Sup fellows,
I believe that stick break falls back on a few issues!
1- when you not allowing the stick to rebound properly. The energy you strike with, you should get it back on the return. Alot of times we hit pass the actually point of the drum head... thats why you see pit and dents. The sound suppose to come back up from the drums. Thats why we mic on the top, the sound come upward.
2- If your drums has microphones on them... you don't have to play the kit actually hard. Let the mic's work for you. I'm not saying you aren't going to break the sticks.. but when you learn how to carm down relax, not tense up you will learn that playing the drums really ain't that physical.. we make it hard then it suppose to be. I sweat because of the lights more then physical playing.
3- how you have your monitor level set plays a great deal. If you are blasting everything at you. You will fight the drums too! Meaning you will play loud and harder because you feel you can't hear.
I know chris kee personally he fights the kit.. playing should look effortless and feel effortless, at times it looks like he is working hard for his money. EVERYONE! Man relax when you get behind the kit. You can use the same chops, techniques, showmanship but with less energy trust me. Dennis Chambers doesn't use as much energy playing as you think, he's chillin behind the kit! I used to leave gigs feeling like I been pumping weights... but I realize I was fighting the drums.
So relax don't play so hard, let the sticks and mics play the drums for you.. you want break the sticks as offering I promise!
John Blackwell is a perfect example of what NOT to do on the kit AS FAR as playing. The brotha looks like he is fighting mike tyson! Much love to him I'm speaking technique only here, I'm not hating! Everyone has strong points and weak points!
Hope that helps! (A lot of times we use religion as a crutch for our lack of ) We blame the devil for stuff WE just really did!)