You'd be correct in your observation, american and german (especially on the snare) grip, along with pounding 99% of the time is going to eventually do damage. No follow up, no chatter, no comment 'could' also mean he's not fully recovered, doesn't want to talk about it, that'd be my guess, he's probably playing in pain but doesn't want to shine any light on it. Everyone I know who got cut (surgery) is not the same, nor back to normal, sure it is the nature of surgery. One can understand 'better' as better than the worst effects, tho its never going to be normal (as it once was). A guitar player friend had the same hand surgery about two years ago. I txt'd him- Me- Hey, how long has it been since your CTS surgery and are you better, same, worse? He- Better, glad I got it. My wrists hurt continually. The left wrist surgery got rid of the CT numbness... but wrist pain is present. Definite improvement. Right hand still falls asleep at night but I can manage it. I've played STL sticks, they beat up your hands when playing hard. Not saying any stick won't, just that the size of STL's wreak havock easier/faster, they're very stiff, no flex, that kinetic energy has to go somewhere and i
I read this a few years ago. I always thought he held the sticks a bit more firmly than most, but at that level it's hard for me to question what a player is doing. I'm glad he's healed up and clearly his playing is no worse for wear. Not sure how traditional grip led to the problems with his right hand, which he says was worse than his left. But the main thing is he's recovered fully.
great player glad he’s recovered; as a drummer myself I haven’t fortunately had a problem with either trad or matched and I’m always working on relaxed grip; CTS is horrible for anyone but agree Thomas might be holding the sticks a little tighter than some others!