American Hickory Fusion Wood Tip Drumsticks. Between a 5A & 5B in grip with a small round tip for cymbal clarity. Hickory is the most popular wood used for making drumsticks. Hickory is denser, heavier and more rigid than Maple. Hickory can also absorb a great amount of shock, which reduces hand and wrist fatigue. Dark, or "brown" hickory, is found closer to the tree's center and is slightly denser and heavier than "white" hickory.