I second the Real Feel. But her's what I do:
I practice on a pice of foam, so that it absorbs the stick strikes - that will build the muscles up big time because it forces you to actually manipulate each strike of a roll, but what it doesn't do - is build the response reaction that you get from the stick's rebound.
So, you'll need a drumpad to build up the response factor once you build the muscles.
I have a Remo drumpad, and it is really loud. So, I wound up getting a real feel.
Get the double sided one, you'll be glad you did, and if you get a 12" one, you can put it on a snare stand.
Tim