Medium hard. A fine choice for the top third register. Great for legato "lead line" playing. Latex cover thickness = 1/32". Developed with DCI Hall of Fame member, Thom Hannum, the Ensemble Series provides a consistency of timbre and tone quality across the full range of the marimba, regardless of which model you choose from the series. These mallets provide a very focused sound for the marimba choir, with a real strength and uniformity in the specific sound. With a plastic core covered in latex