I'm whipped by my whip

[daveybabes]

My new drum tutor has me doing the accent on single paradiddles using a moeller whip to really get that accent out, now my fingers and wrists/arms and finger joints are a little painfull, is that normal?

i was ok b4 and hitting them for months in normal fashion. Been practising this whip at home with tightish grip but now able to loosen the grip but now aches and shooting pains could drumming give you repetitive strain injury?

[baz2]

Probably, but that sounds like a good teacher. My teacher is just teaching me like beats and stuff, I think I need to ask him to learn a lot of rudiments.

[daveybabes]

Repetitive strain injury and drumming ?

Probably, but that sounds like a good teacher. My teacher is just teaching me like beats and stuff, I think I need to ask him to learn a lot of rudiments.

Rudiments and stickings are V important in drumming

[SuperPuss]

Dave, you know a title such as you've created here is going to get my attention, don't you?!

[daveybabes]

I knew it ha ha

Can u send me one of those as a nurse for my sore wrists?

But do i really wanna get "tied down" in another relationship? ha ha let me think ... ... ... go on then.

[SuperPuss]

I knew it ha ha

Can u send me one of those as a nurse for my sore wrists? ........

Sure thing.... just send me a plane ticket (business class) from Aus to UK and I'll be right over in my PVC to nurse your wounds

[daveybabes]

Business class for you and the kit? i better crack open a new credit card he he mmm what a yummy thought SP in nursey gear.

SP you are good with muscles yeah? erm what i mean is ...

I'm getting intermittent shooting pain in 3 finger joints and aches in wrist, forearm, could it be impact from the new whipping action? it comes and goes ... i know u know a little about whipping motions x

[SuperPuss]

Hmmm.... the kit would be a major undertaking to transport!!!!
I'll have to do it sooner or later though. I am planning touring with it!

Back on topic though... your pains sound to me like nerve issues. If you can reduce the whip or change the angle, you could avoid bigger problems down the track. Nerve damage can take a long time to heal and, if left unchecked and continually aggravated, it can become chronic and lead to things like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which you DON'T want!
Have a chat to your instructor about it and see if you can incorporate your previous style, which didn't cause you pain, back into your technique.
Whatever you do, I would avoid trying to 'play through' this. The last thing you want is to create a problem you could no doubt easily avoid.
I am not a doctor or a neurological specialist but I am a qualified personal trainer and I would not be ignoring this sort of pain. It is your body telling you it requires attention to avoid potential problems.

[PumaPhreak]

Well put SP

[daveybabes]

Thanks SP, i will reduce my whipping motion from pronounced to minimal as i've seen on some youtube vids. Or even just leave it completely ...

Health comes first and i've just seen Colin Woolway (founder of drumsense) doing paradiddles on vid quite well with not a whip in sight.

[Shorty]

You sound like you have the same tutor as me Davey. He is big on rudiments and uses moeller a lot as well. Big accents and dynamics. The moeller whip takes some effort to get right but already I have started finding my whole technique has improved massively from it. Do you do any form of workout/gym? I have found that working out and building body mass has helped me tremendously with muscle strength and flexibility.

[daveybabes]

You sound like you have the same tutor as me Davey. He is big on rudiments and uses moeller a lot as well. Big accents and dynamics. The moeller whip takes some effort to get right but already I have started finding my whole technique has improved massively from it. Do you do any form of workout/gym? I have found that working out and building body mass has helped me tremendously with muscle strength and flexibility.

Hi, i have come up with a few plans,

I had re-arranged the whole kit last week adding a tom and i think everything was at the wrong angle, the hi hat was way out and i was straining an outward arc like shape with my arm and elbow to get a hit, i've brought everything in now ergonomically so i'm shooting with my arms at the side and a 45 degree bend in the elbow, everything is in reach now.

I've gone back to the basic up and down wrist motion for now and will try and work in moeller whips slowly and less pronounced with a loose grip, derek pope and dave wreckl vids on youtube tell us that it can be a subtle thing too with practise, no need for snapping the wrist and arm back too much. I was realy whacking and snapping it with that huge arc in my elbow too ha ha

It's a wonder my arm didn't fall off

I'm gonna exercise my arms too, i cycle so my legs are fine.

Lets see what happens, my right hand feels better today

Thanks for your advice too, it's good info.

[SuperPuss]

Sounds great Dave

Keep in mind when you start exercising your arms, don't go overboard. Build up gradually. Your muscles need time to recover between workouts and the more intensely you train, the more recovery you'll need.
Moderation is the key. That will enable you to build up strength without the recovery process eating into your drumming. Remember that drumming is exercise too

[Shorty]

Hi, i have come up with a few plans,

I had re-arranged the whole kit last week adding a tom and i think everything was at the wrong angle, the hi hat was way out and i was straining an outward arc like shape with my arm and elbow to get a hit, i've brought everything in now ergonomically so i'm shooting with my arms at the side and a 45 degree bend in the elbow, everything is in reach now.

I've gone back to the basic up and down wrist motion for now and will try and work in moeller whips slowly and less pronounced with a loose grip, derek pope and dave wreckl vids on youtube tell us that it can be a subtle thing too with practise, no need for snapping the wrist and arm back too much. I was realy whacking and snapping it with that huge arc in my elbow too ha ha

It's a wonder my arm didn't fall off

I'm gonna exercise my arms too, i cycle so my legs are fine.

Lets see what happens, my right hand feels better today

Thanks for your advice too, it's good info.

I think kit setup is vitally important! I had all my drums way too close to each other and was getting uncomfortable. I now have them more spaced out and I have moved the throne further away from the kit overall. I think a big part is how far away you are. This allows your whole body to stretch a little and use your reach properly

My tutor is teaching me the whip technique but he says it's over pronounced to understand the differentation. Once I have it nailed, I can reduce how much arc and so on because my instinct will be to naturally whip without so much travel.. thus achieving the same effect with less effort.

Exercise your arms if you can. Build up the strength in your arms. Remember stretches as well. You don't need the strength in your arms for power (unless you want to be heavy hitter). The reason for exercising is to stamina and stability. When working out lifting free weights, you may target a specific muscle (bicep for example) but the others around it are stabilising and taking work. So building general arm/shoulder muscle strength helps your body cope with the demands of drumming. I am sure SuperPuss could a lot to say on that subject. I personally think that personal fitness & strength are very important to really pushing your drum skills, it's body and mind grasshopper

['lectric drumma]

Speaking of working out... Super Puss, small question for you... what's you opinion on this: http://www.bayoufitness.com/Detail.bok?no=11

I know it's not this: (2nd one) http://www.bodysolid.com/Category.as...weight+Systems which I think is one of the best systems available (please correct me if I'm wrong!)

Thanks and sorry for hijacking the thread!


Stijn