A reader recently asked me if I would share some observations about wooden paddles. He and his girlfriend live in a part of the world where such items are not easily purchased. They would like to manufacture one and wondered how the composition and dimensions alter the results.
I'm not an expert in creating wooden paddles. The truth is that I've never made one. However, I am well acquainted with their use and my thoughts are derived from those experiences.
The following list summarizes my thoughts about wooden paddles.
- All wooden paddles should be handled with care. Wood is harder than bone and can cause serious injury if used improperly. It is essential that spankers learn about any new implement and their partner's response to it before attempting a serious spanking.
- Wooden toys have a well-earned reputation for being harsh, but when used skillfully, they can also be deliciously arousing. It's easy to overgeneralize when judging paddles. Each implement has its own unique characteristics.
- Beware of edges. A lot of the skin damage attributed to paddles is due to abrupt edges along the sides of the striking surface. These should be sanded or machined until they are rounded and smooth.
- Thicker, heavier paddles hit with more force and tend to deliver more ache. With any hardwood paddle over half an inch in thickness, bruising is a particular concern.
Conversely, a thinner, lighter paddle provides more sting and less ache. In my experience, sting seems to be more closely related to velocity than force. A lighter paddle is easier to swing and tends to be applied with a quicker stroke.
- The length of a paddle also affects its characteristics. A short paddle (say, 12-18 inches) is ideal for OTK spankings. With this type of paddle, the spanker often employs considerable wrist action. This increases the velocity at impact and the spankee's perception of sting.
A longer, school or fraternity style paddle is generally used by the spanker while standing. The position allows for a full and unencumbered swing. For the spankee, the combination of maximum force and high velocity yields a very painful swat. This type of spanking is not recommended for beginners, spankees who are slender, or anyone unprepared for the intensity of the experience.
- The size of the impact surface is another important factor in paddle design. While many spankees are intimidated by the appearance of a wide paddle, these are often less severe than a narrower alternative. The reason is that a wider paddle distributes the same force over a larger area of skin surface.
The extreme counter-example is a wooden hairbrush. Unlike most paddles, the hairbrush concentrates the full force of the blow over just a few square inches of bottom. The spankee finds they are very sore very quickly. Anyone who has ever been spanked with a solid wooden hairbrush or bath brush knows exactly what I mean.
- The wood used to manufacture a paddle is also important. Pine is a light, cheap, flexible wood that is completely useless for paddles. Pine paddles break. I've outlasted several!
Better choices are hardwoods like maple, oak, or cherry. These are strong heavy woods that stand up well, even with frequent use over many years.
- Some people prefer a paddle with holes. They insist that holes make it more aerodynamic, but that seems like a dubious claim. However, if the objective is to intimidate the spankee, the holes may help.
When used against a bare or lightly covered bottom, a paddle with holes will tend to cause skin damage at the spots where the rim of each hole stretches the skin. As with edges, any holes should be beveled to minimize the likelihood of serious injury.
- Surface coatings and coverings can change how a paddle feels. For example, I've found that heavy coat of varnish can increase the burn factor somewhat. Covering a wooden paddle with leather seems to reduce the perceived force of the impact.
- I don't believe there are any definitive right or wrong choices in terms of paddles, except in the context of one couple and the spankings they share. Each style serves a purpose. Some experimentation may be required to find the right combination of implement, position, and technique.
These are my observations and your mileage may vary.
I recognize that paddlings aren't everyone's cup of tea. Plenty of spankos live quite happily with no wooden toys at all. But if you too are enamored with the feel, sound, and tradition of wooden paddles, I hope these tips will prove helpful.
Keywords:
paddle,
spanking,
spanking paddle,
wooden paddle,
paddling
