LETTERS MODERN DRUMMER HANDIDRUMMED
REVIEWS
Unigrip
Slip on Grips review
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At first glance, my wife thought they were Japanese finger puzzles! She does keep me smiling! OK the UNIGRIP products are very well designed and carefully
thought out. As there’s already a vast selection of products on the market addressing grip what’s one more? WELL; with all the tapes, wraps, powders, gloves, gels, dips, salves, and the like available, they each tend to COMMIT, (with the exception of the gloves of course) leaving both the sticks and the hands in a somewhat limited but devoted capacity, which is NOT conducive to any variety or changes. Among these UNIGRIP’S many unique qualities: first is in their numerous choices to suit every kind of player AND next is in their ability to be added then removed easily (without damage to stick or product) ready to be applied to the next pair of sticks. You’ll never run out of tape or wrap, never empty your jar of powder or goo, to say nothing of the constant expense, THESE GRIPS CAN LIVE FOREVER! How’s that for economic convenience?
After spending some time living with them I found the rounds to possess an almost rubbery NON-SLIP tactile quality lending to more effective grip control
with much less effort I might add, while allowing the stick to naturally rotate within the fingers. Other UNIGRIPS including their 6 and 8-sided models feature the same tactile qualities (which can enhance any stick’s grip-friendly properties) do their job by limiting the stick’s movement in the hand, this I found most effective in Ride and/or Hihat strokes which rely on a consistent deadly accurate repetitive motion. AND I’ve noticed a way better performance on the practice pad as well. This is vitally essential in the basic training of young inexperienced hands.
UNIGRIPS seem to add some amount of weight to the back end of the stick moving the stick’s fulcrum (it’s balance point) further back calling for a slight
adjustment in the hands but is very easily correctable by carefully trimming away an inch or two of the UNIGRIP material itself to compensate and balance is then happily restored. Ahhh, the comfort of custom fit, what could be better?
I’m a veteran fusion player who incorporates “found objects” into my musical expression, after literally dozens of rehearsals and a “live” gig recording, I see the UNIGRIPS functioning marvelously in all areas of play, though they appear to respond quite favorably on heavy surfaces. Later I pealed them off my sticks and
applied these round UNIGRIPS to my pullout brushes, here I discovered their extra added weight brought the somewhat lighter brush grip-handles more into balance allowing for greater delicate execution through increased grip control with less effort. Next I applied them to my T-6 mallets, here’s where I again found to my unexpected surprise, their added back-weight bringing the mallets closer to a well-balanced feel, making cymbal swells and Tympani-style tom rolls an absolute musical joy to play!
Something else I was curious about is UNIGRIP’S version of our industry’s “Blasticks” or “Whamrods” as they’re more commonly known. I found these
to feel excellent! They chatter away nicely and seem to have a stronger resilience than others I’ve owned. Their rods are firmly bound though I did think their handles seemed a bit odd-feeling at first grab, but your hands effortlessly conform to them almost instantaneously. I LOVE these sticks! Can’t wait to see what UNIGRIP comes up with next! An overview in a word you ask: Donn, these UNIGRIPS are wonderful, they install quickly easily, adding then removing them at will to cater to many different stick applications and playing landscapes. I’m now convinced that UNIGRIPS are a necessity in anyone’s stickbag! They certainly are in mine!
NOW READ OUR MODERN DRUMMER REVIEW Steve (Father Time) Katz President - Disabled Drummers Assoc. Endorsed Performing/Recording Artist Writer/Clinician/Educator