I don't break that many sticks but I've been reading posts that say people go months without breaking sticks.  On average I break about one every time I practice with my band.  Is there possibly a technique that makes me more prone to stick breaking other than hard hitting?

If you're breaking one stick a practice I'd say there probably are some technique issues. The angle with which you hit your cymbals will be a major factor, how you hit your snare drum (rim shots?) etc. Of course, if you're a very hard  hitter using 7A sticks or something, it might be worth considering switching to something a bit beefier, like a 5B or a 2B. Furthermore, the brand of sticks will have some degree of influence on how often they break. Generally speaking, the generic no-name brand sticks will last an awful lot shorter than the Vic Firths etc.

Please don't anyone take offense at this but my short answer is, yes it is a technique issue. No matter how hard you hit a drum there is a finite amount of volume that instrument will produce. Good technique will allow you to play at all volume levels without causing damage to sticks and heads. If you learn how to draw the sound out of the drum I think you can acheive the maximum volume while not lifting your sticks more than about 8" off the head. I seriously can't remember the last time I actually broke a stick. Learning how to control the sound of your instrument will set you free. It will also save you money on replacing sticks, heads, and cymbals.

Aha pulling the Ted Reed trump card on me huh?
I certainly understand what you're saying and a half million years ago when I played in drum corps the "sticks to your ears" technique was still in vogue too. Funny how Fred Sanford got those early 70's Santa Clara Vanguard lines to play loud enough just playing from the wrists. Anyhow, I think we'll agree to disagree on this one. I didn't think the thread said the goal was to be hired by a rock band. The guy is breaking sticks at what I believe is an excessive rate. He can eliminate or certainly reduce the amount by breakage by not slamming which I suspect is what's happening. Although I haven't done any scientific study of this with the proper equipment I still believe you can acheive more than adequate volume (especially with most rock bands miking the drums) by using good technique.
Now showmanship etc. is a completely different matter.

Hey thanks for the feedback guys.  Btw I use vic firth extreme 5B's.  But ya I hit the cymbal with the shaft, but I play punk/rock so the bead doesn't produce a powerful enough sound for the application.  Anyway thanks again!

Bad technique will break anything. But Like Mr. A said hitting hard is not always bad technique. I play hard, I break sticks, generally across my snarehoop. This isnt a bad technique, its just a technique. I like being a visually entertaining drummer.  Gets me lots of work to pay for the broken sticks.

I hit across the hoop of my snare (rimshot( because I like the sound it produces. But I have to pay for that sound by going through sticks. if I didnt use rimshots, which I dont all the time I could get my sticks to last forever as well.

I don't necessarily disagree with you in theory.  In so much that I don't think you have to be swinging from the rafters to play at loud volumes.  But limitng your stick height on a Drum Set is impossible.  Especially while striking cymbals.  The nature of their general positioning and use in pop/rock music makes them suscepetible to taking a pretty hard impact.

I play hard and generally break sticks when they get chewed up around the cymbal striking point.  Bad technique will break cymbals and sticks very quickly.  And the first excuse from most people is that they play harder than the average drummer, when I have found they don't.  They just swing hard with bad technique.  

So do you give more of a glancing blow to the side of the cymbal and sort of strike "through" the cymbal, or just hit it in the middle?  

When guitar players keep breaking strings, I always offer the same solution; "Use heavier strings, for crying out loud!"

I always get the same reply.  "No, no, it's not the strings.  It's me.  I need to work out my technique."

Great.  Until then, though, "Use heavier strings, for crying out loud!  Stop needing to replace strings in the middle of every set."

Perhaps the same logic should be applied to sticks.  Personally, I love maple sticks.  They feel great, they bounce great, they're light, they're easy to hold...  But if I'm breaking a stick on every tune then obviously I need more durable sticks.

As for technique, if you're a good Punk drummer, you SHOULD be breaking 5B's.  The rim shots alone will chew through sticks fairly quickly.  Add to that the fact that cheap drums don't sound good unless you really smack them.  If you want to play with a lighter touch and still get a big sound, you need good drums, not just good technique.