Finger control vs. wrist control is a debate nearly every drummer faces, and knowing when to use each can elevate your playing and practice.
We all want to get faster behind the drum kit, but one question has sparked endless debate among drummers: Should you focus more on finger control or wrist control? The truth isn’t black and white, it’s in the balance. But understanding the difference between the two and when to use each can transform how you play and how you train.
Wrist control is where every drummer begins. It’s natural. It’s strong. The wrist acts as the central pivot point for most strokes, especially in louder, more energetic playing. Whether you’re slamming out backbeats in a rock groove or building double strokes on a practice pad, your wrists are doing the heavy lifting. There’s muscle behind it. And when you need volume or endurance, your wrists are the foundation of hand speed.
But finger control is where you can refine your speed and become a faster drummer. Finger techniques allow you to play much faster, but with a bit less control. Jazz drummers live here, using finger technique on the ride cymbal. The fingers don’t replace the wrist-forward strokes, they enhance them. Think of them as the shock absorbers that help get more speed or notes out of a downward motion.
So, which one should you train more?
If your playing is all about raw energy, big movements, and driving grooves, then wrist control is your foundation. It builds strength and consistency. But ignore your fingers, and you’ll cap your speed. The faster you want to play, the smaller your motions need to become, which is why there are thousands of finger control videos online to help you play faster. It’s what allows drummers to glide across the kick at high speed without tensing up or burning out.
But here’s the thing most beginner drummers learn eventually: one doesn’t work without the other. Train only your wrist strokes and exercises, and you’ll hit a ceiling. Train only the fingers, and you’ll lack feel. The most expressive players shift between both, often without thinking. A fill may begin with wrist-driven strokes and end with rapid finger taps, to get faster notes out of a single downward stroke on the snare, for example. A groove might swing on the wrist, but the subtle ghost notes beneath it? All fingers, or even a rocking motion of the wrist
In practice, this means carving out time for both. Slow wrist exercises with full stick rebound and full strokes. Finger-only drills that keep the wrist still and develop your speed, Rudiments that blur the line between the two. Over time, the distinction fades, and they begin to work together naturally.
Great drumming isn’t about choosing between muscle and finesse. It’s about developing both so you can call on either, at any moment, at any tempo. Wrist control is your anchor. Finger control is your finesse. Train them both, and your hands will never be the limitation, or at least until you hear a faster drummer that sets the bar even higher!