The Wooden Paddle as a Disciplinary Tool

The Wooden Paddle as a Disciplinary Tool 

England has the cane, Scotland has the tawse, France has the martinet, the wooden paddle is 100% all American. Very few implements conjure up fear in the eyes of those about to be punished as much as a wooden paddle. There is a very good reason to be fearful, the wooden paddle is capable of producing a sting unlike any other implement. In addition to the pain of the initial impact, the pain of a proper paddling is carried with that individual for many days to come.

The wooden paddle is the traditional implement of choice for most schools in the United States that still allow corporal punishment. It is an effective implement, when applied with force, regardless of the state of dress of the individual receiving it. The wooden paddle is also a common implement that is used in Sororities and Fraternities across the US. It is sometimes used for traditions, it is occasionally used as a punishment. On any account, a person who has received a wooden paddle, applied full force across their bottom, will tell you it is a painful and memorable experience.

School Paddling

Nationwide, 30 years ago, a school paddling was quite a common experience. Currently, there are a handful of states, mostly in the South, that still use corporal punishment. While a strap is occasionally used (mostly in private schools) that paddle still reigns King. The paddles are often made in the school woodshop, sometimes even by the students who may one day be the recipients of their own creation. Most schools have spelled out in their policies exactly how a paddling must be administered. While school policies vary, in general a paddling must be administered in front of a witness, out of the view of other students, with a maximum number of swats specified. Positioning of the student is often left up to the discretion of the person administering the punishment. Bent over a desk, grabbing ankles, and hands on the wall tend to be the most common positions used. Our personal experiences and those that have been described to us by others to have been paddled at school show that 2-6 swats is the most common number administered. Some school policies allow as many as 10 per infraction, but we have not found a paddling consisting of this many strokes to be the norm.

Being paddled at school most commonly occurs at the hands of the school principal, vice principal, or by the coach of one of the athletics programs. Being that the school vice principal generally is in charge of a school's disciplinary action, being paddle by the VP is the most common instance of a school paddling. Some school districts only allow the paddling of male students, others allow students of either sex to be paddled. More than half of the schools that allow females to be paddled, require the person administering the punishment to be the same sex as the person being paddled. It is quite common for the coach of an athletic team to take disciplinary measures into his/her own hands. We have heard many accounts of athletes being paddled in the locker room in full view of the rest of the team.

Some school districts allow the teachers in each classroom access to their own paddle so they can stop disciplinary problems as they occur. Once again, a witness is generally required, but teachers are allowed to take students out into the hallway and paddle them. This is generally done in such a manner that every student in neighboring classrooms can at least hear the paddling being administered. We know for a fact that there are many schools in Oklahoma where this is a daily occurrence.

Regardless of the person administering the paddling, in general, a school paddling is a very painful experience. On the two occasions that I was personally paddled, in a Texas school, it was some of the most intense pain I had ever felt in my life to that point. The "licks" were applied full force, by a very large man, with the intention of teaching me a lesson I would never forget. While I have mixed emotions on school paddling, the ones I received were a very effective deterrent on future undesirable behavior. Most of the accounts that we can verify, or trust the source, are similar in nature to my experiences. I do not know of a single instance of someone saying that a school paddling did not hurt, or was not something they feared. Miss J also grew up in the Texas school system and was paddled on multiple occasions. She has been paddled by both male and female administrators and all occasions she said it hurt like hell. Teen Jessica's experiences are a perfect example of how severe a school paddling can really be. She was paddled more times than she can count, all the way up to her senior year, and in almost every instance she carried the marks of her paddling for many days. While I have mixed emotions about school personnel being empowered to paddle the kids of America, there is no doubt that a wooden paddle leaves a long lasting impression on whoever receives it.

The Proper use of a Paddle in a Adult Disciplinary Relationship

There are many consenting adults in this world who use corporal punishment as a tool to enhance their sexuality. There are also many others that use corporal punishment as a corrective tool within their current relationship. My focus for the rest of this article will be on using a wooden paddle as an effective tool to correct undesirable behavior. This is not a guide for parents. This is strictly meant as a reference for consenting adults who are looking to use a wooden paddle as an effective means of discipline between consenting adults.

The first thing that must be said when considering the use of a wooden paddle for punishment, is that a wooden paddle, when used improperly is dangerous. It can cause serious and permanent damage. For the most part wood is harder than bone. There are some woods that are softer than a human bone, but most of us cannot identify which is which. For the purpose of this discussion, we will assume any wooden paddle has the potential to break or crack a bone. I will do my best to layout some guidelines that will prevent any permanent injury from occurring. Keep in mind when using a heavy implement like a wooden paddle that you are taking risks and the writer of this article assumes no responsibility for your actions.

The wooden paddle can be a wonderful thing. Nothing says "You are in Trouble" quicker than pulling out a large wooden school type paddle. I personally recommend its use only for times when a severe punishment is required. While some implements hurt only for the duration of the punishment itself, a paddle can create a punishment that will stay with the person in trouble for many days to come. Nothing is more effective than a punishment that continues to linger for 2-3 days. If used properly and effectively, as few as 6 strokes can emphasize the point that needs to be made.

