The Maibachi Textbook: a drumstick guide
A guide to buying and tuning taiko drumsticks (bachi): materials, length, weight, grip tape, and the major workshops worldwide.
This guide is adapted from “The Maibachi Textbook”, a community guide written by randomewok. All original research, writing and images are by randomewok, with thanks to the Australian & American taiko communities who helped compile it. We reproduce it here with credit. Please read the original, which stays up to date:
Read the original guide ↗
A good pair of bachi won’t make or break your performance. The player is the driving force, and good sticks only help you improve. Whatever pair you have, you can still grow as a player. Bachi only start to become a limiting factor around the “-jin” dan levels.
Experimenting with bachi, or even making your own, is one way to find the pair you settle on.
Material
Material is the most significant quality of a pair of bachi, since most other things can be tuned later. For beginners, almost any wood works, but Japanese or American Cypress is usually recommended for its light weight.
“Material is the most significant quality of a pair of bachi since most other things can be tuned down later.”
| Material | Qualities | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common materials | ||
| Aomori Hiba ヒバ | Softwood · lightweight · high rebound | Japanese Cypress. Comfortable and good for rolls; can break after long use. |
| American Cypress 米ヒバ | Softwood · lightweight · high rebound | Nearly the same as Aomori Hiba. |
| Magnolia 朴 (ホオノキ) | Hardwood · often heavier | Very durable and good for stability. |
| Uncommon materials | ||
| Hinoki ヒノキ | Softwood · lightweight | Another Japanese Cypress; should feel like Aomori Hiba. |
| Maple | Hardwood · lower rebound | Found in Official Blue maibachi; more durable. |
| Beech | Hardwood · somewhat light · high rebound | Found in Official Red and Yellow; can break after long use. |
| Oak | Hardwood · heavier | Very durable. |
| Walnut | Hardwood | No notes |
| Cherry | Hardwood | No notes |
| Resin | Extremely brittle | Only useful for appearance. |
Weight
Weight mostly follows the material and its density. Two pairs are rarely identical, but makers aim to match pairs closely, so small ± differences are usually not a concern.
For beginners, weight is not a big concern, and training with heavier sticks can build forearm strength and endurance. For lighter sticks, look for Aomori Hiba and Cypress. Grip tape can also tune weight by shifting the centre of gravity.
Length
Length mainly affects handling and largely comes down to preference. Most bachi sit within the 39 cm range.
| Length | Qualities |
|---|---|
| 35cm |
|
| 37cm |
|
| 39+cm |
|
Buying grip tape
Grip tape tunes bachi by adding cushioning for comfort or by balancing weight. “Badminton overgrip” is the usual choice, as it is easy to control and apply. Any overgrip works; how you wrap matters more than the tape itself.
Overgrip and replacement grip differ: replacement grip is much thicker and longer-lasting but rarely used. For long-term use, texture is the key feature of a tape, and slightly smoother grips reduce friction against the hands. The three common types are Wet, Dry and Perforated.
Pick the tape that feels best and that you like the look of.
Applying grip tape
Applying grip tape works like any other wrap, and the core techniques are well documented on YouTube. Most setups use two layers of badminton overgrip for extra cushioning and a thicker grip.
Beginners can wrap over the existing wrap (especially on cheaper unbranded pairs) to add comfort without risk. Keep the wrap firm and taut without over-stretching the tape. Technique comes with practice.
Gripping styles
- All Purpose: general use, better for accuracy. 1–2 layers of overgrip. The most common style.
- Rolling: better for rolling / double stroke; brings the centre of gravity closer to the centre. Mostly 2 layers.
- Super Long: may eat some rebound depending on material; distributes weight more evenly across the stick.
- Super Long Rolling: may eat rebound; the thicker lower wrap can make the stick more bottom-heavy.
- Multi-coloured Inline: aesthetic-focused; performance should be unaffected. Used by @Kev2o2.
The more popular bachi brands seen across communities. The list is not exhaustive; local makers and smaller producers are also worth supporting, especially when you are starting out.
Brandless maibachi
- Typically an inconsistent build with heavy, lower-quality timber
- Fine for beginners; mainly a weight upgrade over house bachi
- Found on almost every marketplace; often a dropship/resell from cheaper sites like AliExpress
- Reasonable if you are only exploring taiko
ZhongTaiko “THE ONE”
- Beech or black walnut, approx. 35.5 cm
- Grip pre-wrapped by hand in your choice of 9 colours
- Digitally weight-matched pairs; beech $19.99, black walnut $29.99
- Comes from the same maker as the ZhongTaiko home drum
Official maibachi
- May be purchasable from your local arcade
- Consistent build quality
- The only bachi allowed at the Taiko World Championship (extra grip tape is allowed)
- Yellow maibachi break more often; Blue and Yellow are noticeably thinner
極 Kiwami Maibachi Workshop
- Reliably made, high-quality sticks
- “Official-like” line seems aimed at younger children (not WCS-legal)
- Higher-end sticks feel nicer, but cost more
Minamitori Workshop
- Large variety and high customizability
- Each filter category can mix stick properties, so you can find the exact combination you want
Yazaserori Workshop
- Simple and clean sticks
- Not currently listed on Amazon JP, so shipping can be harder
逆鱗 Gekirin
- Makes alternative styles: non-standard lengths, materials or grips
- Relatively well priced
- Product quality can be inconsistent per Amazon JP reviews
心 Kokoro Maibachi Workshop
- A wide range of standard bachi shapes and woods, at high quality
If a brand or marketplace can’t ship to your region, you may need a proxy service or a direct freight arrangement. Pricing models vary and are beyond the scope of this guide; the links below are starting points.
For larger marketplaces like Amazon, the official global shipping is good and the easiest way to get high-quality bachi. Buying with friends helps split shipping costs.
Marketplaces like Taobao, Mercari and Rakuten list many smaller makers. These search terms help you find them.
| Term | Mandarin | Japanese |
|---|---|---|
| Taiko no Tatsujin | 太鼓达人 | 太鼓の達人 |
| Maibachi | 太鼓 鼓棒 | マイバチ |
| Maibachi Workshop | n/a | マイバチ工房 |
| American Cypress (米) | 米 | 米ヒバ |
| Aomori Hiba (Japanese Cypress) | ヒバ | ヒバ |
| Magnolia (Ho / Honoki) | 朴 | 朴 / ホオノキ |