without telling them in advance. A nasty injury could occur if you accidentally hit your partner in the face or body because they were taken by surprise.
- Do not lean against a wall if you are holding focus pads for your partner to hit. You need room to take the impact of the blows, and you may need to alternate the position of your arms and body accordingly.
Benefits of focus pads
Accuracy and precision
Using focus pads as a target helps improve your aim and your hand-eye coordination. It also improves your reflexes and helps you become lighter on your feet. With frequent practice, the punches will flow more naturally and rhythmically.
Better punching power
A stronger punch makes for a better boxing performance. The more you practice hitting a focus pad, the easier it will be for you to put more force into your punches.
Repeatedly hitting a focus pad also builds muscle memory, so you will gain a better understanding of reach and range with every punch.
Improved speed and agility
Fast hands are crucial for boxing. So, training consistently with focus pads will help you learn to deliver punches in quick succession. It also trains you to become quicker at evading and deflecting blows.
Protection for the hands
The cushioned material of focus pads creates a barrier for the wearer’s hands and absorbs the shock of hard blows. This protects wrists and fingers from injuries.
You can get feedback from your partner and people who watch
The person holding the focus pads can provide feedback on your techniques, so you can identify areas for improvement. This lets you correct any issues (such as your form or stance), which will greatly enhance your overall experience.
Stimulates a live fight
Using focus pads with a partner helps you replicate the conditions of a boxing fight. Standing directly opposite your partner psychologically prepares you to face an opponent.
Focus pads also force you and your partner to move around, so you can mimic the movements you both would make in a match.
If you only train on a punchbag or boxing dummy, you might become lazy, because there is no competition element and no partner in front of you who can block your hits.
Tones the body
Boxing with focus pads improves your fitness and builds your physique, as it works your upper and lower body muscles. The most engaged muscles are the shoulders, arms, chest, back, core, glutes and legs.
This type of high-intensity training triggers muscle growth and burns off excess fat. Training with focus pads also builds endurance and stamina.
Using focus pads also toughens the hands, which is an added bonus.
Stress relief
Boxing is a healthy outlet for releasing stress and anger onto a punching pad. When you box, your body releases endorphins, the brain’s natural pain reliever, which creates a general feeling of well-being.
As you keep boxing and improving your confidence, you may also notice a boost in your mental health and self-esteem.
Are focus pads good for self-defence?
Absolutely. Boxing with focus pads helps unlock the sturdy defence. When you punch the pads, you are figuring out how to hit those targets. When you are holding the focus pads, you are gauging the momentum of hits and reacting quickly. So, focus pads help you develop the ability to establish and perceive strikes, and save yourself from counterstrikes.
We aimed to have covered all angles relating to “what are focus pads?” and hope that by reading through this article you now have now know, exactly, what are focus pads.
A family-run business established in 2000, Sports Maxx is the UK’s top boxing equipment supplier.
Find out more about Sports Maxx by visiting our website here.
To browse our collection of professional focus pads, visit our webpage here.
We sell a variety of products for your training needs, from boxing gloves, hand wraps and punch bags to Speedballs and protective gear.
