The drumstick slips! Recommended anti-slip protection and what to do when the stick slips out of your hand

Your hands are dry and the drumstick slips out of your hand. Drumsticks slip even if you sweat.
It is a common problem for all drummers that the drumstick slips out of their hands completely.
In this article, I will discuss what to do when the drumstick slips in your hand, recommended anti-slip protection, and what to do when the drumstick slips out of your hand.

First of all, understanding the state where the drumstick slips in your hand

〇 Dry hands

A symptom that suddenly appears when you get older, dry hands.
To put it simply, a dry hand is a dry hand that allows the drumstick to slip.
When shopping at a supermarket, you cannot open plastic shopping bags because they slip under your dry fingers, so it can be said that one foot (one hand?) is already stuck in the dry hand syndrome.

△ Which sticks are compatible with dry hands?
The best drumstick for dry hands is one with a lacquer finish.
The lacquer makes it easier for friction to occur, making the stick less slippery from dry hands.

△ Sticks that are not compatible with dry hands
Sticks that are incompatible with dry hands are those with a natural finish and a smooth wooden surface.

〇 Sweat (a lot of hand sweat)

Hand sweat is related to all age groups. Everyone sweats, so ...
Drummers get a lot of exercise, so even if they aren't sweaty, they always suffer from slipping drumsticks due to sweat.

In addition, hand sweat may be caused not only by the sweat that flows out due to exercise, but also by the tension before the live performance. Therefore, the problem of the drumstick slipping due to the sweat of the hand is a common problem for all drummers.

△ Sticks that are compatible with sweaty hand
Stick that do not slip easily even if you sweat have a natural finish.
Since it is not finished with lacquer, the wood absorbs sweat, making it hard to slip even if you sweat.
However, it should be noted that absorbing a large amount of sweat leads to deterioration of the wood and also reduces the anti-slip effect.

△ Sticks that are incompatible with sweaty hands
On the other hand, sticks that are incompatible with sweaty hands are lacquered sticks.
Since it has a varnish-like surface, your sweat will not be absorbed and will instead be repelled, leaving a lot of sweat on the surface.
Therefore, the more you sweat, the more slippery the stick becomes.

Is the only way to prevent the drumstick from slipping to change the stick?

Changing the drumstick, that is, using a stick made of a material that matches your stick slippage symptoms, can eliminate the problem to some extent.

A stick manufacturer that you allows you to personally feel the grip is VIC FIRTH.
In particular, sticks with VIC grip specifications will alleviate the symptoms of slipping sticks.

But that's not the only way to solve the stick-slip issues.

I will explain below,

• Drumstick wax
• Grip tape
• Drummer Gloves

These can further reduce stick slippage. But it's not just about choosing. You have to choose the one that suits the cause of your stick slippage.

Anti-slip with drumstick wax

〇 Advantages of stick wax

The advantage of drumstick wax is that it is cheap and the size is large, so it can be used for dozens of practices and live performances. In addition to that, it is easy to attain the anti-slip effect just by applying it to the sticks.

For example, "The stick broke in the studio ..." In such a case, if you carry a stick wax with you, if you can buy a new stick in a hurry, you can just apply the wax and make it the usual non-slip stick anytime, anywhere.

Even in an emergency, I am very grateful to be able to make the stick the same as what I usually use.

〇 Disadvantages of stick wax

The disadvantage of stick wax is that it is not possible to make sticks completely non-slip.

If you sweat a little or have a dry hand, you can get a certain amount of anti-slip effect. However, with extreme sweating, the amount of sweat exceeds may cause the wax to lose its anti-slip effects.

Therefore, stick wax can be said to be an item that can be recommended for those with a "relatively light case of stick slippage". By the way, stick wax also has the disadvantage that the grip part of the stick gets dirty.

〇 The recommended drumstick wax "Gorilla Snot"

The recommended stick wax is GORILLA SNOT.

