Alright. I've got a question or three.

I used to play really fast on my single pedal. Most common of my chosen beats was the "du-da-dudu-da" single-double beat. I hope you guys know what I'm talking about. I played it a lot in the punk band I was in. Very fast tempo.

Well for a couple of months there, I started broadening my horizons a bit, and was playing almost exclusively slower tempos. Now, I've gone back to trying to play those beats - and I can't!

First of all, there have been some pretty radical changes in my equipment. I'm still playing my old 22x16 kick, but I used to have a POwerstroke 3 on it, and it was muffled with a HUGE pillow. No resonance at all. And it also gave me a very hard surface to thwack - which I think might have been why I pulled those off so easy in the first place. Now I use an Evans EMAD tuned pretty low (i.e., lots of give), with zero muffling (except for the supplied ring.) There is noticeably more "give" to the head.

I've also changed pedals. I used to use the old single chain Yamaha FP700 that came with my set. I've since upgraded to a DW5000AD. I will admit that all of the "features" on the DW are intimidating to me, and I know I don't fully understand all of their functions. But I've sat and configured, and reconfigured, and I can get something that feels comfortable, but I'm never really getting those single=double kicks that I want/need.

I think equipment plays a role. But it's probably more my technique. I searched the other threads, looking for some kind of pattern I could play on a single kick that would help me develop speed and endurance. Bart said once, "The rudiments you play with your hands - play with you feet," or something like that. Well, I would. But I only have one pedal! Should I play the left "hand" on the hi-hat? But then, won't I be developing DOUBLE-BASS technique?

I've also thought of buying a double-bass pedal and using it as a "Cheater Pedal," but that idea kinda makes me blush. I know it can be done with one foot. And I wanna do it.

Basically, tell me anything you can on how to get my single pedal rocking. What techniques do you use to develop faster, more precise single pedal work? Excercises? Hints? Tips? Thanks.

Another thing is:
Do you still have your old drum pedal?
I hope so. If yes, put the pedal back to your new tuning of your new  bass drumhead. Check if stills feels good to you. if yes, keep on switching back and forth between old pedal, new pedal , some adjustment on spring tension on new pedal.

Obviously, by the way you have your kick tuned now, you won't have that big bouncing back for the easier second stroke. the head is loose absorbing the first impact.
You'll have to practice and aquire some new technique for your right feet.  It's not the end of the world. First, decide which way you want your feet to move to get your double stroke. (heel up, toe-heel, heel down)
I personaly use toe than heel to get two notes.
Practice very slow, so you can understand what your foot has to do to get those two consecutives 16th notes very clear and confortable. You're teaching your foot what to do. Believe me he'll learn and pay you back with solid/rapid doubles on single pedal.

Try keeping your foot on the platform and with the heel down have the beater slightly touch the head and then bounce back as far as it will go just using spring tension and keeping your footweight out of the way, letting the beater almost touch the top of your foot. This helps you build the muscles that are needed for fast and accurate playing. If you are familiar with the "Rocking Motion" on the pedal platform, try to apply what I just wrote to that technique: Steve Smith showed this to me and it really worked. Good Luck

Let's see, you mean the same beat that every teenager and his mother who ever walked into a Mars or Guitar Center drum dpartment (whether they actually play drums or not), and asked to borrow some sticks and proceeds to play  at a deafening volume especially when you are trying to talk to someone, and even moreso when the salesman is on the phone.  That beat?Yes, I think I'm familiar with it.  LOL.  

My advice, learn another beat.  But seriously, there's a method book for foot develpment that I've heard good things about, although I haven't used it, by a drummer who's name I believe is Colin Baily.  

Ratamatatt

Ratt: You mean those kids can actually do it? Argh. Now I feel totally lame.

All they play here is incredibly easy and slow metal beats. Like cymbal crash on 1, snare hit on 3, and just boring straight 8ths on double bass. Ad nauseum.

hehe,  that's funny,  "du-da-dudu-da" .  I say "gu-ga-gugu-ga", what onomotapea (or however you spell that) do y'all other drummers out there say?  My friend says "bup-pat-bupbup-pat"...

I hang at the music store quite a bit.  I don't even like to play the du-da-dudu-da now.  I hope the new breed of kids coming in learn some new chops

If I may be so bold as to get back to the topic....
Have you moved your stool in relationship to the bass pedal? Farther away perhaps? Did you put a hole in the resonant head? Have you changed bassdrum pedals recently? Humm, I think I can anser the last question... yes!
Check the old pedal side by side the new one, you've done that already?  
Did you change your technique when you went to slower tempos? Heel down for more control? Try using heel up at slower temps and work your way up.
I know I've rerun some ideas but at least I stayed somewhere near the topic!!!!
 

I know what du-da dudu-da means. It's a technique you can't explain. It's a matter of feeling. So i would use the old pedal an swith to the new one, and again the old one, ... so you get the chance to learn it back on you're old pedal and in time it wil work on you're new one. it's not a matter of hardware or drums. these things can only make you slower or faster, but they can't take away you're technique. It's one way to play it. you can also play: duda du-duda wich is used more in punk. or duda-duda or dadudadu. Further you have double pedals to use for these things so you'll get the same sound, but more dynamic, like stung out or no use for a name uses. it's like: richt foor, snare+hi-hat, left foot, right foot, snare+hi-hat. It's not cheating, it lays more accent and it's used for different riffs then the technique you descrive.