Bass drum tuning can be a real headache. Here are some tips to help. Place a pillow or blanket inside the drum touching Both heads. The amount of contact with the heads will determine the amount of dampening In almost all cases you do not want your bass (kick) drum to ring. You want a fast attack (Slap) followed by a solid Thump . As above keep the striking side tighter for playability (speed) and get your Tone from the bottom (audience side) head.
Play around with heads, single ply, double, ply, coated, clear, dampening rings, and liquid filled all have a very different sound.
Beaters come in all materials and shapes. Round, square, triangle, and materials wood, plastic, felt, leather. Some beaters even have multi-material heads. As a general rule the harder the material the more “slap”. Be aware of the heavy materials that require a very strong spring pressure. These can make “light” playing a challenge and can slow you down.