The 8 Best Drum Sticks of 2024

At first glance, drumsticks may just seem like the simplest thing ever. But upon further research, you may find yourself a bit… overwhelmed, to say the least. 5A or 5B drumsticks? Teardrop or acorn tip? Long or short taper? What does this all mean?

Well, fret not — I put together a quick list of the eight best drumstick brands and models for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players. From jazz-oriented sticks to metal-ready bangers, rest assured you’ll find something that fits your exact needs.

My top pick is the Promark Rebound 5A: a versatile pair of drumsticks that are expressive, reliable, and just feel right. Forget about endlessly going through different sizes and brands to find the perfect taper — these things have got you covered.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Choosing the Right Drum Sticks

Drumsticks are almost as much an instrument as the rest of the drums. Sizes, materials, tip shapes, and tapers are some of the basic stuff you should consider when buying a new pair — but things can get pretty complicated.

If you’re a beginner or an intermediate player and aren’t quite sure about what you’re after, then this will help you find some basic pointers.

Materials

The material out of which a specific pair of drumsticks is made can have a great impact on your overall sound and playing style. 

Wooden sticks (usually made out of either maple, hickory, or birch) are the best for most types of players. Durable, versatile, and easy on the wrists, most beginner drummers will want to start here — and, more specifically, with hickory (which is denser than other woods).

Metal sticks (usually aluminum), on the other hand, are designed to be pretty much indestructible. However, that comes at the cost of a less expressive sound, and can even lead to extra stress in your wrists and arms.

Sizes and Dimensions

Thickness may just be the most defining aspect of any drumstick. It’s usually divided into just one number: the lower the number, the thicker the drumstick. A letter is also added for some more precise measurements.

For example, a 5A drumstick (0.565 in.) will be a bit slimmer than a 5B stick (0.565 in.) — but a 2B (0.630 in.) will be much, much thicker! If you don’t know where to start, a 5A is considered to be the golden standard for beginner drumsticks.

The length isn’t as standardized, but most sticks will be around 16 inches, with the more “experimental” ones reaching either 15 or 17 inches.

The Top 8 Drum Sticks

1. Best Overall – Promark Rebound 5A

The Promark Rebound drumsticks are a no-brainer for pretty much any drummer looking for reliable sticks that are not only built to last — but also just feel right.

Specs:

• Material: Hickory
• Tip: Wood acorn
• Size: 5A

Promark has earned quite a name for itself in the drumming world — and for a good reason. Innovation is its top priority, and its now famous Rebound sticks may just be the perfect example of that.

Made entirely out of hickory, the Rebound sticks are designed to feel good. Their weight was carefully balanced to improve bounciness, and the materials feel smooth and polished without leaving behind that “rustic” touch.

But the true magic of these boils down to the long taper, which makes the Rebounds feel low-end heavy in the best of ways. The tip itself is acorn-shaped and made out of wood, ensuring you won’t leave any annoying residues in your cymbals. 

And I didn’t even get to the best part: the Rebound Balance sticks incorporate the latest Promark ActiveGrip technology. This makes it so the materials react to your body temperature to enhance your grip — making the Promark Rebounds a perfect choice for gigging musicians.

All in all, the Promark Rebound 5A may just be the best 5A drumsticks in the market right now. If you love responsive sticks with a nice bounce and reliable build quality, then you just can’t go wrong with these ones.

2. Best for Tight Budgets – Innovative Percussion IP-L5A

The Innovative Percussion IP-L5As are the best cheap drumsticks in the market, making them a perfect choice for drummers who want a reliable pair for gigging and jamming.

Specs:

• Material: Hickory
• Tip: Wood teardrop
• Size: 5A

Innovative Percussion is on a quest to create the most versatile and accessible sticks out there — and the IP-L5A may just be their best testament to that mission.

Modest, affordable, and yet deeply precise, the IP-L5As offer a perfect blend of durability and controlled response thanks to their exceptional balance. The medium taper makes for a profound control over dynamics and bounce, and the teardrop tip adds that classic, timeless touch.

Whether you’re looking to play the smoothest of jazzes or the heaviest of metals, these just won’t disappoint. The lacquer finish is subtle — but enough to ensure these won’t come flying off your hands during that two-bar, triplet-heavy fill.

Of course, these are also made out of hickory, but they somehow feel even more sturdy than most other sticks on this list. The weight distribution is just way too balanced, and the incredible control these provide over the dynamics ensures you won’t be breaking them anytime soon.

No matter if you’re a veteran drummer or a beginner enthusiast, we all need a pair of reliable, fail-safe sticks in our bags. And, when it comes to that, the Innovative Percussion IP-L5As just don’t disappoint. 

3. Best for Heavy-Hitters – Ahead Maxx Series

The Ahead Maxx Series sticks are nothing short of immortal, as the aluminum core is designed to satisfy the most aggressive of metal drummers.

Specs:

• Material: Aluminum with polyurethane
• Tip: Nylon oval
• Size: 5A

Ahead is redefining the game with its Maxx Series drumsticks, designed for (and by) heavy-hitting drummers who value durability above all else. There’s nothing more frustrating than breaking a pair of sticks mid-show — and the team at Ahead knows it.

Packing an all-aluminum core covered with a polyurethane sleeve, these things can take a serious beating. However, the oval tip is made out of nylon, which allows you to also go soft on those cymbals without sacrificing sound quality and expressiveness.

