Boxing focus mitts and Thai pads
Focus mitts, Thai pads, kick shields and paddles: every striking target for coaches and partners
The essentials: every striking target for partner and club training. From single focus mitts to genuine leather pairs, Thai pads and kick shields for kicks, and Taekwondo paddles sold in sets of two. Two materials: PU leather for regular use, genuine leather for intensive work. Everlast and the in-house Esprit Boxe range. Sold singly or in pairs depending on the model. Real stock, fast worldwide shipping.
The focus mitt is the coach's working tool. It turns solitary bag work into a genuine technical dialogue: the holder presents the target, sets the rhythm, simulates counters, and corrects the boxer's accuracy, speed and timing in real time.
Choosing the right kit comes down to three criteria: the techniques being worked (hands only, or feet and knees), the intensity of use (occasional partner or full-time club) and the conditioning you are after. To go further, our complete guide to focus mitts covers the drills, the holding mistakes to avoid and the buying criteria. Still hesitating on your discipline? The guide on which combat sport to choose helps you decide before you buy.
🥊 The types of striking target
Genuine leather focus mitts. The top of the range, for coaches running back-to-back sessions. Genuine leather takes the repeated abrasion of gloves without splitting, where an entry-level covering eventually cracks over the impact zone. Three models: the Esprit Boxe mitts with a plain face, the Gold Edition with a centre target, and the round mitts in a compact disc format, hand-made.
Mitts sold in pairs. The core of the range in PU leather, supplied two at a time. The Deluxe mitts come in 4 colours with a centre target, the Everlast have EverCool ventilation, and the fluorescent yellow go for maximum visibility.
Mitts with a design. For anyone who wants character in the gym and on camera: Satanas with a gold demon mask, Killer with blood-red splatter, King in black and white and the Snake with a serpent head.
Single mitts. To start out, complete a set or replace a damaged mitt without paying for a whole pair: the red and black with a centre target, the black and red with a lightning design, the black and gold with calligraphy. The Elite adds a concentric target in 4 colours, and the fluorescent green a full mesh vent. Finally, the black and white model can be ordered singly or in a pair, your choice: it is the highest-rated in the collection.
Thai pads and kick shields. As soon as feet and knees come into play, a focus mitt is not enough. The 38 cm Thai pad straps to the forearm and offers 10 cm of high-density padding to absorb low and middle kicks. The 25 cm round kick shield in genuine leather, held by two handles, takes the heaviest strikes while staying manageable.
Taekwondo paddles.Striking paddles — also called clappers — are held by a handle and produce a sharp crack on every clean impact. A formidable teaching cue for kick work, especially with children. Sets of 2, in 3 colours.
📊 Which kit for which technique?
The first criterion is neither price nor colour: it is what you want to train. A fully-equipped club usually owns all three families.
| Equipment | How it is held | Techniques |
|---|---|---|
| Focus mitt | Worn on the hand | Punches: jab, cross, hook, uppercut |
| Round focus mitt | Worn on the hand | Speed and fine accuracy |
| Thai pad | Strapped to the forearm | Kicks and knees |
| Kick shield | Two handles, one or two hands | Heavy strikes, power work |
| Paddle | By a handle | Kicks, height and reaction |
🎯 Printed target or plain face?
A detail that changes how you train. Three configurations exist in the collection:
- Plain face: the boxer reads the position of the mitt rather than a drawn marker, which is closer to real fighting conditions. The classic format for coach work.
- Centre target: a contrasting disc gives a precise point to aim at. It corrects fist alignment on the jab and the cross, and lets you check at a glance where the impact landed. Very effective with beginners.
- Concentric target: rings converging on a centre. Unlike a simple aiming point, this structure lets you measure the deviation and put numbers on progress from session to session.
🧱 Genuine leather or PU leather?
- Genuine leather: withstands the repeated abrasion of gloves without cracking or distorting. That is the deciding factor for a coach running several sessions a week.
- PU leather: synthetic, supple, lighter and easier to clean. Perfect for regular use, a training partner or kitting out a gym on a controlled budget.
Our advice: on a focus mitt the quality of the padding counts as much as the shell. Injection moulding or high-density foam absorbs the shock wave before it reaches the holder's wrist — that is what prevents elbow and shoulder pain at the end of a session.
