That is kind of the same thought with baseball players putting weight on their bats before stepping up to the plate. I've heard it both ways with baseball players. I always felt that it loosened me up and got me ready but I've heard other guys say that taking swings with a heavier bat will throw off your timing.

Another thing to think of is the possiblity of a tendonitis developing. I've had several drummers as patients who develop tendonitis in their wrist and elbows. Heavier sticks could cause you to tighten your grip more to hold on which could lead to tendonitis.

As the the weight analogy. I've seen it both ways with weights as well. People wanting to always go up and up with lifting weights to get stronger. Some people continue to work their form and see a greater benefit from the increased weights but I've seen people who's only goal is to lift 1 more pound and their form goes out the window. With using a lighter weight and really focusing on form and technique you can make big gains with a lower risk of injury.

Throw them out.

Use wood parade sticks for work-outs. The metal transfers the impact from each stroke/blow directly into the small bones in your hands. The heavier wood sticks will serve the purpose without the added impact related stress to the hands and wrists.

Oh, and NEVER use them on your cymbals!

Just two cents worth of 'opinion'.

John

I used to practice my snare work with marching sticks, thinking that it would make me faster with regular sticks... All it did was throw off my muscle memory and i was playing like i'd never played the rudiment at all! I like to always play with the same size every time. but, try it out! may work for you, just not for me!

I was thinking purely for a practice pad, I used them a little while a very long time ago but I don't remember much about it. I guess I will just stick with wood sticks and maybe get a pair of marching sticks.

Does anyone think there is any rudiments I should work on more than others? I know most of you are fairly experienced in this.

I've always thought the single and double stroke rolls, paradiddle, and flams were the most fundamental. Most of the rest involve some part of them.

Flam! Flam! Flam!!

I use Power Wrist Builders in a few different sizes/weights to retrain my hands now and then. I know they're sold on ebay, but don't let that deter you in case you think that's a shady place to sell products. They've been around since at least the '80s.

Bermuda

Wood sticks. I practice with what I use. Speed and dexterity come with repetition.

My rudiments are rudimentary at best, but there are some things that simply can't be done without a working knowledge of paradiddles.

Learning and Playing rudiments has nothing to do with strength. The majority of playing is in your head (cranium, not a drum head). Using something heavier will just wear your arms out when your head wants to keep going.

Tan