Bo Eder
Platinum Member
Hey everybody!
Never thought I'd have to ask this question because I've always prided myself on being able to play whatever is given to me, equipment-wise (music-wise is another story...). However, have any of you been affected by the length of the drumstick you use?
On this new gig I'm involved with, the company supplies a ProMark 2S American Hickory drum stick. It's roughly 16 7/8" long. My regular stick I use to practice rudiments (an old pair of ProMark Oak 767 Billy Cobham sticks) are slightly thinner but only measure 15 7/8" long. Just an inch difference. But, I notice the balance point on the longer sticks (in order to get a comfortable rebound) puts my thumb and index finger somewhere near the center of the stick anyway, which really makes about 2" at the rear of the stick useless for what I need. When I let my hand slide towards the back of the stick, that 2S then begins to feel like a hammer and becomes very front heavy. This results in over-tightening the grip and forearms that feel rather "worked out" at the end of the gig.
When I use my regular-length sticks (all of my sticks are about the same length as the Cobhams - Vic Firth 5A, Vater Los Angeles) I don't experience the hammer feel or sore forearms.
You think the sticks are the culprits or am I doing something completely wrong? It'll be a while before I can use my own personal sticks on this gig so right now it's a theoretical exercise. But I plan on picking up a couple more pairs of these ProMark 767's for this gig and being ready for it. I've never experienced the hammer feel - it felt very wrong.
Thoughts?
Never thought I'd have to ask this question because I've always prided myself on being able to play whatever is given to me, equipment-wise (music-wise is another story...). However, have any of you been affected by the length of the drumstick you use?
On this new gig I'm involved with, the company supplies a ProMark 2S American Hickory drum stick. It's roughly 16 7/8" long. My regular stick I use to practice rudiments (an old pair of ProMark Oak 767 Billy Cobham sticks) are slightly thinner but only measure 15 7/8" long. Just an inch difference. But, I notice the balance point on the longer sticks (in order to get a comfortable rebound) puts my thumb and index finger somewhere near the center of the stick anyway, which really makes about 2" at the rear of the stick useless for what I need. When I let my hand slide towards the back of the stick, that 2S then begins to feel like a hammer and becomes very front heavy. This results in over-tightening the grip and forearms that feel rather "worked out" at the end of the gig.
When I use my regular-length sticks (all of my sticks are about the same length as the Cobhams - Vic Firth 5A, Vater Los Angeles) I don't experience the hammer feel or sore forearms.
You think the sticks are the culprits or am I doing something completely wrong? It'll be a while before I can use my own personal sticks on this gig so right now it's a theoretical exercise. But I plan on picking up a couple more pairs of these ProMark 767's for this gig and being ready for it. I've never experienced the hammer feel - it felt very wrong.
Thoughts?