Our experience shows that mallets or hammers in the 10 to 16 ounce weight range, with heads made of nylon or hard plastic, are the most effective for identifying changes when sounding a tree (Figure 1). These tools are often sold as woodworking hammers and may have interchangeable hard rubber and plastic heads. For the field arborist, use of the hard-plastic end produces the best results. Many arborists also use large-faced, rubber mallets, but these are less likely to produce clear and definitive results. However, many variations in types of mallets are in use, and individuals should find the tool they are comfortable with that produces the best results for them.
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