Holding sticks at the ends?

[pabster]

Hi,

From all instructional videos I've seen so far, it always seems to be recommended that you hold the drum sticks at the balance point, so they kind of "see saw" easily on your pointer finger and rebound very easily without much resistance. So that's what I've always followed.

However I was just watching a video someone posted on here of themselves doing a drum solo and he was SO incredibly fast, yet he was holding his sticks at the ends (I didn't see the sticks hanging out the back of his hands as he played). He was way faster than I currently am and I don't seem to be gaining much speed over recent months holding sticks at the balance points. Makes me wonder if holding the sticks at the ends is an optional technique that I can try to gain more speed? Just curious what other think about this.

Thanks!

[Panopticon]

which video was it?

[LittlePound]

i normaly hold mine without about and inch sticking out of the end (back of my hands) at most....do what's comfortable as long as you're not ridiculously far up (or so far back you can't control em) you should be fine

[crazyguy832]

I do freestroke and, therefore, absolutely require the balance point.

It's the most comfortable way of playing, anyways, that I've found...

[aznriceball]

was it dennis chambers? he has incredible control over his sticks. to me it seems that he holds the sticks that way in spite of the balance point being possibly better..?

[tapioca]

we just recently had a thread, dealing about it. the grip seems to be called "African Grip": http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=434080
there isn't much info about it in the thread though, unfortunately.

[styler]

he might of had them farther back because that might be where the fulcrum on his pair of sticks is. also it doesnt matter, ive seen lots of players do it both ways, generally with heavier sticks they find a fulcrum though as the weight can be dangerous on your hands.

[J0llyhunter]

oh, was it the video of nate on drummerworld? his grip looks horrible to me.

[Massik Kretal]

However I was just watching a video someone posted on here of themselves doing a drum solo and he was SO incredibly fast

Oh that was just me :p

[andy]

I tried holding them at the ends, its alright, but it tires my wrists.

[moogoogaipan]

I've always been taught that showing your "butt" is bad.

[Josiah]

I've always been taught that showing your "butt" is bad.


Man there must be some whack teachers out there...


You know guys, this isn't very difficult here. Lets take the top drummers in the world, we'll assume they know what they are doing.. Vinne, Weckl, Lang, Freese, that'll do.

Go find pictures of them playing...


...


Gooddness! Will ya look at that, every single one of them has a portion of the stick coming out the back of their hand(s)!

Lesson learned? Despite what anyone can say or do, simply observing what the best do (since we can!) makes for one of the greatest learning resources.

[Loser]

I've always been taught that showing your "butt" is bad.


As Josiah said, whack teachers.

I don't understand why they would tell you this. This a very inefficient way of holding a stick when it comes to rebound, unless there's some sort of weight in the back. It would also cause you to grip tighter because there's more stick to move left and right as you play, and tighter grip would be required in order to prevent that, which would cause less freedom and more possible hand injuries.