[dtxtremeiiispecial]

Tradition . . . torments my heart

Tradition . . . keeps us apart

Tradition . . . why bother me?

[xxvenom13xx]

Tradition wants to annoy you.

[Cymbals & Snares]

Traditional grip sucks Ass period. I was originally taught that way, I hated it. My first teacher gave me the story about soldiers 300 years ago blah, blah, blah. That was then. Matched grip is a much more natural way to hold the sticks. When a 2 or 3 year old is banging on pots with some wooden spoons have you ever seen even one hold the spoons with the traditional grip ? As soon as I could I switched to matched grip. To me it's just more comfortable and natural way of holding/playing the sticks. But to each his own, if traditional grip is how you play that's fine by me. What ever you want to do is kewl. T

[heather112069]

Wow, I had NO idea it was like "Ford or Chevy"!

I play with a traditions grip (French and German). I started out playing matched grip but was never really comfortable with it. I switched to a traditional grip and was much more comfortable.
My opinion is that a drummer should have a grip that helps them to perform their very best. For most people that is going to be a matched grip. I personally am a pocket player and not really into a lot of flash that requires a great range of movement. A traditional grip is perfect for me.

[tamajama]

Noticed a local drummer using Trad Grip. He had this neat technique; after hitting the snare w. left hand, he'd whip his hand up to hit his crash from underneath. Looked like it beats having to come all the way up and above the cymbal, then stroking down.
Tried Trad Grip for awhile, finally went back to Matched when it seemed I'd just never get the same power w. left hand.

tamajama

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

Saw JR Robinson play at the Chicago Drum Show last weekend. He was pretty much a matched grip player, but he used traditional every now and then as it suited him. Best of both worlds.

[sabian akbar 1]

I play faster and cleaner using traditional grip plus to me its more fun. Its Never bothers my rist and i dont feel like im limited. I also feel that music aside traditional grip itself is a great art.

[coltsdrummerboy21]

I started of learning matched grip from my drum teacher and when I joined marching band, I played bass my first two years. I saw the snares and they played with trad. and I ended up using some of it in my drum kit. Idk, I was fine with it from the start, but I wasn't used to the mobility of that grip so I went back. My senior year of hs, I was on snare and was blessed to have an awesome instructor who brought some of his friends that taught me proper ways to hold traditional grip and after that, I became obsessed with Trad. To do sometimes go back to match just to keep the skill, but I in the traditional grip club.

[coltsdrummerboy21]

I have notice many people saying that traditional grip movement is not a natural way, but how do people open a door? they TWIST the door handle. That is the same freaking movement with traditional grip. So how is not natural when hands can twist in the first place!!!

[Larry Burns]

I can't prove you wrong. Both are good. When I first started playing in grade school for school band, we were taught "traditional grip" and I basically stayed that way for the past 50 years. Although I have used "matched grip" for different reasons from time to time, but I'm still basically a traditional grip drummer. I've always felt more comfortable using traditional grip, but I know a lot of drummers who feel better using matched grip, I don't think it matters all that much. It also may depend on the drum you're using, I've never seen "kettle drum or steel drum" players use traditional grip.