Would you guys consider......

[toat.toat.taot]

practicing all of the essential rudiments on a pillow for 30 minutes a day a sufficient hand work-out?

[jalel]

While a pillow is good at strengthening your muscles, an essential part of drumming is rebound control. You need to get used to how the sticks bounce and train your hands to react accordingly. Use the pillow, but don't limit yourself to it when it comes to working your hands.

[LoneStarDrummer]

agreed

i think even only 10-15 mins would be sufficient

[toat.toat.taot]

So do you think I should spend more time on the pillow doing rolls and rudiments, or on a pad?

[Loser]

So do you think I should spend more time on the pillow doing rolls and rudiments, or on a pad?

pad.

[Schism666]

Go with the pad.
Helps a great deal with control and dynamics

[EdBanger]

If you can stick with that, doing it every day, major improvements in your playing.

[Zildjian]

Doing a little both would be the best...15 min on a pillow, 15 min on a pad, 30 min on the set...It will improve ure playing tons

[jalel]

It also depends on how you practice. Half-*** it when you practice and see how far you get.....

[HEEEL]

I would say it'd be better to do only a few of the rudiments per day and split it all up over a week or so for best results. Perhaps 5 minutes of a rudiment on a pillow first, then move it onto the practice pad for a further 5-10 minutes. It's a generic reply, but also invest in Stick Control, now THAT will be a sufficient hand workout over 30 minutes.

[Brokensticks]

Use the pad, and possibly buy heavier sticks for pad practise.

[Aaron]

10 mins pillow, 20 mins pad, 30 mins kit is a good quicky workout.