Practice pads may be designed to approximate the tension and response of a true drumhead when struck, or to provide less rebound to train the percussionist’s muscles.
[2] Some practice pads use a disk of mylar, or another material used in the construction of true drumheads, stretched over a substrate such as foam or rubber.
The rubber is designed to reflect a drumstick or mallet after being struck in a way similar to that of a true drumhead.
The mesh is quieter when struck than rubber or mylar, and can be tuned to mimic different types of drum head by tightening and loosening it in the frame.
[4] These devices can be placed on a wide variety of surfaces including the player’s lap, a tabletop or the head of an actual drum.