Felt gong hammers

The right felt gong mallet transforms the way your gong sounds. A well-chosen mallet draws out deep, warm fundamental tones and rich overtones from your instrument, while the wrong one can produce harsh, thin strikes that fall short of the gong's potential. Our collection of felt gong mallets covers every playing style and gong size — from soft, heavy strikers for deep meditation work to firm friction mallets for sustained singing tones.

Every mallet we carry is built for the demands of regular sound healing practice. Dense felt cores wrapped in high-quality wool or synthetic felt deliver consistent, controlled strikes session after session. Whether you are outfitting a professional sound bath practice or choosing your first mallet for a new gong, this collection has the right tool for your instrument and your intention.

Types of Gong Mallets

Understanding the different felt gong mallet types helps you choose the right tool for your playing style and the sound you want to create:

Striking Mallets (Beaters)

Striking mallets are the standard tool for playing gongs. They feature a round felt head mounted on a wooden or fiberglass handle. When swung against the gong face, the felt head compresses on impact and releases, producing a clear, resonant strike. The softness and density of the felt determine the tone quality — softer felt yields warmer, rounder tones; denser felt produces more articulation and attack.

Friction Mallets (Flumi / Rubbing Mallets)

Friction mallets are designed to be pressed against the gong's surface and moved in slow, circular motions. This creates a continuous, singing tone that builds in intensity as the gong resonates. Friction mallets typically have a flat or slightly rounded felt surface and a longer handle for leverage. They are essential for practitioners who want to create sustained, evolving soundscapes without repeated strikes.

Warming Mallets

Warming mallets are large, very soft mallets used to gently activate the gong before a session. By lightly rubbing or tapping the gong surface, they bring the metal to life without producing loud strikes. Warming up your gong this way allows it to respond more fully and produce richer harmonics when you begin playing in earnest.

Comparing Mallet Types

Choosing the Right Mallet Size

The size of your felt gong mallet should match the size of your gong. A mallet that is too small will not move enough air to activate the gong's full voice. A mallet that is too large can overwhelm a small gong and make volume control difficult.

Mallet Size Guide

General rule: The mallet head diameter should be roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of your gong's diameter. This ratio provides the best balance between tonal depth and control.

How to Use a Gong Mallet

Proper mallet technique makes a significant difference in the sound you produce and the longevity of both your mallet and your gong.

Striking Technique

• Grip: Hold the handle loosely, about 2/3 of the way down from the head. A relaxed grip allows the mallet to bounce naturally off the gong, producing a cleaner tone.
• Contact point: Strike at or near the center of the gong for the deepest fundamental tone. Move toward the rim for brighter overtones.
• Let gravity work: Swing from the shoulder, not the wrist. Let the weight of the mallet head do the work rather than forcing the strike. This produces a fuller, more controlled sound.
• Follow through: Allow the mallet to bounce away from the gong surface after contact. Holding the mallet against the gong after striking dampens the vibration and cuts the sustain short.

Friction Technique

• Angle: Press the mallet flat against the gong surface at a slight angle.
• Pressure: Apply firm, consistent pressure. Too light and the mallet slides without engaging the metal; too heavy and it drags without producing tone.
• Speed: Move slowly in a circular or arc pattern. The tone builds gradually as the gong begins to resonate with the friction.
• Patience: Friction playing takes practice. Start with larger gongs (24 inches+) where the surface area makes it easier to establish a sustained tone.

Caring for Your Felt Gong Mallets

• Storage: Store mallets upright or hanging, with the felt head free from contact with hard surfaces. Never rest them head-down on the floor.
• Cleaning: Brush the felt surface gently with a soft brush to remove dust and fiber buildup. For deeper cleaning, use a lint roller or lightly damp cloth and allow the felt to dry completely before use.
• Felt wear: Over time, the striking surface will develop a slight indentation from repeated use. This is normal. Rotate the mallet slightly between sessions to distribute wear evenly across the felt surface.
• Handle care: Wooden handles can dry out in low-humidity environments. A light application of linseed oil once a year keeps wood handles in good condition.
• Replacement: When the felt becomes excessively compressed, hardened, or uneven, the tone quality will decline. At that point, it is time for a new mallet — worn felt cannot be effectively restored.

Building Your Mallet Collection

Most serious practitioners keep multiple mallets on hand to vary their sound palette during sessions:

• Essential pair: One soft striking mallet for warm, meditative tones and one medium mallet for fuller, more dynamic playing.
• Add a friction mallet: Opens up an entirely different dimension of sound — continuous, singing tones that build and evolve.
• Consider size variety: If you play gongs of different sizes, keep mallets sized for each one rather than using a single mallet for everything.
• Warming mallet: A large, very soft mallet dedicated to pre-session warm-up ensures your gong is always ready to perform at its best.

Explore Related Collections

Our mallets are designed to pair with every gong in our gong instruments collection. If you need a stand for your gong, browse our gong stands and holders. Looking for a complete setup? Our gongs with stand sets bundle everything you need to start playing immediately.

Why Choose Healing Sounds

We select mallets that match the quality of our hand-hammered gongs. Each mallet in our collection is tested for balance, felt density, and tonal response to ensure it produces the warm, rich sound that sound healing demands. A great gong deserves a great mallet — and we make sure every mallet we offer meets that standard.

Frequently Asked Questions About Felt Gong Mallets