A percussion mallet is a tool used to create sound by striking an instrument such as a drum or xylophone. There are various types of percussion mallets, each with different materials and shapes that produce different sounds. For example, a soft mallet is generally made of yarn or rubber and is used for delicate percussion instruments. A hard mallet is typically made of wood or plastic and is suitable for larger percussion instruments, such as the marimba or vibraphone. Additionally, there are also specialized mallets, such as bass drum mallets and timpani mallets. Other terms for percussion mallets include beaters, sticks, hammers, and mallet-tipped drumsticks.