4 Ways To Spin A Drumstick - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Spin a Drumstick PDF download Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Spinning the Drumstick Like a Baton 2 Spinning the Drumstick Over Your Pointer Finger 3 Spinning the Drumstick With Four Fingers 4 Spinning the Drumstick on Your Palm + Show 1 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Bart Robley

Last Updated: March 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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This article was co-authored by Bart Robley. Bart Robley is a Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author based in Ontario, California. Bart has been sharing his expertise in drumming knowledge through teaching for over 30 years. He makes his teachings globally accessible by offering lessons in an online format. Bart has authored three instructional books and created three instructional DVDs. He received a Bronze Telly Award in 2009 for his DVD "School Of Hard Rocks. Additionally, Bart has been the drummer for the Sam Morrison Band for over 25 years. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 416,544 times.

Playing the drums is pretty cool, but playing the drums and incorporating stick tricks while you play is even cooler. Doing stick tricks can make you come off as more experienced and confident in your abilities. Most stick tricks are fairly easy to learn, but in order to master them, you must put in the practice.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 4:

Spinning the Drumstick Like a Baton

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  1. Step 1 Place the stick between your pointer and middle finger. 1 Place the stick between your pointer and middle finger. The basic drumstick spin is essential for any drummer to know. Position the middle of the drumstick low, in between your pointer and middle finger. The stick should be resting in the webbing of your two fingers.
    • You can use your right or left hand to practice this trick, and it will look even better when you can do it simultaneously with both hands.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Drumstick 2 Alternate the position of your fingers. With the stick in between your two fingers, alternate the positioning of your fingers. Your fingers should look like the legs of a swimmer, moving alternatively up and down. This up and down movement of your fingers will make the drumstick move back and forth in a pendulum-like motion.
    • Practice this finger movement to get accustomed to the back and forth motion of the drumstick.
    • The middle of the stick should remain in between your pointer and middle finger.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Drumstick 3 Incorporate a figure eight movement. As you alternate your fingers and the drumstick is moving back and forth like a pendulum, slightly roll your wrist to get some fluidity to the movement of the stick. As the stick spins, begin making a circular, figure eight motion with your fingers.
    • As you continue to spin the stick, it will naturally slide down to the end of the stick due to gravity. Because of this, you will have to eventually readjust the positioning of the stick.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 4:

Spinning the Drumstick Over Your Pointer Finger

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  1. Step 1 Hold the stick in matched grip position. 1 Hold the stick in matched grip position. Matched grip position is the starting position in which you hold your drumsticks.[1] Grip the stick by hooking your pointer finger around the stick, and grasping the stick with the pad of your thumb. You should be holding the stick approximately 4 inches from the bottom of the stick.
    • Then wrap your other three fingers around the drumstick. The drumstick should be gently (but securely) resting in the palm of your hand.
  2. Step 2 Position your hand vertically. 2 Position your hand vertically. Normally when drumming, your hands (and sticks) are in a horizontal position. For the spin, turn your hand so you’re holding the drumstick vertically.[2]
  3. Step 3 Pinch the stick and release your other fingers. 3 Pinch the stick and release your other fingers. Remain holding the drumstick with your pointer finger and thumb. Put your middle, ring, and pinky fingers behind the stick while still keeping the drumstick vertical.[3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Drumstick 4 Spin the drumstick backward. With your three fingers behind the drumstick, push the bottom the drumstick forward (so the top of the stick comes toward you).[4] Your middle finger is going to be doing the majority of the pushing. As the drumstick begins to spin, release your thumb from the stick and allow the stick to spin over your pointer finger.
    • As the stick finishes spinning around your pointer finger, release your middle finger from the stick, and the drumstick will then finish spinning around your pointer finger.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Drumstick 5 Catch the drumstick. The stick will make one full rotation until it is back in its starting position. As the stick comes back to its starting position, catch it using all of you fingers and thumb.
    • Once back in the starting position, you can continue to spin the stick.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 4:

Spinning the Drumstick With Four Fingers

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  1. Step 1 Position the drumstick between your pointer and middle finger. 1 Position the drumstick between your pointer and middle finger. Place the middle of the drumstick in between your index and middle finger. Spin the drumstick by moving your pointer finger away from you and moving your middle finger toward you.[5] This will make the drumstick in between your fingers spin over toward your other two fingers (ring and pinky finger).
    • As you do this first spin between your index and middle finger, relax your ring and pinky finger so they can be pulled away and lower than your two spinning fingers. This will prevent the stick from hitting those fingers as you execute the first spin.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Drumstick 2 Hook your ring finger. As the drumstick spins and travels around your middle finger, hook your ring finger onto the back of the stick, and allow your pointer finger to relax and straighten out.[6] This will transfer the drumstick from your pointer and middle finger to your middle and ring finger. Just like you moved your pointer finger away from you and moved your middle finger toward you to get the drumstick to spin, you are going to do the same movement with your middle and ring finger.
    • Move your middle finger away from you and move your ring finger toward you. This will cause the stick in between your two fingers to continue spinning.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Drumstick 3 Hook your pinky finger. As the drumstick spins around your ring finger, hook your pinky finger behind the stick, and allow your middle finger to relax and lay flat.[7] Allowing your middle finger to relax positions the drumstick between your ring and pinky finger.
    • From this position, you can again, move your ring finger back, away from you, and move your pinky finger toward you, causing the drumstick to continue spinning.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Drumstick 4 Transfer the stick from your pinky to your pointer finger. As the drumstick spins around your pinky finger, it will come back around to the front (palm side) of your hand. When it is on the palm side, tuck your pointer finger down.[8] When the stick is horizontal and perpendicular to your fingers, lift your pointer finger back up so it is in front of the stick.
    • At this position, your pinky finger and pointer finger should be in front of the drumstick, while your middle and ring fingers should be behind the drumstick.
    • As you move your pointer finger to be in front of the drumstick, slowly release your pinky and ring finger so the only two fingers touching the drumstick are your pointer finger (which is in front of the stick) and your middle finger (which is behind the stick).[9] This will put you back in the starting position and you can continue spinning the drumstick.
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Method 4 Method 4 of 4:

