malletjazz.com FAQ pages

“Which four-mallet grip is the best four-mallet grip?”

The best grip is the one which feels the most comfortable for you, and allows you to play your best. I personally have had no success whatsoever with the "traditional" grip, but there are lots of players out there who love it, including some who can play circles around me (Keiko Abe, Nancy Zeltsman, a.o.). Everyone’s hands are different, and for my money, that’s the most important thing to consider when selecting a grip - finding the right grip for your hands. Explore all the major grips, give them all a good tryout, understand each grip’s strengths and weaknesses, and make the best choice for you. If you decide five years down the road that you want to change grips, don’t worry about it - most of your skills developed learning one grip will apply to your new grip.

- JW