These nylon-tipped Vater 5A hickory drumsticks are very responsive, comfortable, and balanced. Hickory is the most popular wood used for making drumsticks because it is denser, heavier and more rigid than maple. Hickory can also absorb a great amount of shock, which reduces hand and wrist fatigue. These sticks are made of dark, or "brown" hickory that"s found closer to the tree"s center and is slightly denser and heavier than "white" hickory.