heavier or lighter sticks for sore wrists?

[lovemysonors]

I've had some sore wrists and am wondering if using heavier sticks (ie. 5A) are better than using lighter ones (ie. 8D).

Which is better, using a heavier stick so you don't have to hit so hard or using a lighter one that's easier to lift repetitively but needs more force for harder hitting?

[superbatmat]

Play with sticks you are confortable with !!! 5A, 7A or 5B !

[LayinDown]

I've had some sore wrists and am wondering if using heavier sticks (ie. 5A) are better than using lighter ones (ie. 8D).

Which is better, using a heavier stick so you don't have to hit so hard or using a lighter one that's easier to lift repetitively but needs more force for harder hitting?

How 'bout something in between?

[lochday]

I have the impression that we gets accustomed to the kind of sticks we use. For a long time I couldn't stand sticks lighter than 5A. I felt awkward everytime I used 7A or other light sticks. I would play with Tony Williams's sticks (how big!) or Steve Smith 's sig sticks (very good). Now it has all reversed since I started to play with Elvin Jones 's sticks. They are light and thin and I feel awkward when I go back to heavier sticks. I Finally I now like both, heavy ones for the big sound and the light ones for jazz and work on the cymbals. I think that, unless we really feel uncomfortable with a given kind of stick, we should stick to the a kind of sticks (heavy or whatever) we use for long enough so as to fully experiment with what we can do with this particular stick. Only in the long run can we decide what we like best.
Just my 2 cents experience with sticks. Stick to it!

[bonzolead]

you just have to find what stick you are most comfortable with.it also depends on what style of music you're playing maybe that might be a factor?

Bonzolead

[Casper "DrPowerStroke" Paludan]

I've had some sore wrists and am wondering if using heavier sticks (ie. 5A) are better than using lighter ones (ie. 8D).

Which is better, using a heavier stick so you don't have to hit so hard or using a lighter one that's easier to lift repetitively but needs more force for harder hitting?

Stick size has nothing, I repeat, nothing to do with sore wrists. You need to learn the proper technique. Research the "free stroke" and the Moeller technique, just by practicing free strokes you will heal your wrist. DPS

[bonzolead]

Stick size has nothing, I repeat, nothing to do with sore wrists. You need to learn the proper technique. Research the "free stroke" and the Moeller technique, just by practicing free strokes you will heal your wrist. DPS

OK I repeat OK LOL,

Bonzolead

[Casper "DrPowerStroke" Paludan]

OK I repeat OK LOL,

Bonzolead

Well, you know, it's health related, so a sense of urgency is appropriate, I think. But it sounds a little like Fox News, I concede....

[bonzolead]

Well, you know, it's health related, so a sense of urgency is appropriate, I think. But it sounds a little like Fox News, I concede....

Hey that's cool I was just kidding afterall drums are the most physical instrument.

Bonzolead

[Salicete]

Try a pair of Ahead sticks. They transfer much less vibration from the stick to your wrists.

I keep a few pairs around for those time that my own wrists get sore; they always do the trick.

[k3ng]

I'm with DPS on this. No stick should give you wrist pain if you've got the proper technique. However, I do encourage people to try every kind of stick they can get their hands on. And then settle for one you really like.

[lstardrums]

are 5a's or 5b's really considered heavy? i always considered them medium weight.

[texdrumr]

Make sure that your sore wrists are not a sign of carpal tunnel or anything like that. Playing on extremely solid surfaces (concrete, Falams I marching heads) with improper technique can damage your joints in your wrists for a long, long time. If you're smacking the damn out of your cranked snare head, your sticks may be the least of your worries.

However if that's not the case, I would think a heavier stick with less initial motion might be better.

[UPSTROKE]

The people that are telling you to look beyond stick size are the ones giving you the good advice. Stick size will not affect squat. Find a drummer that you respect and ask him to check out the way you are holding the sticks and what you may be doing wrong. Learning on our own has this one little pitfall. It is very easy to develop a bad habit. If we don't check with another drummer once in a while we won't know it is there until it jumps up and bites us. This is particularly true when it comes to grip. It's very easy to do one little thing wrong and not know it. Please check it out with someone you know. How can you lose?? Not.

[Drumms]

Zildjian makes anti-vibe sticks that have a thing built inside that absorbs some vibrations. Those sticks are not durable (I have a pair), but they do the job.

PS: I don't really know if those vibrations are responsible for any wrist pain, though.

[h3r3tic]

I used to play with 7A's and found out that It was a fragile stick for metal. Later I changed to 5B's which were quite ok but I was still not satisfied until I tried out the 2B'S and even today I still use 2B sticks. They're more heavier, the feel is excelent, more durable than the 5's and the 7's and I find it better to play softer music or heavier music.

And about those Ahead drumsticks... When I went to Canada, I was so curious about these stiicks, so I got a pair of Joey Jordison's signature models and I have to say that it was THE WORST DRUMSTICK I have ever played with...

Yes it does kill 50% of the vibration, but how can you rebound that sticks as if you were playing with a wooden ones. That's just my opinion