🥋 Holding a focus mitt properly
The equipment is not everything: how you hold it determines the holder's safety and the boxer's progress.
- Wrist locked, elbow bent: never fully extend the arm as the punch lands.
- Meet the impact: move the target slightly into the punch rather than absorbing it passively — the energy dissipates better.
- Short combinations: 3 to 5 punches beat long approximate series.
- Simulated counters: send a mitt back towards the boxer to force them to keep their guard and slip.
- Always with gloves: pad work is done with hand wraps and boxing gloves, generally 10 to 14 oz.
🧼 Care and lifespan
- Wipe the surface with a dry or barely damp cloth after every session.
- Air the mesh panels and let them dry at room temperature, never on a radiator.
- Avoid the washing machine and immersion, which harden and crack leather.
- On laced models, check the tension of the lacing around the edge periodically.
- Never store mitts damp at the bottom of a closed bag.
📦 The Esprit Boxe way
Ordering with us means dealing with a team that trains: real stock (every model shown is ready to ship), free standard shipping, fast dispatch and expert advice to match the kit to your practice. We supply individuals, clubs and gyms across Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Australia. Kitting out a club? Write to info@esprit-boxe.com.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between focus mitts and Thai pads?
Focus mitts are small and worn on the hand: they are for punch work, accuracy and speed. Thai pads are longer and thicker, strap to the forearm and absorb the kicks and knees of Muay Thai and MMA. Many clubs own both.
Are focus mitts sold singly or in pairs?
It depends on the model, and it is stated on every product page. Entry-level models are generally sold individually, which lets you replace a damaged mitt or build a pair in two colours. Higher ranges are supplied as a pair, so 2 pieces. Thai pads and kick shields are sold individually.
Do I need one focus mitt or two?
Two, as soon as you work combinations. A single mitt limits the boxer to one arm and stops the coach simulating counters, which are the essence of the drill. A single mitt is still useful for targeted work on one punch, or to replace a damaged piece of an existing pair.
How long do focus mitts last?
It depends on intensity and material. In PU leather with partner use, generally one to two seasons. In genuine leather with daily club use, several years. The failure point is almost never the shell but the padding: once the foam has packed down in the centre and no longer springs back, the mitt passes shock into the holder's wrist and must be replaced.
Genuine leather or PU leather: which should I choose?
Genuine leather resists the repeated abrasion of gloves better: the choice for a coach running several sessions a week. PU leather, lighter and more affordable, is perfectly suited to a training partner or regular use. In both cases, check the quality of the inner padding too.
Do I need gloves to hit focus mitts?
Yes, always. Pad work is done with hand wraps and boxing gloves, generally 10 to 14 oz. Punching bare-handed exposes the joints, even against a padded target.
What is the printed centre target for?
It gives the boxer a precise point to aim at rather than a surface. That marker corrects fist alignment on straight punches and lets the coach see immediately where the impact landed. Concentric-ring models go further by letting you measure the deviation.
Which kit should I choose for Muay Thai and MMA?
For punch work, focus mitts suit every discipline. As soon as you work kicks and knees you need a Thai pad strapped to the forearm or a kick shield: their thickness absorbs impacts a focus mitt could not take.
Which striking targets suit children?
Taekwondo paddles are ideal: light, safe, and their audible crack makes the drill fun while giving the child a clear cue. For punch work, a focus mitt with a contrasting centre target helps beginners align their punch correctly.
How do I care for focus mitts?
Wipe the surface with a dry or barely damp cloth after every session, air the mesh panels and let them dry at room temperature. Avoid the washing machine, immersion and direct heat, which harden and crack leather.
🛒 The Esprit Boxe world
- boxing gloves — essential for hitting the mitts.
- hand wraps — worn under the gloves to protect the joints.
- punching bags — for solo work, alongside the mitts.
- groin guards and body protection — belly pads and chest protectors, to protect the coach when the work moves to the body.
- boxing headgear — to move up to sparring safely.
- mouthguards — jaw and teeth protection.
- reflex balls — for hand-eye coordination without a partner.
- boxing rings — to equip your club or gym.
Need a broader view? See our boxing equipment guide.