Bass drum technique is very important; and the drummer needs to place the toe and ball of the foot pushing and controlling the pedal.

Bass drum technique is a most important aspect of drum kit playing and relies on specific technique that can be broken down into the following stages

1. Place your foot on the bass pedal, covering the whole pedal
2. Feel the bass pedal with your toes and always have your toes attached to the bass pedal
3. Move the pedal with your toes leading the way; that is, push with your toes while your toes are in contact with the pedal
4. Feel the beater, that is the part that connects with the bass drum, and with a light touch feel the way it moves with the tips of your toes.
5. In much the same way as dancing, let the bass drum beater move while your toes lightly assist the flow
6. Do not impede the movement of the bass beater by removing the toes from the pedal and jumping on the pedal.  

from www.westlondon-drumtutor.com find a drum teacher in Harrow, Greater London.