clicking sticks

[BC4LYFE]

Hey ya'll, so my current group has problems when I click sticks for them ie: rushing, dragging etc. My only resort is to give them a source of sound to listen too. It is better to start with a source ie: longranger, then move to clicking sticks? Should I go to timing exercises to build the ability to play without a source. Also when sticking to just the bar going side to side, what tips do you have for that?

[VoteLobster]

It's easier to follow a long ranger because it's louder & the whole ensemble can hear it, so there's no excuse to be wavering. If you're clicking sticks it's just way harder to hear. A gock block or a cowbell would be loud enough. The quicker you can get off of a tempo source for the battery the better... especially when they're on the field in a performance and won't have a long ranger cranked behind them.

I'd say it's best to go from a long ranger, to clicking sticks, then nothing.