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Replacing the stock bass drum beater from your kick drum pedal with a higher quality model has the potential to boost your bass drum sound, enhance your playing feel, and add versatility to your setup.
Bass drum beaters need to be sturdy and reliable, considering that they determine how your bass drum sounds. If you’re someone who plays quite hard, you need a beater with sturdy material. If you play softly, a lighter material will be more optimal.
There are dozens of bass drum beaters available, offering many different beater materials, weights, and designs. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best ones to choose from. I’ve compared them by performance, sound, build quality, and cost.
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Bass Drum Beaters
When picking different bass drum beaters to test, I made sure to try out a versatile range of options. There are so many materials and styles, so I wanted to find the best picks for each design.
When testing with each beater, I played a variety of bass drum patterns with a range of dynamics. This gave me a general idea of how the beater sounded and how it responded to the bass drumhead.
I then took a closer look at the beater design, seeing how it could be used in different ways and deciding which musical styles it would work well for.
By the end of my testing process, I was able to find some amazing beaters that would work brilliantly for jazz, rock, metal, pop and a host of other musical applications.
Bass Drum Beaters Reviews
DW SM101 Two-Way Bass Drum Beater
DW SM101 Two-Way Bass Drum Beater Review
The DW SM101 Two-Way Bass Drum Beater is one of my favorite bass drum beaters on the market.
This is a classic beater that has an excellent build quality, and its heavy weight makes it feel really good to play.
This versatile bass drum beater offers two playing sides. The plastic side produces a greater attack with more bass drum ‘click’, whilst the felt side offers a softer, traditional sound and feel.
I also found that it’s a universal-sized kick beater that fits inside a few different pedals that I tried.
This DW bass drum beater achieves a powerful sound out of a kick drum thanks to the weight and size of the beater head.
Whether you like to play pop, jazz, or rock-solid grooves – the DW two-way kick beater is a versatile beater that provides a satisfying response.
It’s the choice of professional drummers worldwide and my top pick as the best bass drum beater for all types of players.
Pros
- Achieves a powerful bass drum sound
- Versatile two-sided bass drum beater makes it ideal for all styles of music
- Professional's choice as the bass drum beater
Cons
- Felt side will eventually wear down
Tama Accu-Strike Bass Drum Beater
Tama Accu-Strike Bass Drum Beater Review
The Tama Accu-Strike Bass Drum Beater is a brand new and innovative kick drum beater that has been designed to be the best bass drum beater on the market.
This kick beater is Tama’s top-of-the-range beater that offers superior performance and has an exceptional lifespan – lasting much longer than competitors’ kick drum beaters.
This kick beater uses a butadiene rubber impact material that will not wear down like traditional felt beaters are expected to.
The unique material also produces a great level of attack and punch from the kick drum whilst offering a consistent and responsive bass drum feel.
I quite enjoy the feel of the beater, as it gives me fantastic rebound while keeping a sharp level of attack.
The Tama Accu-Strike beater is an excellent invention by Tama, and it offers the perfect balance of power and weight, combined with an incredible level of resistance to wear.
Pros
- Butadiene rubber material will not wear down like traditional felt beaters
- Best bass drum beater for attack and punch
- Fast and responsive due to smaller surface area upon impact
Cons
- Only one beater head material
- Potentially too light for all players' tastes
DW DWSM105 Hardcore Bass Drum Beater
DW DWSM105 Hardcore Bass Drum Beater Review
Next for review, we have the DW DWSM105 Hardcore Bass Drum Beater and this is a top-of-the-range, premium kick drum beater that has been designed to deliver optimal power depending on the way you play for the ultimate playing feel.
This bass drum beater is DW’s flagship model and it has been designed with DW’s patented Hard Plastic Core that’s embedded in soft foam.
The DW HardCore beater gives you both the response of a felt beater when you play softly, and the attack and impact of a hard plastic or wood beater when you lay into it.
Both sides of the beater feel amazing to play, so I love how versatile this beater is for any drummer who loves either material.
The DW HardCore bass drum beater is pretty expensive, but it is one of the best bass drum beaters on the market. It feels great to play no matter what style of music you perform and produces killer sounds from your bass drum.
If you are hunting for the ultimate bass drum beater, this is a brilliantly designed product to use with your bass drum pedal that has excellent weight and feel; and it is perfect for all styles of music.
Pros
- Incredible feel and playing response
- Innovative hybrid design provides an ideal sound no matter what style of music you play
- Excellent feel and weight
Cons
- Expensive bass drum beater
Trick Drums Dominator Bass Drum Beater
Trick Drums Dominator Bass Drum Beater Review
The Trick Drums Dominator Bass Drum Beater is a premium, all-metal kick drum beater that is constructed of solid aluminum for a perfectly balanced and powerful feel.
