Choose The Right HingeStix For Your Practice.
Each HingeStix model is designed for a specific practice goal. Whether you’re just starting out or refining advanced technique, the comparison below makes it easy to choose the right balance of control, endurance, and strength for your routine.
Service Name
The 5A HingeStix is the lightest model in the lineup, matching the grade, quality, and weight of standard Vic Firth and ProMark 5A drumsticks.
​
Designed for drummers who prefer a lightweight stick with a smaller diameter, it offers a familiar feel that translates easily from regular playing to focused practice.
​
The 5A HingeStix is ideal for developing control, touch, and consistency during daily practice sessions without added fatigue.
Service Name
The 5B HingeStix is the heavier model in the lineup, designed for drummers who prefer the larger diameter and added weight of traditional 5B drumsticks.
​
With a more pronounced bounce and rebound response, 5B sticks are often favored by beginner drummers working on stick control and foundational rudiments.
​
The 5B HingeStix is ideal for building muscle memory and developing consistent, controlled technique.
Service Name
The “French Grip” Thumbs Up HingeStix is a 5B-weighted drumstick, matching the size and weight of the standard 5B model, with a specialized hinge designed for thumbs-up playing - a technique commonly used by timpani players.
​
This design supports the thumbs-up (French grip) technique, which emphasizes finger control while minimizing excessive hand and wrist movement.
​
The Thumbs Up HingeStix is ideal for drummers focused on developing finger independence, precision, and refined control through targeted practice.
SHOP Drumsticks
WHAT ARE HINGESTIX?
​
HINGESTIX Practice Drumsticks, are the best drumsticks for beginner drummers, helping drummers develop a relaxed, controlled grip. By encouraging use of the back fingers, they build strength and improve finger technique, while enabling the sticks to bounce naturally for easier playing with enhanced speed and precision.
​​​​
The original 5A and 5B Matched Grip HINGESTIX have patented finger pads that act as "hinges", allowing the drumstick to freely rotate around the fulcrum between your thumbs and index fingers. This innovative design helps both beginner drum students and experienced drummers to develop and maintain proper drumstick grip and drumstick control, while achieving a naturally, free-floating drum stroke.
​​​
HINGESTIX Practice Drumsticks reinforces the mind/body connection and builds muscle memory, enabling drummers to seamlessly apply what they've learned to their performance drumsticks. The results are immediate!
HINGESTIX Practice Drumsticks are great for teaching:
-
Single strokes and single stroke rolls. The HINGESTIX teach the proper drumstick grip, a loose grip enabling a free-floating bounce
-
The double bounce for “open” rolls. Just throw the stick down once and let the stick bounce free for that 2nd stroke
-
The all-important “buzz” stroke for the long or “closed” roll
-
Proper finger technique for more control and speed
-
Proper matched grip by holding the patented finger pads between the thumb and index finger, and engaging the back fingers
​
Each pair of HINGESTIX Practice Drumsticks are balanced and pitch matched.
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
​​
30-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!!
See details here.
NEW RELEASE
The Drum Tips eBook:
Practical Ideas and Insights for Drum-Set Performance by Sam Ruttenberg
Now Available for Download - Only $14.99
Whether you're a beginner, a seasoned pro, or a drum teacher, this eBook has something for everyone.
​
This eBook consists of over 60 pages of conceptual, musical, and technical ideas based on 40+ years of experience performing, studying, and teaching.
The "DRUM TIPS" eBook covers a wide range of topics, including:
-
How to Practice
-
Sticking for Different Sounds and Tempos
-
Grip: Traditional or Matched
-
Improvising
-
Interpreting a Chart
-
Jazz Coordination
-
Phrasing
...and many exercises to build endurance and stick control.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, this book has something for everyone.
​
It’s also a great instructional guide for drum teachers and instructors for use at the K-12 level, music schools, universities and music conservatories.
Only $14.99 orig.$29.99
What Are HingeStix?
A Masterful Teaching Tool
The HINGESTIX Practice Drumsticks are the best beginner drumsticks on the market. No other drumsticks are designed to help drummers master proper matched grip, develop drumstick control, build finger technique, and master the bounce & rebound - elevating their skills to the next level.
Patented Design
The patented contoured finger pads allow the HingeStix to freely rotate around the fulcrum. With this free-floating drum stroke, drummers will immediately learn how to control any drumstick, develop the loose grip and master the rebound.
Master the Loose Grip & Build Finger Control
HINGESTIX promotes a loose grip, engaging the fingers, allowing drummers of all levels to strengthen the mind/body connection essential to building muscle memory. Once developed, this muscle memory enables drummers to control their regular drumsticks with greater ease and precision.
Winner of the NAMM Best In Show
Winner at NAMM Best in Show, and recommended by the world’s top drummers and educators.
REVIEWS
HAL BLAINE
Legendary LA Studio Great
"Every drum teacher should start out their students with these sticks. It’s a great teaching aid."
TESTIMONIALS
Hal Blaine
Legendary LA Studio Great
“Every drum teacher should start out their students with these sticks. It’s a great teaching aid."
Gerry Brown
Drummer with Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder
"Sam’s HINGESTIX show drummers right away what drumming feels like when you understand the concept of free rebound…you suddenly realize and feel the ease of relaxed playing."
Steve Rucker
Drummer for the Bee Gees
“Sam Ruttenberg's HingeStix are a remarkable tool that enables the drummer to experience the proper motion of the drumstick. It’s a great product that produces great results.”
Sean Kennedy
Band Director at Wissahickon High School
Upper Dublin, PA
“Sam Ruttenberg’s HingeStix are a valuable time-saving tool for anyone that teaches drums. Putting a pair of HingeStix in a student’s hands can clear up hours of confusion.”
Steve Machamer
Professor of Percussion University of New South Wales, Australia
"HingeStix demonstrate better than any words how the fulcrum works."
John Leister
Band Director, Montclair Kimberly Academy
“I believe that every band director should own a pair of HingeStix. It is one of my favorite teaching tools.”
DEMONSTRATIONS
HingeStix Demonstration Video
Colin Woolway talks about HingeStix
Drumming great Dom Famularo on HingeStix Practice Drumsticks
Marcus Moore for HingeStix
