It was a simple ingenious idea to harden the core of hickory with fire. I saw some dopes on youtube trying to burn their drum sticks because they couldn't see what the big deal is with the firegrain..it's not hard to burn sticks right ?...well the big deal is they are so resistant. Smooth and light like hickory but hard and sonically strong like oak. I used to love oak but I started to find oak heavy and to hard on my wrists. I was so pleasantly surprised with the friegrains... They are a pure, genius piece of equipment that is so well thought and so precisely made, I can't live without them. Go for it, it's not just a gimmick. They last longer and they sound great. Go for it thumbs up pro-mark (again !)