[Chrispb7]

Oh wow I didn't think I would get this much help..

Thanks a lot everyone!

[slingerland59]

When I was scanning some of the related YouTube clips I was surprised at how many drummers hold their sticks at the biggest knuckle joint of their pointer finger, rather than at the small one at the tip of the finger. JoJo Mayer for example was going fast and was sticking his pointer finger out to the side beyond his thumb.

I guess Shazaam is right that you've got to try out every technique to see if it works for you. I hold the sticks at the small knuckle joint because then I can comfortably propel the sticks with the tips of my other three fingers. If I hold them at the bigger joint then my hand is all cramped up and I can't move the fingers well.

I move my three fingers as a unit against the sticks. After reading Shazaam's comment I wonder if it would make sense to roll the sticks with separate finger action...hmmm...it's worth a try.

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

While you are relaxing and breathing naturally as you do your single stroke roll, you could also just observe your rolling rather than trying to speed it up. Observe your rolling for awhile, and then just ask it for more speed. LET it happen, don't force it to happen.

[Thegrinder]

Acheiving a fast roll is just practice. helpful hints would be to push with your back fingers. Also, drumming is like weightlifting, it builds muscle, so breathe!

[chaser334]

The Finger technique your were talking about where he bounces the stick with his back fingures is called the "flying fingers technique" . Spikeydrummer on youtube has a very good video on this technique, he wears a tigger suit lol, check him out. But I wouldnt suggest that for fast singles only for blast beats because your hands dont move much around the kit during those. That technique probably wont work with fast rolls around the toms and what not, instead for that i just say practice practice practice. Take your max BPM of playing straight singles with a metronome and record it every week, then you can see the improvement as you go along. Right now im about 200 bpm with my singles and im shooting for at least 230 by next month, set some goals and work hard, youll be there in no time.

[butter]

Flying fingers can be applied across the set. Check out drummers like Derek Roddy. This guy uses his fingers, probably mostly for blasting, but also for rolls. He says that he switches from fingers to wrists when one gets tired, so he can go about as fast either way.
I would say develop your wrists unless you are interested in blasting.

Anybody ever check out the World's Fastest Drummer competitions? Mike Mangini used to hold 5 of the records, but I believe he has 2 now. If I remember correctly, his single stroke roll count for one minute was 1,124 strokes. That record has been broken now, but not by much. He also had one for traditional grip and most strokes with hands in a minute.
If you have ever seen this guy play, it's really inspiring when he taps out some 200bpms on one hand, or does a perfect snare roll while wiping his face of sweat

I think there is a member here who holds a record, Matt Smith? He was like 14 when he broke a record or something. Crazy.