Ankle/wrist weights. Does anyone use them. I was thinking about it and wonder if it would help with the feet or hands at all, but it seems like after taking them off there might be a problem with control or too much power(?) Plus it might be a serious strain especially on the wrists.
Any ideas?
Think about what muscles are actually being worked if you use wrist and ankle weights.
Wrist - the weight it strapped around your wrist, so the muscles being worked are the muscles that flex the elbow: biceps brachii, brachioradialis, brachialis. Now there is some benefit in conditioning those muscle because of the physical nature of drumming, but they won't improve the muscles of the forearm and fingers that we use to manipulate the sticks.
Ankle - the weight is strapped to the ankle, so the muscles that are being worked are (for the most part) the hip flexors.The hip flexors in this case are raising the upper leg (concentric contraction) and work to lower the leg under control (eccentric contraction). We do use a lot of leg action for the bass drum and hi-hat, but I think that regular practice is more that enough condition those muscles for drumming. The muscles that do the lion's share of the work are the posterior and anterior lower leg muscles: calf muscles, anterior tibialis and the peronials.
More importantly, by using the wrist and akle weights the potential for creating muscle imbalances increase tremedously and will put a lot of stress on the the elbows, shoulders, hips and low back.
Having a well rounded strength and condition program will be more than enough to help manage the phyical requirements of drumming.
Patiently and diligently practicing will improve the finer muscles we use for drumming.
I hope this helps.
-r