If the brakes are in fact setup properly (impossible to tell over the internet) then yes, in most cases better pads will help a lot.

Some questions to make sure they're setup right:
- Do the brake levers bottom out against the handlebars?
- Do the brake levers return to their original position immediately after letting go?
- Does it feel like there's a lot of friction in the system before the pads actually hit the rims?