Part 1: Matched Grip Matched grip simply means that the hands hold the sticks in a mirror image of one another. There are important variations within matched grip, however, both in terms of the hand angles and fulcrums (pivot points) that are used. The main grip variations are German, French, and American. German grip involves holding the hands flat and favors wrist use over finger use. French grip involves holding the hands more vertically, with the thumb on top, and favors finger use over wrist use. American grip falls in the middle of German and French. The common fulcrums for matched grip are between the thumb and the first finger or between the thumb and second finger. The first-finger fulcrum is generally better for speed and finesse at lower stick heights (finger micromanagement), while the second-finger fulcrum is generally better for bigger strokes and more power (wrist/forearm-driven). Quite often the […]

July 2020 Issue