[dizzy90405]

I honestly don't know why everyone thinks that drumming barefoot is the best except for the minor set back of sweating and slippage... I've been playing drums for 8 years now and i played in socks for 7 of those years. It's not till I got into a good band and and started playing in shoes that I started making huge strides with my playing ability. I felt like when I played in socks or barefoot, that I had hit a wall and couldnt get around it. My foot speed was alright, but it was nothing special. It wasn't till i started playing in a pair of new balance running shoes that my foot speed nearly doubled in speed and it was way more consistent with hits. If someone ever asked me whats the thing thats been most helpful in my drumming, I would have to say hands down the discovery of playing in shoes.

Also about your comment about running shoes not being bendable, I think thats a matter of opinion. The shoes that i use are more than flexable enough for my double bass and I feel like if I were to use a tennis shoe like you suggest( and it felt like i was playing in bare feet) I wouldnt like it. I like the feeling of weight on my feet.