Robert I dont understand when you say "I don't like using heel,because too many folks wind up playing them that way"....?????? what do u say in place of heel?....the 5 parts of the hand are heel, palm, fulcrum, inner knuckles, and tips of fingers...which are all used in playing...JC
I was taught it as bass touch by Grupo AfroCuba and that's what I use most of the time. If you learn that way it's very easy to go to just using the heel. If you learn with just using the heel it's harder to go the other way. I like the sound of a full bass stroke better as well.
A 'bass stroke" is just another type of stroke...and nothing is wrong with the use of it, of course...and the 'heel' can also be construed as the use of the 'muneca'/wrist of your hand, another technical aspect of playing..JC