Pick Your Targets

One thing that I always admired about Buddy Rich was the way he set up figures. He had a way of announcing and drawing attention to horn lines that was absolutely beautiful. It’s also good illustration of how important it is to know not only where you are, but where you’re going as well.

More Than Hitting The Shots
Orchestrating a setup means you have to know where you're headed and then work your way toward that goal. We're sometimes inclined to focus on what we're doing in the moment and may not always be aware of where we need to end up. If you're not paying attention to landing point, you might play something that ends awkwardly ... or worse.

Mentally Organize Your Physical Space
There’s a lot of movement required in drumming, and knowing where you're going physically is vital. If you set out to do a roundhouse fill, for example, you need to prepare your body to move all the way from one end of the set to the other. Visualize the movements as you go. Think about the body movements you need to make so you can 'see' where you need to go before you get there.

You're Always Going Somewhere
When you play the last note of a phrase, you should be targeting the downbeat of the next phrase (you don't need to emphasize it; just land on it perfectly and you'll be fine). When doing a fill, you need to keep your eye on where you're going to resolve the fill. Pick your target, keep your focus on it, and let it guide your playing every step of the way. And listen.

Turn-arounds/Transitions
Phrases begin and phrases end. You can add interest and 'escort' the music from one phrase to the next with what's called a turn-around. For example, in a 32-bar tune, there are four 8-bar phrases. At the end of each phrase, drummers will often do something interesting to wrap up the current phrase and set up the next one. These transitions can be a simple shot or a dynamic two-bar fill. More common, though, is something in between, perhaps change the beat slightly for that last bar or a subtle two-beat fill. This also reassures the band that you (and they) are in the right place.

Starting, Stopping, Changing Gears
Take any sticking, any pattern. Where does it begin and where does end?  If it's a two-beat pattern that starts on ’3', the landing point would be '1' of the next bar. Start thinking about that end point and then adapt your playing so you reach it reliably and consistently.

By all means concentrate on what you’re playing, but also know where your targets are and always aim for them.

Also see:  https://drumyoda.blogspot.com/2016/05/adaptive-anticipation-or-what-comes-next.html