I love these sticks! I tend to sweat quite a bit when I play and I'm a hard hitter, so having sticks that are just bare, unfinished wood is perfect for me. They have good grip without having to add stick tape or any other additional grip, they won't fly out of your hands and you don't have to cramp up your hands trying to hold onto them. The sticks can take a beating as well, I bought 4 pairs about a year and a half ago and I'm still on my second pair! Great tone and response from the wood as well, the tip sounds great on a heavy ride.