What Shoe Sole Is Best For Double Beats On The Kick Drum?

[seemunny]

I was wondering, when you as a drummer are playing those fast "double beats" on your kick drum, what kind of soles accommodate you better: a more slippery sole like a dress shoe, or a sole with grip, like some sneakers?

I've heard both. One drummer would slide his foot forward to achieve that double beat. But another drummer told me "naw, you gotta have that grip!"

What type of sole works best for you? And exactly HOW do you execute YOUR double beats on the kick drum?

[Da_Drumma]

I always wear shoes that have soles with some grip on em'. To answer your other question I would suggest that you not slide your foot. Sliding your to me gives you very inconsistant double strokes on the bass drum, and to me is very sloppy. The trick to me is kinda hard to explain... its kinda like working the pedal off the rebound of the first stroke of the double. To acheive better doubles you should work on your foot strength and consistency between your strokes on the bass drum.

[yamahaboy]

1. Puma Speed CAT!- Lots of Grip and very light weight.

2. Chuck Taylor- Light Weight

3. The Nike Presto is really good. But they are hard to locate in stores. Check EBAY.

4. Nike Dunkesto's are good to. The have the same flexible material found in the Presto but made like a Nike Dunk. The are very comfortable to play in. 


I can play in just about anything. But that is just me.

I use heel up to play doubles in a sliding motion forward.

[SabianKnight]

I was wondering, when you as a drummer are playing those fast "double beats" on your kick drum, what kind of soles accommodate you better: a more slippery sole like a dress shoe, or a sole with grip, like some sneakers?

I've heard both. One drummer would slide his foot forward to achieve that double beat. But another drummer told me "naw, you gotta have that grip!"

What type of sole works best for you? And exactly HOW do you execute YOUR double beats on the kick drum?

It is not about the shoe/sole but about the control. Pick your shoe because of it's flexibility in allowing you to bend your foot and ankle freely. Proper technique will work regardless of the sole or being bare foot.

Get Michael Packer's DVD - Hi-hat and Bass Drum Technique and Matt Rittor's DVD - Unburying the Beater or Steve Smith's - Drum Set Technique and the U.S. Beat. First read the thread addressed to Jeremy Haynes on foot technique... which answers this question as well.

[seemunny]

Ha! As you can see, two great drummers (Da_Drumma & Yamahaboy) are two good EXAMPLES of "sliding the foot forward vs no-forward slide" (even though the sole doesn't matter). Very interesting, and i guess it really does depend on what "works" for you!

And Sabian, you're right on point! A "capable" kickdrum foot can wear any shoe! lol And thanks for the references!