Methods To Prevent Dropping Sticks

[drummerdoug86]

What are some methods you guys/girls use to get a better grip on your sticks? I maybe drop my sticks 2 or 3 times during rehearsal and we have a gig coming up in the next week. What should I use? I've heard people use golf gloves, but I cannot afford those at the moment, as I have heard they are expensive. Have any of tried grip tape? Does that work ok? Or how about baseball batting gloves? Thanks for the feedback.

[zbert]

I have always taught that dropping sticks is more of a problem with grip and hand / wrist position. Just using grip gloves may be a band aid on a very large cut. My suggestion would be to have a teacher look at your grip and see if can be adjusted to allow you to not drop the sticks as much. One positive I always tell my students with this problem that it is better to have a loose grip and drop sticks than to have too tight of a grip and have no motion. Good luck.

[Axis]

i once got so pissed at my drummer for dropping his sticks every song i got out some duck tape and taped them to his hands, he didn't drop them again the whole reherseal

[SirPsychoSexy]

When I was starting out, I had problems with that.

There used to be this great product out there... I'm not sure what it's called anymore, but it was like a gauze-type tape, that was relatively tacky (meaning sticky).

I used to wrap a bit around the butt of my stick, and wrap a little around my thumb, index and middle finger.

Worked like a charm.

I've stopped dropping sticks since, but that stuff really helped me, at least for the time I needed it.

Hopethis helps you out, and I hope they still sell that stuff.

Chris

[Barometer]

I used to drop my sticks all the time (actually they'd more like go flying out of my hands and hit a cymbal on the way or something). It stopped when I got some instruction about my grip and my wrist and arm positions. I'm not a huge fan of gloves or tape, I play with 7A sticks and need all the feel I can get. Not everyone is into lessons, but even a few to get the opinion of an "expert" who can watch you can be valuable. My $.02, good luck!

[VOXVENDOR]

It's not always as easy as grip, and just holding onto them better...

Neil Peart still drops sticks.....


You get some sweat between your hand and a smooth laquered stick and say by by.... like explained above, tape is the best.... gaffers tape....

Joe

PS>Barometer.. I got you email.. Im gonna reply soon.... sorry for taking so long..

[Uladine]

Everybody drops sticks every once in a while. What you may want to invest in is one of those stick holders that clamp to a cymbal stand to where when you drop a stick you can grab one really fast. If you practice recovery enough you'll be able to drop sticks and grab a new one and keep playing and no one will even notice you dropped a stick in the first place. Trying to change your stick handling techniques in time for a gig in the next week may not be a good idea. You should be able to play the way youre comfortable with at least until the gig is over. Introducing a new technique that you aren't used to may take your focus off of your music and mess you up. A gig is not a time to adjust to something new.

[drummerdoug86]

Hey guys, thanks for the advice. I think I'm gonna go out and buy some grip tape.

[VOXVENDOR]

Originally posted by Uladine
Everybody drops sticks every once in a while. What you may want to invest in is one of those stick holders that clamp to a cymbal stand to where when you drop a stick you can grab one really fast. If you practice recovery enough you'll be able to drop sticks and grab a new one and keep playing and no one will even notice you dropped a stick in the first place. Trying to change your stick handling techniques in time for a gig in the next week may not be a good idea. You should be able to play the way youre comfortable with at least until the gig is over. Introducing a new technique that you aren't used to may take your focus off of your music and mess you up. A gig is not a time to adjust to something new.

Great Post Uladine!.

Very good points....

I am forced to remember one of the funniest drops I had.... The stick few out of my hand right when I was about to hit a crash and flew across the room in the direction of the bass players girlfriend.....

I told him I don't like visitors during rehearsals... that just put it in stone.!!!!!!!

Ahh just kidding,

Actually, shes cool, I don't mind her there... And it didn't hit her thank god.

Joe

[Barometer]

Absolutely true Uladine. Can't expect to never drop 'em and you have to be able to roll wit it. I keep my spares right next to my knee wrapped around my floor toom so I can grab a new one at any time.

no worries VOX, I was hoping I didn't scare you

[Salabim]

just keep a set of sticks on the kick drum or in a stick holder on your hats stand or something. Dont forget, it can look pretty cool if the drummer's stick goes flying and they still manage to keep their shit together!!

[mikeh]

I agree that we all may drop a stick on occasion - although it should not happen too often (I drop a stick mabe once out of every 20 or 30 gigs - and that happens when I catch the tip on a cymbal of something - it's actually more like it's knocked out of my hand).

Although just before a gig - is not a good time to explore a change in technique - if you drop sticks a couple of times a night there is something wrong with your technique. A good instructor may be able to identify the problem (after the gig).

If the problem has to do with sweat, there are several possible solutions - drummers gloves (not my personal choice) and grip tape (which does work well) are certainly two options.

However what has not been mentioned are three other options. Some companies (Zildjian is one) make sticks with a "rubber" wrap on the butt of the stick. Also some companies (Promark being one) make "natural" sticks which don't have varnish on them.

Lastly, and this is something we "oldtimers" were doing long before stick wrap and drummers gloves were around - you simply sand off the varnish from the butt of the stick - just enough to return it to the "natural" finish.

But bottom line - the real problem must be your grip!!!