A method to control a feeding unit to feed components for smoking articles; the feeding unit comprises: a first feed, which feeds a first flow of components, a second feed, which feeds a second flow of components, a first drum, which is provided with seats receiving the components from the first feed, a second drum, which is provided with seats receiving the components from the second feed, and a third drum, which is provided with seats receiving the components from the first drum and from the second drum; the control method, in case of regular operation of both feeds (3, 4), comprises the steps of: configuring the first drum and the second drum according to a normal configuration, which entails a normal pitch between the corresponding seats (27, 29); and transferring the components coming from the first drum into half the seats of the third drum and the components coming from the second drum into the remaining half of the seats of the third drum so that, in the seats of the third drum, the components coming from the first drum are alternated with the components coming from the second drum; the control method is characterized in that it comprises, in case the first feed stops, the steps of: configuring the second drum according to a special configuration, which entrails, between the seats of the second drum, a special pitch, which is smaller than, in particular half, the normal pitch; and transferring the components coming from the second drum into all the seats of the third drum so that all the seats of the third drum are filled with components coming from the second drum without leaving any seat of the third drum empty. the feeding unit comprises: a first feed, which feeds a first flow of components, a second feed, which feeds a second flow of components, a first drum, which is provided with seats receiving the components from the first feed, a second drum, which is provided with seats receiving the components from the second feed, and a third drum, which is provided with seats receiving the components from the first drum and from the second drum; the control method, in case of regular operation of both feeds (3, 4), comprises the steps of: configuring the first drum and the second drum according to a normal configuration, which entails a normal pitch between the corresponding seats (27, 29); and transferring the components coming from the first drum into half the seats of the third drum and the components coming from the second drum into the remaining half of the seats of the third drum so that, in the seats of the third drum, the components coming from the first drum are alternated with the components coming from the second drum; the control method is characterized in that it comprises, in case the first feed stops, the steps of: configuring the second drum according to a special configuration, which entrails, between the seats of the second drum, a special pitch, which is smaller than, in particular half, the normal pitch; and transferring the components coming from the second drum into all the seats of the third drum so that all the seats of the third drum are filled with components coming from the second drum without leaving any seat of the third drum empty. configuring the first drum and the second drum according to a normal configuration, which entails a normal pitch between the corresponding seats (27, 29); and transferring the components coming from the first drum into half the seats of the third drum and the components coming from the second drum into the remaining half of the seats of the third drum so that, in the seats of the third drum, the components coming from the first drum are alternated with the components coming from the second drum; the control method is characterized in that it comprises, in case the first feed stops, the steps of: configuring the second drum according to a special configuration, which entrails, between the seats of the second drum, a special pitch, which is smaller than, in particular half, the normal pitch; and transferring the components coming from the second drum into all the seats of the third drum so that all the seats of the third drum are filled with components coming from the second drum without leaving any seat of the third drum empty. configuring the second drum according to a special configuration, which entrails, between the seats of the second drum, a special pitch, which is smaller than, in particular half, the normal pitch; and transferring the components coming from the second drum into all the seats of the third drum so that all the seats of the third drum are filled with components coming from the second drum without leaving any seat of the third drum empty.