New baby bp-advice on heating

So I brought my new little girl home this evening and set her up with an overhead lamp, but as I've been reading, it seems that these dry out the ball pythons too quickly and undertank heating pads have been recommended. One site said that a piece of plywood is necessary to go between the heating pad and the furniture the tank is on. Is the plywood necessary? And what is your opinion on the heating pad v. lamp source?

No, plywood isn't necessary.

I prefer UTH because the belly heat helps them to digest their prey and it doesn't dry out the enclosure.

Ok, thanks! How much of the tank bottom do you usually want to heat with the heating pad?

My enclosure is about 12"x24". I have a strip of 4" flexwatt heat tape running the entire 24" length. So roughly 1/3 of my area is heated by the UTH. You may find you need more or less. The most important thing is allowing the BP to choose between cool, warm, or in-between (a temperature gradient).