Drumsticks & Accessories

Drumsticks and Accessories

Choose a drumstick by grip, reach and balance

Use the sticks already in your bag as a reference. Measure the part you hold, compare how far you reach, then decide whether you want a different taper or tip.

Start with grip diameter

If your current grip feels too small, write down the diameter before looking at another brand’s model numbers. The American Classic 5A measures 0.565 inches. ProMark’s oak Attack 5A measures 0.551 inches. Both are 16 inches long, so those two listings illustrate why a shared size name is only a starting point.

Separate reach from thickness

When your stick fits your hand but the ride is just out of reach, compare length with diameter held steady. Vic Firth’s X5A adds half an inch while keeping the published 5A diameter. Think about where you usually hold the stick and whether the extra length helps at that position.

Read the taper

The taper is the narrowing toward the tip. Look at it alongside the wood and tip before making an assumption from diameter. ProMark gives its oak 5A a short taper and describes the balance as forward. Vic Firth lists a medium taper on the American Classic 5A. The two builds can suit different preferences even at the same length.

Check your purchase variant

For a replacement, match the exact model, tip material and pack quantity. A pair and a bundle may use similar names and photos. A nylon version can be a useful comparison if you want to change how notes come through on the cymbal while keeping familiar shaft measurements.

Source documentation

Guide questions

What measurement should I write down first?

Start with the diameter of the stick you hold now if grip is the problem. For reach, start with length and note where you hold the stick.

Does a larger number always give a thicker grip?

Use the maker’s dimensions instead of reading the code as a size scale. Compare shaft width and length separately.

What can I change if my cymbal definition is the only issue?

Start with a wood and nylon pair that share the same model geometry. Compare them on the same cymbal and playing spot.

Which accessory suits the job?

  1. Both American Classic models are 16 inches long. Compare the 0.565-inch 5A with the 0.595-inch 5B if you want more to hold without adding reach.

    Vic Firth American Classic 5A Wood Tip ↗Vic Firth American Classic 5B Wood Tip ↗

  2. At 16 inches each, the 0.565-inch hickory 5A and 0.551-inch oak Attack 5A let you compare grip width. The ProMark has a short taper and a documented forward balance.

    Vic Firth American Classic 5A Wood Tip ↗ProMark Classic Attack 5A Shira Kashi Oak ↗

  3. The 5A and 5AN share their published dimensions and medium taper. Choose the wood model for a familiar tip, or compare nylon for the brighter cymbal articulation Vic Firth describes.

    Vic Firth American Classic 5A Wood Tip ↗Vic Firth American Classic 5AN Nylon Tip ↗

  4. The oak PW727W is narrower and a quarter inch longer than the oak PW5AW. Both are listed with oval wood tips. Use grip width and length to separate the two.

    ProMark Classic Attack 5A Shira Kashi Oak ↗ProMark Classic Attack 727 Shira Kashi Oak ↗

  5. The 7AN is half an inch shorter and 0.025 inches narrower than the 5AN. Compare the 5AN if you need more reach with nylon.

    Vic Firth American Classic 5AN Nylon Tip ↗Vic Firth American Classic 7AN Nylon Tip ↗

  6. The Classic Forward 5A is 16 inches long with a 0.551-inch grip. The 7A is 15⅜ inches long with a 0.512-inch grip. Both listings supply four pairs, so match the shaft before ordering several pairs.

    ProMark Classic Forward 5A Hickory, Four Pairs ↗ProMark Classic Forward 7A Hickory, Four Pairs ↗

  7. The two Attack 5B models have the same published 0.590-inch grip, 16-inch length and short taper. Choose the PW5BW for wood and PW5BN for nylon.

    ProMark Classic Attack 5B Oak Wood Tip ↗ProMark Classic Attack 5B Oak Nylon Tip ↗

  8. The PW5AW and PW747W each have a 0.551-inch oak shaft. The PW747W adds a quarter inch of length. Compare it when grip already works and reach is the dimension you want to change.

    ProMark Classic Attack 5A Shira Kashi Oak ↗ProMark Neil Peart 747 Shira Kashi Oak ↗

  9. The hickory Fusion wood and nylon models share a 0.580-inch grip and a 16-inch length. Compare their tips on the same cymbal before changing stick size.

    Vater Hickory Fusion Wood Tip ↗Vater Hickory Fusion Nylon Tip ↗

Accessories in this guide

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