This wax is suitable for both dry and sweaty hands and is recommended for everyone. It can also be used as a slip protection for guitar picks, so it is also recommended for drummers and guitarists.

It can be used dozens of times, and the cost performance is quite good at this price. The non-slip feeling of Gorilla Snot is not that the stick does not slip, but that the grip power naturally increases.

Rest assured that it's Gorilla Snot, and it doesn't make double strokes difficult.

Tape with anti-slip effect

〇 Advantages of non-slip tape

Personally, I use tape to prevent the stick from slipping.

The reason is that in addition to providing a strong grip, the taped part is soft and fits the hand well. While providing a non-slip effect, even if the grip force is softer than usual, the elasticity of the tape fits the hand, making stick control easier.

Moreover, the elasticity of the tape is gentle on the skin of the hand, so it does not hurt.

In addition, the tape absorbs sweat even when you are sweating, and the grip of the tape works even with dry skin, so it is recommended for most people.

Stick non-slip tape is also compatible with all types of sticks. In the case of drum gloves, which will be described later, they also go well with any sticks...

〇 Disadvantages of non-slip tape

However, non-slip tape also has its disadvantages.
The first thing to mention is that it is annoying. When the tape gets old, the tape on each stick must be replaced one by one. This is a lot of work.

Also, if the song has a fast tempo, the grip part tends to wear out.

〇 Recommended stick non-slip tape "TG-1"

Of course, the best-known stick non-slip tape is PEARL / TG-1。

I also use this grip tape.

I use AHEAD metal sticks, so I the tape for its "shock mitigation" and "slip protection".

By the way, Taiko player Gachi also uses this grip tape. Stick anti-slip tape and PEARL / TG-1 can provide a natural, maximum anti-slip effect.

The price is also very cheap per piece. However, it is gets old quickly, so it is not recommended for people who do not want to waste time winding.

Anti-slip with drum gloves

〇 Advantages of drum gloves

The biggest merit of gloves is that they are easy to put on. Once on, the symptom of stick slipping can be eliminated immediately.

In addition, because they cover the entire hand, it is possible to suppress sweat on the entire hand. It also guards from the sweat that comes from your wrist. By guarding the back of your hand and the sweat on your palm, you can keep your grip until the end of the live performance.

Also, I think they’re much more durable than the tape type.

〇 Disadvantages of drum gloves

There are quite a few disadvantages to gloves.

• You get sweaty
• Trying to find gloves that fit
• Incompatibility with some sticks

The disadvantages of drum gloves that I think are the above three points.

They absorb all the sweat from your hands, so if you leave them lying around without washing them, they will smell ridiculously. The odor can cause the tension to drop during the performance.

You may also not be able to find a glove that fits your hand. They’re either too big, or too small and your joints may be stiffer than you expected ... The problem arises that it is difficult to choose a pair at a good price.

On top of that, don't forget that they’re surprisingly compatible with some sticks, while others may slip.

They’re all different.

It is better to choose gloves at a brick & mortar shop. For repeat purchases, we recommend using Sound House, where you can get the cheapest drum goods.

The stick slipped completely out of my hand! In such a case, prepare a spare stick

No matter how much you take measures against the slipping of drumstick, the stick may slip completely out of your hand due to an accident. You may have sweated more than usual and the stick wax effect wore off, or you neglected to change the tape and your hand slipped. It's also common for the drumstick to get caught on a cymbal.

Therefore, it is necessary to prepare multiple drumsticks, as well as anti-slip measures. Basically, install your stick case to the floor tom and prepare a spare stick. This is all you need.

Various troubles may occur with drumsticks. Therefore, it is necessary not only to prevent the drumstick from slipping, but also to consider measures in case they do slip.

You should be prepared to expect all kinds of troubles in practice and during live performances.

The standard stick case is the TAMA's "STB10" stick case.。

Set this on the floor tom so that you don’t have to stop playing after your drumstick slips out of your hand.