Ankle or thigh for bass drum pedal

[ellie]

I see drummers using both methods to play their base drum...as a newby which is recommended? Many thanks

[BrewBillfold]

Originally Posted by ellie

I see drummers using both methods to play their base drum...as a newby which is recommended? Many thanks

I tend to keep my heel down on my right leg and my heel up on my left leg. I don't know why. That's just the way I naturally did it as a little kid and it stuck.

[Pocket-full-of-gold]

I use a little of both. Predominantly ankle and calf, but there is certainly movement in my thigh and hip flexor muscles as well.

I find it too tiresome if the majority of the motion is coming from the thigh/hip though.

[blakeman8192]

For double bass, I use both.

I always play heel-up, but I catch and work with the rebound with my ankles and provide some downward force with my leg. It's a little bit of both, but it's mainly ankle with heel up.

Hope that makes some sense, haha.
Just ask if you need clarification.