Spinning the Drumstick on Your Palm

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  1. Step 1 Hold the stick with an open hand. 1 Hold the stick with an open hand. Hold open your hand, palm facing up, and position the middle of the stick horizontally in the middle of your hand.[10] Spinning the drumstick from its middle will allow the stick to be balanced as you spin it.[11] Once you have the positioning down, close your hand loosely to grip the drumstick.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Drumstick 2 Spin the drumstick. Bring your wrist back, as if you are going to throw the drumstick away from you. As you “throw” the stick, open your hand all the way, really wide, so your fingers are almost pointing downward. This will allow the jointed part of your hand (where your fingers connect to the palm of your hand) to be the highest point on your hand.[12] The highest point is where you want the stick to spin, so it doesn’t hit any of your fingers as it rotates.
    • Spin the drumstick with enough force so that it can make at least one full rotation spinning. If you don’t spin the drumstick with enough force, it will stop spinning on your hand.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Drumstick 3 Catch the drumstick. When the drumstick starts to slow down on the palm of your hand, clench your hand to catch the stick. It will be easier to catch the stick if one of the ends are in between (or near) the space between your thumb and pointer finger.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Is there any way to keep the stick centered as I transfer it from my pinky finger back to my pointer finger? Community Answer Community Answer It may be easier for people with bigger hands to keep the drumstick centered as they transfer it. However, try pulling your index finger inward toward your pinky to hook onto the stick more in the center rather than the end. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 27
  • Question When using the four finger method, I can't seem to keep the stick centered. What do I do? Community Answer Community Answer You have to hold your hand at an angle so that if you were to loosen your grip, it would slide through your hand as you crawl the stick through your fingers. Let it slip the distance of one finger, then tighten up as you flip again. This takes lots of practice to be fluid. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 15
  • Question Can I use sticks other than drumsticks? Community Answer Community Answer yYs, but it is easier with longer items, for example, chopsticks or a very long pencil will do. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 8
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Tips

  • Remember that learning stick tricks takes practice, just like learning the actual drums. Practice, practice, practice! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Don't do these tricks while performing until you are confident that you can perform them without fault. Thanks Helpful 24 Not Helpful 5
  • Don't let the drumstick get too big on one side because you will lose control of the stick. Thanks Helpful 22 Not Helpful 5
  • When catching the stick, be sure to keep your hand relatively flat or else the stick can strike the fingertips, causing pain. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 6
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References

  1. ↑ Tanisha Hall. Vocal Coach. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@chipritter/video/7285665532823588139
  3. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@chipritter/video/7285665532823588139
  4. ↑ https://www.x8drums.com/blog/mastering-drumstick-tricks-and-twirls/
  5. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@chipritter/video/7285665532823588139
  6. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@chipritter/video/7285665532823588139
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AptA0n9mx-E
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AptA0n9mx-E
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AptA0n9mx-E
More References (3)
  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVH1nbaoWNs
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iloDCWgQWM
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVH1nbaoWNs

About This Article

Bart Robley Co-authored by: Bart Robley Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author This article was co-authored by Bart Robley. Bart Robley is a Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author based in Ontario, California. Bart has been sharing his expertise in drumming knowledge through teaching for over 30 years. He makes his teachings globally accessible by offering lessons in an online format. Bart has authored three instructional books and created three instructional DVDs. He received a Bronze Telly Award in 2009 for his DVD "School Of Hard Rocks. Additionally, Bart has been the drummer for the Sam Morrison Band for over 25 years. This article has been viewed 416,544 times. 5 votes - 60% Co-authors: 39 Updated: March 11, 2026 Views: 416,544 Categories: Tricks with Objects Article SummaryX

Spinning a drumstick is a cool trick you can incorporate into your performance to impress your audience. There are many different ways to spin your drumsticks, but one of the easiest and coolest ways is to spin it like a baton. Start by holding the stick between your pointer and middle fingers. Then, paddle your fingers alternately, which will make the stick move back and forth like a pendulum. As you alternate your fingers, roll your wrist slightly and make a figure eight movement with your fingers. If the stick starts to slide down your fingers, adjust your grip to center it. For more tips, including how to spin a drumstick with 4 fingers, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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    "Learnt to spin a drumstick in 2 days thanks to this article.Thank you!" Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Bart Robley Co-authored by: Bart Robley Drummer, Drum Teacher, and Author 5 votes - 60% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 39 Updated: March 11, 2026 Views: 416,544 Anonymous ..

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Jun 15, 2020

"Learnt to spin a drumstick in 2 days thanks to this article.Thank you!" Rated this article: Anonymous

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"I think it was the hand position explanation and the animation." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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