Why Do Drummers Wear Gloves?
Drums are one of the most popular instruments to learn to play. But not all drummers play equally; some play with grip tape or other accessories. So, why do drummers wear gloves?
Drumming gloves are responsible for keeping the drummer’s hands protected while performing. The gloves also help the drummer play well by maintaining a solid grip and absorbing the shock from the drums.
The following article is a more in-depth description of how drumming gloves keep a player’s hands safe.
How Gloves Help Keep Drummers’ Hands Safe
The main purpose of gloves is to keep the drummer’s hands protected while playing the instrument. Unprotected hands are more susceptible to injuries, especially if the player drums professionally. If one of or both hands gets injured, the drummer won’t play until their wounds heal.
Protection is the primary function of drumming gloves. But they also help the player keep a firm grip on the drumsticks and absorb the shock from the drums.
Good Drumming Gloves Prevent Injuries
A few common drumming injuries include:
- Blisters
- Cuts
- Scrapes
Since all of these injuries occur on a drummer’s hands, wearing gloves is the best way to prevent them. Scrapes and cuts aren’t too big of a worry and will heal in a few days. Blisters, however, present a much more severe problem.
When a drummer performs or practices a lot, their hands can wear down. Drummers are constantly holding wooden drumsticks.
Wood is a rough material that can rub away at skin cells, even when smooth. This causes callouses to form, which are essentially small, raised patches of skin.
There’s a common misconception that callouses will make your hands stronger, but this isn’t true. If one gets torn open, it might start bleeding and get infected.
Callouses that do not tear open form blisters, fluid-filled injuries that happen when enough skin cells are rubbed away on the hand. The friction from the wooden drumsticks eats away at the skin cells, making the hand more susceptible to infection. Blisters form to act as a shield to any possible infections.
Gloves prevent calluses and blisters from forming by giving the wooden drumstick a buffer. In addition, the fabric of the gloves acts as a barrier between the rough wood and the soft hand, preventing any skin cells from being rubbed away.
Drumming Gloves Provide a Better Grip
After a drummer has been playing for an extended set, the grip on their drumsticks might be weaker. This is commonly caused by the drummer’s hands getting sweaty.
You try staying dry after playing the drums for a few hours, it’s intense exercise. Heat issues are no joke.
Not only will their grip start to slip, but the increased heat and sweat can also increase the chances of blisters forming.
The material that drumming gloves gives the player a better grip on their drumsticks. It prevents sweat from seeping through and causing the drumsticks to slip. Some gloves even have a textured area to ensure the drumsticks don’t fall from the player’s grasp while drumming.
You can also use these alternatives:
- Grip tape
- Aid tape
- Gaffers tape (in a pinch)
In “ye olde days of music,” some musicians used duct tape.
Drumming Gloves Help With Shock Absorption
The last thing that drumming gloves do to keep a player’s hands safe is absorb the shock that comes off the drums when hit. The shock can travel up the player’s hand into their wrist and arms, creating problems like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is when the tunnel that gives your hand oxygen and blood get compressed too much. This condition causes the oxygen and blood supply to cut off, making your hand feel numb and might cause swelling.
Gloves prevent these injuries by absorbing the shock that would otherwise travel through the hand. They mainly come in handy when the drummer hits the drums hard of the increased shock factor. The thick fabric absorbs the shock before going anywhere, effectively preventing these hand injuries.
To Compensate for Bad Technique
Regardless of your best efforts, it takes years to build the perfect technique. Even the most experienced drummers aren’t perfect, so gloves can help supplement that.
The problem is that it might be injuring their hands in the long term, so proper technique is necessary (gloves or not). Ideally, your fingers should be just past the drumstick, allowing for a decent finger position technique.
Think of your hands in the form of a gun shape. Position your thumb resting on the top of the stick. Meanwhile, your remaining fingers should be around the shaft, holding it in place.
The finger positioning technique is crucial to prevent long-term injuries. Here’s a video showing you how:
Good finger technique won’t help you with a bad foot technique. Some drummers like to drum barefoot to ensure complete control.
What to Look for in A Pair of Drumming Gloves
Now that we’ve discussed what drumming gloves are meant to do, I should also mention that not all gloves are created equal. The effectiveness of the gloves depends on how high quality they are. If you wear a pair of gloves that don’t perform highly, you won’t get the same amount of protection.
Long-Lasting Material
One of the first things you should look for when choosing a pair of drumming gloves is long lasting material. Drumming gloves usually use leather with a mesh covering. The strong leather helps the gloves last long, while the mesh makes them more breathable and comfortable.
You will be wearing these gloves every day for long periods. The material should withstand this constant use and last for years.
If the gloves tear or rip easily, then you’ll have to keep buying new ones. If you make the extra investment and purchase the long-lasting material, you will save a lot of time and money in the long run.
The Material Should Feel Thick
The material shouldn’t just be long lasting; it should also be very thick. Thick fabric will better absorb the shock from the drums. It will also prevent sweat from seeping through.
Good drumming gloves have layers of leather and padding that can take hard hits each time you play.
Gloves made from thin materials or don’t have as many layers can protect your hands from cuts and scrapes. Thicker material is a better option for drummers that play often or sweat more.
Good Wrist Support
A good pair of drumming gloves supports the wrists as much as the palms and fingers. A drummer’s wrist movements determine how hard or soft the drum gets hit. Excessive use can cause the wrist to deteriorate and cause an injury.
Most drumming glove sets come with an adjustable wristband that you can make as tight or loose as you want, depending on how much support you want. The wristband provides extra padding for the wrist, giving it something to support it and absorb the shock from hitting the drums.
Comfortable Fit for Your Hands
Finally, a good pair of drumming gloves should fit comfortably on your hands. The gloves should feel form-fitting and hug your hands gently. Gloves should also be loose enough to allow your fingers and wrists to be flexible. This form-fitting factor will let you have a firm grip on your drumsticks.
Gloves that are too tight can cause the blood flow to the hands and wrists to get cut off. This can make the hands go numb or cause them to swell, preventing the drummer from playing.
Too loose gloves can fall off or prevent the drummer from having a solid grip on the drumsticks. Trying the gloves on beforehand to make sure they fit correctly will ensure that the drummer can hold their sticks correctly and play well.
Final Thoughts
Drumming gloves are an effective and inexpensive way to protect a drummer’s hands from avoidable injuries. The increased grip strength and hand support will also help them play well, whether practicing or performing.
If you make a suitable investment in a pair of high-quality gloves, you can avoid severe injuries in the future of your drumming career. However, good gloves are no substitute for practicing a flawless technique when drumming.
