I've been using Vater 5B for 2 years now after having tried numerous brand and style of sticks. These work for me perfectly.
I play rock music and these help hitting with confidence while saving some energy, however, I can also play soft tunes just the same.
Good length for me, the tip, made of wood, helps me get a good sound out of the drums and cymbals. The diametre is large but not too large and awkward to hold.
They do not feature anything that would prevent the stick to slip off the player hands but I apply candle wax before playing and that does the job. Absolute game changer for me.
If bought in blocks, you may want to pair them with more alike stick. I tend to re-pair them when the weight isn't matching.
Beware, they'll break, like normal sticks. If you hit in a odd way, they may break early.