Paddle Selection:

There are many types of wooden paddles that can be used. Different people react differently to various paddles. Thickness of the paddle is the first issue that needs to be considered. A paddle that is too thin will often result in a broken paddle. Too thick of a paddle can produce injury that needs to be avoided. My personal experience administering a paddling has found a 1/2" paddle to do the trick. It is just heavy enough to produce a good balance between a "sting" and a "thud". The sting is effective during the paddling and produces the pain required to produce the proper amount of tears. The thud is what the person who has been punished will carry with them for several days. If you are looking to only make an impression for the duration of the punishment, a thinner paddle will cause sufficient sting, but will not cause the deep down pain that a person will carry with them for days. A heavier paddle will cause deeper bruising, effecting more than just the skin layer, but also the underlying muscles. This will result in a sore bottom for many days to come.

We must next consider the length and width of a paddle. I do not like for the blade of the paddle to be too long. Paddle strokes must be concentrated on the fleshier parts of the bottom. Too long of a paddle increases the risks of spanking beyond the bottom itself. We do not want to paddle the sides of the hips, so longer does not mean better in regards to paddles. I keep a large selection of paddle (see photo references below), so I can choose one that best fits the bottom that I am punishing. The width of the paddle can greatly effect the amount of pain involved. Thinner width paddles tend to strike much more specifically. It tends to add to the surface area of the bottom that is actually compressed due to the paddle blow. I find that the thinner paddles tend to leave more marks as a result. A paddle that is wide, better distributes the force to the entire bottom. My personal choice is a paddle that is about an inch smaller in width than the person I am paddlings bottom is tall. This allows one stroke of the paddle to cover the entire bottom.

The length of the handle greatly effects the amount of force that is applied. A longer handle allows a swing with greater velocity to be achieved. Although, a longer handle can also effect accuracy. I like to use paddles with a handle that is about 10-12 inches long. This allows for an adequate swing, but still allows me to control the paddle enough to assure that I am on target.

Holes or no holes? Holes in a paddle serve a couple of different purposes. The first is intimidation. There is just something about a paddle with holes in it that makes it look scary. When giving a person about to be paddled a choice of paddles, I have never seen anyone choose one with holes. The reason being, they are more scared of a paddle with holes. Does a paddle with holes really hurt more? The concept of holes in a paddle is fairly simple. Holes reduce the wind resistance of a paddle. In theory a paddle with holes will travel a little faster than one without. Another element to this is the impact. When a paddle strikes a bottom there is air that must be moved out the way for the impact to take place. When the are holes in a paddle, there are more ways for the air to travel away from the bottom, thus leaving quicker. This equates to less resistance, a faster swat, with more impact. In addition, depending on the size of the holes, the bottom can compress slightly into these holes. If the holes are large enough, and the paddle is applied on a bare bottom, this can lead to compression marks, which are often referred to as "blisters". I do not really know if this provides an increased sensitivity to the area that was impacted by the holes, but it generally provides additional marking in that area. I must provide a note of caution in regards to paddles with holes. Simply drilling holes in a paddle, is not a safe way to go about it. Holes that have only been drilled tend to leave sharp edges on each hole. This greatly improves the chance of cutting the skin when it compresses into the hole. A paddle with proper holes will have been drilled and then beveled, making the edges of the holes less sharp, thus reducing the chances of cutting the skin (something we never want to happen).

Positioning

Now that we have selected our paddle we must consider how to position the person to be punished. This is one of the most important parts in regards to safety. When simply standing straight up, our tailbone tends to sit pretty low on our bottoms. It is very important when using a paddle to always be very aware of where the tailbone is on the person being punished. Do not be shy, press hard on the buttocks and locate the tailbone. Be aware of exactly where it sits in any position you may choose. As a person bends over, the location of the tailbone becomes higher. This is our goal when bending someone over for a paddling, to get the tailbone out of the way. Remember, wood is harder than bone and hitting the tailbone can crack it. A broken tailbone does not always fully heal and can cause moderate pain for a lifetime. Bending someone over 90 degrees is ideal when applying a wooden paddle to their bottom. It moves the tailbone to a location in which a properly placed paddle stroke will not strike it. Having someone grabbing their ankles, moves the tailbone nice and high, but it also has the effect of pulling the tissue and muscles that protect the tailbone very tight, thus not protecting it quite as well. This is why a 90 degree bend is ideal (see photo references for details). NEVER have someone lay down flat on a bed or the floor and apply a wooden paddle to their bottom. This is essentially the same position as standing and it leaves the tailbone to low on the bottom and easily damaged. There is really no safe place to swat someone's bottoms if they are laying flat, without any bend in their waist at all. In addition, while lying flat the tailbone is as covered as it can be with tissue and muscle, making it hard to locate.

