WFD Fastest Hands Record Holder Tom Grosset

[tomgrosset]

Hey everyone,

Check out the new WFD video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QXdZcnOT3Hk

Thanks,
Tom

[Ben Tormey]

Impressive stick heights when compared to Mangini's WFD record, although perhaps he was just being conservative in his attempt.

[mattsmith]

Impressive stick heights when compared to Mangini's WFD record, although perhaps he was just being conservative in his attempt.

Absolutely no way would Mangini play it conservative---never happen!

When it comes to a Drumometer run, Tom is right there with Mangini, with real stick heights and there's no qualifiers attached to that. Anybody who knows Mangini knows that he is the most intensely competitive person in WFD. He is very serious about being the world's fastest drummer. And although we all respect him, and he has been very supportive of his younger competitors--- and is a good guy, don't think he hasn't been thinking about what Tom has done.

Great video and long over due.

[GetAgrippa]

Cool video! Great sport and what speed. The only complaint-I would have kissed the girl rather than just shaked her hand. Dang dude what were you thinking!!! Congrats.

[Ironcobra]

I was watching the news recently and apparently there is someone even faster from New Brunswick or something. I'll have to check it out. But that was a fast run, I would of had a muscle seizure 5 seconds in.

[mind_drummer]

Congrats Tom or should I say Tommy Gun !

We have in the same thread two WFD champions :-)

[aydee]

Congratulations, Tommy, good going. So is the burn in the upper forearms? saw you rubbing them down after the first run..

[mattsmith]

I was watching the news recently and apparently there is someone even faster from New Brunswick or something. I'll have to check it out. But that was a fast run, I would of had a muscle seizure 5 seconds in.

That's Mike Machine who competes both hands and feet, and has most of the feet world records. And although his hands are pretty incredible he's not a world record holder with them. His feet however are beyond all reason.

An official record has to come from an official WFD event or a television program. If there was some little event off to the side, the record still wouldn't count because no one would be there to officially verify what happened. But we would certainly know about that, especially if there was another world record holder possibility in New Brunswick since Mike's there, and that person would be invited to an official event to do his thing. That's also why these rogue videos that are all over youtube are interesting but unofficial. WFD has to approve the equipment, while the limbs and the Drumometer have to be seen. Besides doing it at home isn't the same as in public. I've beaten Mangini's traditional grip record 100 times at home, but you can guarantee that Mangini's gonna say Do it in public or no record. And he would be right.

See, most times on these videos, some guy thinks he's killin' when those of us who know all about the behavior of Drumometers can see it giving 3 counts to 1 strike. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the Drumometer itself, but there is often a problem with an old worn sensor. WFD also gives specific instructions about how to muffle a bass drum properly with a Drumometer connection because not doing so will make the counter go crazy. That's why you see these guys who go to a Sam Ashe and will do a bass drum WFD run and destroy world records. What's really happened is the machine has been beat senseless and the drum was never muffled. Of course you can't explain that to somebody who think he just did a big thing, and that makes some real uncomfortable moments happen for the WFD officials in Nashville. That's why somebody who knows what they're doing has to be watching to make sure everything is legit.

[tomgrosset]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Congratulations, Tommy, good going. So is the burn in the upper forearms? saw you rubbing them down after the first run..

No, I hardly felt any burn in the forearms. It's something I do to make my forearms relax. I saw Johnny Rabb do it to Mike Mangini one time before he did one of his runs so I took the idea from that. As you know, I was really prepared for this competition. I did every thing I could to train for this event, because it's not something you can do without having some type of routine. I was doing so many runs that day it was ridiculous and the craziest part about it was that I was always hitting above the 1100 mark with almost every run I was doing. I remember they were trying to close the NAMM convention when I reached 1194, but they kept pushing me to try and pass the 1200 mark. lol

[DogBreath]

Great job, Tom. That is amazing technique.

[jay norem]

I did every thing I could to train for this event, because it's not something you can do without having some type of routine. I was doing so many runs that day it was ridiculous and the craziest part about it was that I was always hitting above the 1100 mark with almost every run I was doing. I remember they were trying to close the NAMM convention when I reached 1194, but they kept pushing me to try and pass the 1200 mark. lol

I'm wondering where music fits in to all of this.

[aydee]

I'm wondering where music fits in to all of this.

It doesn't. This they do for fun. Tom also plays in a jazz band ( as does Math Smith ).

[tomgrosset]

I'm wondering where music fits in to all of this.

It fits right here.
http://www.myspace.com/tgrosset

[rendezvous_drummer]

Rocky's old opponent Tommy the Gun is going to have something to say about your name!

Congratulations man

[mattsmith]

I'm wondering where music fits in to all of this.

Jay there are 1000 posts on this forum that answer that question in infinite detail, and were fairly discussed and/or debated, including how there is no great speed demon who knows only this, doesn't listen to or apply real music, or can't groove.

Absolutely no need to wonder about a harmless sport born from the enhancement of the most basic of practice exercises.

Tom's video here is merely one of the greatest percussive technical displays outside the realm of music ever recorded, as performed by one of our friends on this forum.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Actually Aydee said this with proper simplicity, but I know that you come from a jazz forum, so I thought you might enjoy the buildup /just kidding man/. Have I told you how much I enjoy your music on Myspace?

[foursticks]

Tom Grosset aka 'Tommy Gun' - Classic, lol.

You've got some scary hands man - I hope you treat them well.

[Jeff Almeyda]

Tom, You have the best single stroke roll that I have ever seen. Just ferocious.

It looks as if you hit 229 after 10 seconds on one run. I believe that beats Art Verdi's 10 second record by quite a bit. Am I correct?

[Lance69]

Hey everyone,

Check out the new WFD video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QXdZcnOT3Hk

Thanks,
Tom

Thats very impressive! And I really like your songs on myspace. Great job!

[tomgrosset]

Tom, You have the best single stroke roll that I have ever seen. Just ferocious.

It looks as if you hit 229 after 10 seconds on one run. I believe that beats Art Verdi's 10 second record by quite a bit. Am I correct?

Thanks Jeff.

Yeah, I'm not sure what Art's record is for sure, but I think I beat it.