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To the untrained eye, all drumsticks are just pieces of wood. But a professional will tell you theyāre full of nuances, from the tip shape to the finishing coat. So, you canāt pick one arbitrarily and hope for the best. To make the choice easier for you, weāve rounded up five of the best drum sticks and created an in-depth review of their performance and overall feel.
Included in this guide:
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Vic Firth American Classic 5A Drum Sticks
| 4.8 | Check Price |
Runner-up  | On-Stage Hickory Drumsticks - 5A
| 4.8 | Check Price |
Top Pick  | ProMark Hickory Drumsticks - 5A
| 4.7 | Check Price |
Top Pick  | Avedis Zildjian Company 7A DIP Drumsticks
| 4.7 | Check Price |
Lowest Price  | WOGOD 5A Drum Stricks Maple Drumsticks
| 4.7 | Check Price |
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All sticks in the American Classic line from Vic Firth feature a traditional feel and well-balanced performance. The line includes everything from Extreme 8Ds to 1As. However, the 5A model is often considered the starting point. With a medium taper, it creates a balanced trade-off between speed and power.
On-Stage sells model HW5A as a brick of 12 pairs. Each of those 24 sticks is made with hickory thatās been air-kiln-dried, sanded, and sealed. Unfortunately, the company doesnāt designate a specific taper length or tip shape. However, the sticks look to be acorn or tear-drop-shaped.
ProMarkās Rebound line-up includes FireGrain options. Yet, the kiln-dried hickory model remains a popular pick, for its classic feel. This drumstick features a reinvented acorn tip to increase contact, creating a fuller, warmer sound with more articulation. The long taper also provides more agility and finesse. That said, if power and speed are your priorities, this stick might not be ideal and youāll need to consider the Forward line-up instead.
With rounded wooden tips and relatively thin bodies, these Acedis Zildjian sticks would work well for lighter jazz sounds. You would get a stronger cymbal ping and extra bounce from the nylon tips, though. Either way, the Dip series sticks have a medium, balanced taper.
On the other end of the stick, you have a black coating thatās a bit tacky to the touch. This tackiness can help reduce slippage, even if you tend to have sweaty hands. Odds are, the stickiness will feel weird at first, but youāll get used to it quickly.
The WOGOD 2-pair set is a great entry-level pick. Rather than the standard hickory wood body, these sticks are made with naturally air-dried maple, which is relatively lighter and easier on the wrists. The sticks have a smooth and comfortable feel great for any drummer.
If aesthetics are a priority for you, you might be interested in the black version of the WOGOD stick. Itās also made with air-dried maple wood and features a drop-shaped (wooden but not black) tip. But itās more expensive and only available as a single pair. Plus, the black coating might rub off with use.
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Yes! The head shape can make all the difference since itās where the contact with the drumās surface happens. As a general rule, the more contact, the warmer and fuller the tone. So, the popular drop-shaped tip is typically good for rich, dark tones.
Acorns, too, create fat sounds. Meanwhile, the ball head delivers articulate and well-defined pings. Thereās also the loud, punchy barrel shape and the mid-range oval that balances acorn and ball sounds.
It ultimately depends on your preference and music style. Compared to wood, the nylon tip is brighter, more articulate, and more consistent. Itās also relatively robust. That said, nylon wonāt deliver the classic tone of wood-tipped sticks.
To reduce slippage, you could wrap some grip tape over the stick or just slather some tacky drumstick wax. Some people also use textured heat-shrinking sleeves. Alternatively, you could just get a model with an anti-slip coating, like the ones in the Avedis Zildjian Dip series.
The 5A size is a balanced pickānot too thick/heavy but also not too thin/lightweight. If this is your first drum kit, start there and see if you need to go for something heavier, like a 5B, or slimmer, like a 7A. Itās also worth noting that 7As are generally good for softer styles and jazz.
Signature sticks are designed to fit the exact specs that a particular drummer prefers. This doesnāt necessarily mean theyāll be a good fit for your hands and playing style. They can be nice to collect, though!
Vic Firthās hickory stick, with a tear-drop tip and a medium tapper, is a classic and quite versatile pick. That said, the costs will add up if you go through sticks quickly. In that case, you might want to consider the On-Stage 12-pair kit. For those who are just starting or are on a particularly tight budget, the lightweight WOGOD two-pair set is still a reliable option.
Ultimately, weād recommend trying out a couple of shapes and sizes first. Thankfully, the sticks are often cheap, so you wonāt have to splurge!
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