This kick drum beater feels heavier than other options, and very sturdy too. It’s a very high-quality unit and it packs an enormous punch!
If you have never played a kick drum pedal with a metal beater, you will be pleasantly surprised by how good they feel to play. It feels very solid and balanced, and it delivers a solid impact.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed using this beater. I even got two to put on a double pedal and had a fantastic time bashing out powerful blast beats.
This is one of the best bass drum beaters that I personally love. It offers a heavy feel, while still being supremely playable. It looks and sounds fantastic and has the perfect balance of speed and power.
One thing to note – metal bass drum beaters are more prone to damaging bass drum heads, so you’ll need to buy a bass drum patch to make sure you don’t break a drumhead mid-gig!
Pros
- Machined aluminum construction
- Solid impact and powerful attack
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Metal beater can break through drumheads easier
PDP PDAX101 Two-Sided Bass Drum Beater
PDP PDAX101 Two-Sided Bass Drum Beater Review
The PDP Two-Sided Bass Drum Beater is an affordable yet well-designed bass drum beater with a universal fit, meaning that it will work with any bass drum pedal.
I found this beater to be seriously reliable. It didn’t offer anything fancy, but it worked incredibly well while having a low cost.
This PDP bass drum beater offers excellent value for money, and it’s the best bass drum beater to buy on a budget. It is superior to any other kick drum beater in the entry-level price range.
It feels great to play, and it comes equipped with a versatile two-sided beater head; allowing you to choose between a traditional felt side for a softer sound or a firm plastic side with a brighter punch.
Despite its affordable price tag, this kick drum beater certainly delivers a lot of attack, and I’m pleased with the overall construction of the product.
If you are looking for a budget kick drum beater, this is the best bass drum pedal for the money and is superior to all of the other cheap competitor beaters out there online.
Pros
- Two versatile playing surfaces included
- Best bass drum beater on a budget
- Solid and reliable construction
Cons
- Felt sides will wear down
Danmar Wood Bass Drum Beater
Danmar Wood Bass Drum Beater Review
The Danmar Wood Bass Drum Beater is an awesome kick drum beater that fits most peals. It features a solid hardwood head that delivers a bright and punchy attack.
This wooden bass drum beater delivers a serious amount of power to your kick drum. It produces a lot of attack, with a present click sound that works great for most modern styles of music.
The wooden beater gave me a similar amount of attack to a metal one, but it didn’t feel as heavy or aggressive, which I quite enjoyed.
The Danmar wood bass drum beater has a bend-resistant rod that won’t warp over time, and the beater head is permanently attached to offer worry-free and consistent performance for a long time.
Pros
- Delivers a powerful kick drum sound
- Distinctive visual appeal
- Excellent build quality and design
Cons
- Not versatile for all styles of music
Gibraltar Felt Bass Drum Beater
Gibraltar Felt Bass Drum Beater Review
Next up for review is the Gibraltar Felt Bass Drum Beater, which is a conventional style circular felt bass drum beater that serves well for a variety of musical styles.
This is an affordable bass drum beater that is inspired by a classic design, and it produces both a warm and punchy kick drum sound. The felt used in construction is very dense meaning it has a strong resistance to wear and tear.
You can never get tired of using a felt beater, and this one just offered the same sound and feel that I grew up playing with.
The beaters are fairly heavy and they produce a classic, old school sound. They also feel nice to play, and overall this is a good investment for anyone looking to upgrade their stock bass drum beater.
Pros
- Classic design is highly functional
- Strong resistance to wear and tear
- Very firm and durable felt beater
Cons
- Lacks modern design
Low Boy Puff Daddy Bass Drum Beater
Low Boy Puff Daddy Bass Drum Beater Review
Up next we have the unique Low Boy Puff Daddy Bass Drum Beater– and this is a distinctive bass drum pedal beater that features a pillowy surface for a warm and rounded kick drum sound.
It’s a distinctive looking and sounding kick drum beater that makes this the perfect gift for rock, blues, jazz, or Motown drummers.
This kick beater is precision-made North American hard maple, wrapped with a soft and puffy lambswool strip that emulates the original lamb’s wool beaters that helped forge the iconic jazz bass drum sound.
When using the Low Boy Puff Daddy kick beater compared to conventional plastic or felt beaters, there is a noticeable difference. It creates a warm and boomy sound and it works perfectly for dynamic and lighter playing.
This beater inspired me to play jazzy grooves and patterns on my kit. It’s the perfect jazz option, especially when your bass drum is tuned to sound open and booming.
