wow.....Thanks for the replies.....lol. In what ways do you use them? Do you use them in line drills (such as one person takes a turn, then goes to the end of the line so the next person gets a shot)? Have you used them in partner drills were one karateka holds the pads and you drill techniques for a few minutes at a time, much like boxers or kickboxers? Do you generally go full contact when you hit the pads, or do you use them simply to give you a target to strike? Do you practice hands, feet, elbows, and knees? Sorry to bombard you guys with questions....lol