I've played that way for over 40 years. I found that there is a form of grip wax I would put on those fingers and my sticks. The best thing I did was to ruff up that area of my stick to take off their compound used when they make the sticks. Before that I would lick my fingers a little before playing. The juice would become sticky after the air dried out the fingers a little. After a while I played so much those fingers built up a calouse and that helped. It's just something I lived with. There's a point where you'll build up a "feel" for the sticks. I prefer older sticks for playing than new ones. Use the new ones for practice and the older ones for gigs. Ruff up your sticks with a teflon pad used for scubbing pans. That helps. 

Find a teacher who is a known authority on trad grip playing. Give them some money and ask them some questions.

Thanks for your advice, I'll certainly give Regal Tips a look.


Cheers again.

Thanks for that video suggestion.  I've had a good look and tried some of the ideas suggested.  However the chap explains that his students' sticks are slipping because they aren't bouncing their sticks back up so that they're parallel with the ground: ie. not doing big enough strokes.

My problem seems to be that when I am doing bigger strokes, the force of the motion is pulling my stick out of the front of my hand.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Thunderbird,being a matched grip player for years I have been playing traditional grip more and more I found that it comes down to technique I would try to sit with an instructor it really helps.BTW that guy from Metro drum school I think he is in Denver..I like his videos he really know his stuff check him out.Good Luck to you.