The iconic conical shape and solid-wood construction of the Low Boy beater delivers unbeatable punch and output despite a low playing weight. So whether you’re a rocker or a bopper, Low Boy bass beaters offer fantastic projection, clarity, and control.
Pros
- Ideal for dynamic and lighter drumming
- Produces warm and boomy sounds
- Best bass drum beater for Jazz and Motown music
Cons
- Not versatile for all styles of music
- Premium price tag
- Lambswool will wear down and needs replacing
Bass Drum Beater Buyer’s Guide
The type of bass drum beater you’re using has the power to influence your sound and support the music that you play.
Some drummers also find certain materials more comfortable than others, so it’s good to understand the differences between all your options.
The best bass drum beaters feature multiple sides with different materials– that offer unique sounds and playing responses.
You can swap these around with your bass drum pedal to fit whatever sound you’re going for. These are typically more expensive options.
Here’s a list of beater materials that you’ll commonly find:
Beater Materials
Felt
Felt is the most common type of bass drum beater that you’ll come across. It’s an all-purpose material that works very well in all settings. Most affordable beaters have felt surfaces.
The ones with felt all over have a ball shape and are the cheapest beaters you can find. Unfortunately, they don’t last as long as other types of beaters.
Two-side beaters mostly have a felt side, and those are more expensive to get.
Rubber
Rubber beaters have a more defined sound than felt beaters. They also offer slightly more rebound. If you like to dig your beater into the bass drumhead, you may find using a rubber beater uncomfortable.
Their defined sound makes it feel like your bass drum has more attack. This makes them excellent options for loud styles of music.
Rubber is a more expensive material to use, so rubber beaters are some of the pricier options you’ll find.
Plastic
Plastic beaters are almost as common as felt ones. They bring out a pretty bright sound from your bass drum, causing your kicks to sound very distinct. You get plenty of volume from these, making them great for aggressive music.
Prices vary drastically with plastic beaters. Some cheap beaters have plastic heads, while other high-priced two-sided beaters have a plastic side.
Wood
Wood beaters provide an earthy tone from your bass drum. These aren’t as common as the previous beaters, and they’re typically made more often by smaller boutique drum brands, such as Low Boy.
You get a warm sound that isn’t too bright. They’re fantastic for soft and medium settings and work well in loud settings if you lay into the bass drum with greater force.
Metal
Metal is the least common material used for bass drum beaters. The hardness makes the beater cause a heavily impactful sound from the bass drum. These are great for when you want maximum volume.
They’re much heavier than other beaters, requiring more effort to play. They’re also prone to damaging your drumhead if you don’t have a protective patch on it.
I’d only suggest using a metal beater if you need some serious volume for live playing.
Fluffy
Fluffy bass drum beaters are your softest option. They eliminate most of the attack that you’re used to and replace it with round warmth.
It helps you to achieve a really mellow, vintage sound. These are great for jazz drumming and other softer styles of music you might play in bars and clubs.
Fluffy bass drum beaters are specialty options, so they’re usually a lot more expensive than the other materials I’ve mentioned.
What Features to Look for in a Bass Drum Beater
Two-Sided
It’s always ideal to have multiple sides to choose from with a bass drum beater. Having two materials to use gives you extended playability and allows you to cater best to different scenarios with your bass drum sound.
If you only play one style of music, a single material type should be fine. You’ll spend less on a one-sided beater.
Memory Lock
This small feature often goes unnoticed, but it’s very useful when a beater comes with a memory lock. This allows you to tighten a lug in place that saves your height position.
When taking the beater off, you’ll be able to set it at the same height in your bass drum pedal, thanks to that memory lock.
You can buy these separately for a few dollars, but it saves you money and time when a beater comes with one.
Bass Drum Beater FAQs
What Bass Drum Beater Should You Use For Electronic Drums?
Plastic beaters are the most ideal for electronic drums, especially if the bass drum has a mesh pad. Other beater materials may seem fine at the beginning, but they damage the head over time. This is especially true with felt beaters.
How Does Bass Drum Beater Height Affect Sound?
The higher your beater is positioned, the louder your bass drum will be. This is thanks to your pedal having more height behind your strokes. However, placing the beater too high will cause it to strike off-center from the drumhead. The closer the beater is to the center, the fuller your tone will be.
Do Felt Bass Drum Beaters Wear Down?
Yes, felt beaters will slowly wear out over time, especially with frequent and hard use. Harder materials such as wood or plastic will not wear away, but they are also more unforgiving on bass drum heads, so I recommend using an impact patch with harder beater surfaces.
