Jim’s critique of Seth’s Stick Technique — Fingers, Wrists, Arms.

Looks like things are coming along — some pointers for you.

From the elbow: your strokes are stopping at the bottom — the piston stroke should come straight back up before the other arm moves — even when playing from the elbows!! From the wrists and fingers your piston action is good.

Your left hand has the thumb slipped right under the stick shaft so there is no fulcrum there — even though from the elbow, the grip is more from the little finger, you still want the fulcrum there in position. You started with the little fingers ON the stick — try having them right round the stick. The stick ends up a little more sideways, but it’s ok from the elbow.

From the wrist: pretty good — the thumb could be a little more over the shaft of the stick, but it’s a small point.

From the fingers: you have got the idea pretty well and there is some rebound. You are still using the wrist a little here but there is a reason. Your fingers are pulling the stick but ALL THE WAY to the palm, a bit like a “finger snap”. As soon as you do this the energy you are giving the stick goes mostly into your palm rather than into the pad, so there will be less rebound if any.

Try bending the wrist downwards a little so the butt never reaches the palm. As well as this try making the finger action shorter — ie so your fingers are not still driving at the point of contact, but already on their way back out — this way they will not impede the rebound at the point of contact. It should feel like bouncing a basketball — the ball goes all the way to the ground, but your hand doesn’t!!

Overall it’s not bad — your angles and hand positions are all pretty much on the money — I suspect the left hand is having a few more problems with the fulcrum than the right?? Try the left hand strengthener from wrist and fingers.

Jim McCarthy