Proper stick grip greatly increases your success to play percussion instruments better. Although rhythms may seem simple to you at first, using a proper grip with ensure better accuracy and speed as they become more difficult. Get in the habit of going through this procedure every time you play percussion instruments to enforce a good habit.

Locate an area on the shaft of the stick approximately 2/3rds from the tip.
1.
Grip the stick in your hand, palm up, with your first finger and thumb. Use light pressure, but do not squeeze. 2.
Wrap your remaining three fingers around so that your fingertips contact the shaft of the stick. These are the control fingers and should not hold the stick in any way.
 3.
Turn your hand over, palm down, and move your arms like how they look when riding a bicycle. Your arms should be in a relaxed curve and your elbows should be away from your body. The stick tip should rest about 1-2 inches from the surface of the instrument you are about to play.
 4.

5. Poor Grips
Reassess this posture while you play, as many musicians will unknowingly turn their palms up, letting the control fingers leave the shaft of the stick as they play (a), or extend their thumb and grip with a fist (b).
a.
b.