The invention is directed to a beater for operating a drum, the beater comprising the following: a main body (10) having a beating part (11) which is removably attached to the main body (10); a shaft (20) on which the main body (10) is mounted, at least one recess (12) being formed in the main body (10) for accommodating a bulk body, wherein one side of the recess is delimited by a bottom surface (11a) of the beating part (11) so that the recess (12) is accessible from outside when the beating part (11) is removed. A pivot bearing of the main body (10) at the shaft (20) can be realized by a friction surface between the main body (10) and the shaft (20).