These sticks were recommended to me by a friend and they’re great for the venue I play: church. Hot Rods allow me to play with full strokes; I don’t have to hold back like I would with even the lightest regular sticks, yet I get a much reduced volume.

My muscle memory benefits and so does our congregation which has many people who don’t believe drums should be used in a church. By playing quietly, I have been able to add rhythm to our band and worship without being offensive and have actually won some people over.

The only downside to these sticks is that the small dowels used will splinter and break, especially when used agressively on the edges of cymbals, ie, hi-hats. But other than that, they’re hexagonal, have a non-slip grip and are easy to hold.

Great product. Pro Mark caught Vic Firth napping with these babies…

i have not tried several brands/models of bundled sticks. this review will help someone thinking about trying bundles sticks for the first time. if bundles sticks are your thing…well i’m not an aficionado.

these “sticks” are both longer and heavier then most traditional solid sticks. they are wider to grip (which i like) so you can use more of your hand.

they don’t rebound nearly as well as solid sticks. this has a few effects.

1) you can’t do rolls as well.
2) because they take their time getting off the head (dampening resonance)they are quieter. much quieter then solid sticks. this is why most people get them i think.
3) the stick attack is much more pronounced then with solid sticks.

they are also not nearly as durable as solids sticks. after enough rim shots and crashes the dowels break one by one. so if you are a heavy hitter bring extras. however, since most people are trying to take down the volume with these and hitting light, this is less of an issue.

even though they break easy, are less nimble, and cost more i still have to have a pair in my stick bag. they feel and sound very different then reg sticks. they are a good way to bring down volume without hitting softly. on some material i like the way they sound better then sticks.

These are a special effects stick good for playing super soft. Not a replacement for actual drum sticks. They work but break easily when played with aggression. Perfect for any music that does not require constant loud volumes. Used correctly they sound great and last a short time. So I am still looking for a perfect replacement for regular sticks.