But what truly sets the Maxx sticks apart is the included Vibration Reduction System, which neutralizes up to 50% of the shock a wooden stick would take. Naturally, this also makes for a more pronounced rebound — which always comes in handy.

But I get it: getting used to non-wooden sticks can take a while. But the Maxx Series makes it worth it, as there’s just no way of realistically breaking these unless you’ve been using the same pair for years and years on end.

Coming in at $34.99, these are quite a statement. Yet, any experienced heavy-hitter will know that investing in a pair of (nearly) indestructible sticks is a must — and even more so if you’re a gigging musician.

4. Best for Snare-Heavy Drummers – Vic Firth Jake Nissly Signature

The Vic Firth’s Jake Nissly Signature sticks are the ultimate sticks for any experienced drummer looking for absolute balance and control — even if it comes at a high price.

Specs:

• Material: Birch
• Tip: Wood round
• Size: 16.75 inches (length), 0.625 inches (diameter)

Vic Firth’s Jake Nissly Signature sticks are the closest you can get to a true Swiss Army knife of high-end drumming tools. Precision, finesse, and control are the name of the game here — along with unmatched durability and a deluxe feel.

Made out of top-notch birch and packing a long taper, these are made to handle any kind of drum and playing style like a breeze. The round tip, however, was specifically designed to make your snare studio-ready, capturing each and every articulation and nuance in your playing.

Whether you’re a marching drummer, an orchestral percussionist, or simply a jazz drummer with a special place for rudiments and ghost notes, it doesn’t get better than this. At $35,99, though, the Vic Firth’s Jake Nissly Signature sticks are not for the faint-hearted.

5. Best for Electronic Drums – Zildjian Hickory Anti-Vibe

The Zildjian Hickory Anti-Vibe sticks are specifically designed to eliminate the artificial feel of e-drums while retaining all the expressiveness of normal drumsticks.

Specs:

• Material: Hickory
• Tip: Wood oval
• Size: 5A

As their name states, the Zildjian Hickory Anti-Vibe sticks are specifically designed to reduce vibration — making them, by far, the best drum sticks for electronic drums. Offering maximum comfort and precision, these are just unbeatable when it comes to long practice sessions.

The anti-vibration technology was designed in collaboration with Sims Vibration Laboratory — which is, as you may’ve guessed, an authority on the topic. E-drum pads can often have a not-so-nice feel to them, but these sticks will make you feel like you’re hitting the sweet spot each and every time.

Maybe the only downside of the Zildjian Hickory Anti-Vibes is that they aren’t all that good on acoustic kits. However, they are versatile enough to get you out of a hurry — and there’s certainly no better choice if you only plan on playing e-drums.

6. Best for Jazz – Vic Firth American Classic 8D

The Vic Firth American Classic 8Ds are an affordable way to level up your jazz skills, providing deep control over your articulations and nuances.

Specs:

• Material: Hickory
• Tip: Nylon teardrop
• Size: 8D

Vic Firth has been the go-to brand for many jazzists — and for several reasons. Yet, the American Classic 8Ds are after one thing, and one thing only: articulation above all else. Made out of premium hickory, these things are built to give you maximum control over all your nuanced details.

The medium taper, standard reach, and teardrop nylon tip all work together to seamlessly blend ghost notes, rudiments, flams, and pretty much any other subtlety you can imagine. The resulting sound is warm and deeply expressive, with an emphasis on that sweet, sweet snare work.

At just $9,99, there’s no going wrong with the Vic Firth American Classic 8Ds. Although these may not be as durable as other options, they are sure to last you a long time if you’re as careful in your playing as jazz requires you to be.

7. Best for Metal – Vater American Hickory 2B

The American Hickory 2Bs are a great choice for any metal drummer who wants nothing else besides power, volume, and a reliable pair of sticks that won’t snap out of nowhere.

Specs:

• Material: Hickory
• Tip: Wood oval
• Size: 2B

Vater’s American Hickory 2B sticks manage to blend together three crucial aspects for metal drummers: durability, power, and just sheer volume. The 2B format implies a thicker diameter and a much heavier weight than usual — resulting in thunderous beats and unstoppable fills.

These things are as resilient as they look, and it’s hard to think of a drummer who would be able to snap these just by playing. The short taper also collaborates in making these sticks feel powerful by loading a fair share of weight on the front end.

Of course, the Vater’s American Hickory 2B drumsticks may sacrifice a bit of expressiveness in favor of volume and power. But let’s be honest here: can we really complain about that while we’re blasting a non-stop 170-bpm beat?

8. Best for Experimental Players – Innovative Percussion FS-2M

The Innovative Percussion FS-2Ms are the perfect way to elevate your playing style by incorporating a multi-stick into your arsenal — but at a high price point.

Specs:

• Material: White hickory
• Tip: Wood reverse teardrop and felt mallet
• Size: 17 inches (length) and 0.698 inches (diameter)

Innovative Percussion’s FS-2M drumsticks were originally designed for orchestras and marching bands, but they can be quite a hidden gem for drumset players. And this is due to one thing only: its innovative multi-stick format.

Packing a reverse teardrop tip on one end and a mallet head on the other, these beauties allow you to seamlessly transition between your usual beats to more atmospheric and cinematic soundscapes. The weight distribution is balanced with this in mind, and the premium hickory makes these feel just right.

Naturally, at $34,99, the FS-2Ms are a serious investment, and they may not be the best for beginners. But if you already have your fair share of experience under your belt, then these are a fantastic way to spice up your playing.