Legs wide or legs together makes little difference as far as I am concerned. I personally like to position the person to be punished with their legs wide, thus increasing their feeling of exposure. As long as the swats are accurate, there is no further safety issues with a wide stance. If made to bend over and grab their ankles or their knees, a wide stance will help with the balance and keep them from falling over after a hard swat. If someone was made to grab their ankles, with their feet together, there is the possibility of them being knocked over with each swat. I personally like to have the person being punished bent in such a way that their head is above their heart. Anytime the head is lower than the heart there is bloodflow issues that may lead to dizziness. I do not want the person in trouble distracted with issues such as feeling light headed. I want the full concentration to be on the pain on their bottom. This also allows me to take as long as I like with the punishment. While I often choose a position that is very uncomfortable to the person being punished, discomfort is not as much of a concern as someone passing out or feeling faint.

I think that the act of positioning someone for a paddle should be quite a formality. I like to be very specific about what position they must assume. I will generally fine tune each and every part of their body in order to get them into the exact position that I want them in. This servers the purpose of clearly showing who is in charge and who is running things. There is also a very submissive aspect of having to be so cooperative in the preparation of their own punishment. In addition, it delays the punishment, thus increasing the fear and the apprehension of what is about to transpire. The entire act of preparing to be punished can be just as powerful mentally as the application of the paddle itself. See the photo references below for suggested positions and ones that I prefer.

Bare Bottom or over Clothes?

One of the great things about the paddle is it can be a very effective form of discipline over just about any amount of clothing. Clothing does cut down on the sting factor, but if the paddle is swung with enough force (and is thick enough) little can be done to control the amount of thud. When an immediate punishment is called for, over the clothes can be properly effective. Certainly, a bare bottom punishment is the most effective for many reasons. The obvious one being that no clothes equals less paddling and more sting. If you felt you needed to use a wooden paddle in the first place, certainly this should be a punishment that will be felt as much as possible. Having someone lower their pants and underwear is a powerful emotional tool. It once against places them in the role of having to assist in their own punishment. Clearly, most people are not as comfortable as they can be when they have their clothes around their ankles and they are bending over, showing anyone present their most intimate areas. While I try to be respectful of anyone I am punishing, a small amount of humiliation goes a long way (please note there is a big difference between someone feeling slightly humiliated and someone feeling degraded). There is nothing quite as humbling as bending over, presenting your bare bottom, and waiting for the first swat from a wooden paddle. Before the swats even start we have the beginning of an effective punishment.

Applying the Swats

Being of the opinion that a wooden paddle should be used only when someone's behavior really warrants it, I feel that the paddle should be applied with considerable force. Keep in mind that just like with any other implement, there is a bit of a learning curve. Clearly, the first time you ever swing a wooden paddle with a real person's bottom as a target, you should not use a full swing. You need to make sure that you have worked on your accuracy, before you try to use a paddle to its full potential. A lot can be accomplished with just a swing of your wrist and I suggest you start with a swing like this before progressing to a bigger swing. Just using your wrist will improve your accuracy a great deal. A good practice tool is to take a pair of jeans, zip and snap them, and then shove a few bedroom pillows into them to fill them out. You now have the perfect practice target to work on. Pick where you would like to swat (more on target area in a moment) and try to hit the same spot every time. While swinging a paddle is not an exact science, you should get as close to you can to perfect accuracy with every swing. Once you have gained some skill using only your wrist, try adding additional momentum by using your forearm as well. This will give you a paddle swing in which your upper arm does not move at all and all of the force is being generated by your arm below the elbow and with your wrist. Once you achieve a degree of skill using this swing, try involving your entire arm from the shoulder down. Do not attempt this type of swing until you can hit exactly what you are aiming at every time.

When you are ready to paddle an actual person, we should keep in mind what are target area is. As discussed before, we need to make sure we do not come close to the tailbone. Being that the upper half of the bottom has the potential to strike the tailbone, the lower part of the bottom will be the target. The very fleshiest part of the bottom is what you want to aim for. This is often called the "sit spot". We accomplish two thing by hitting here. The first is it is the safest place to swat and has the lowest chance of producing unwanted damage. Second, this is the part that makes contact when people sit down. By applying all of the swats here, we are assured that the person will remember their paddling every time they sit for the next couple of days. A paddling is not like a handspanking, we are not trying to cover the entire bottom with paddle strokes. When I give a paddling, every swat lands in exactly the same place. The upside of this is I know that spot will be very sore. The downside is that repeated hard swats in the same place tend to make a bottom go numb. There are a few ways to get around this. The first is to apply several swats, place them in corner time or something similar, and continue when you know their bottom is not so numb. You can also rub the bottom between strokes, returning some of the sensation to that area. Or, you can just keep paddling, knowing that the punishment will still be felt the next day and hope that is enough to teach a proper lesson.

The nature of a paddle swing and the way a paddle is constructed tends to lend itself to the butt cheek on the opposite side of where you are standing, taking more of the punishment. While you can adjust your stance as well as your swing to try and make the impact a little more uniform, you can never fully fix this problem. The dynamics of a paddle make it so that the end of the paddle will always be traveling at a higher velocity than the part of the blade closest to the handle. Regardless of your hand position or your stance, there is no way to change this. For me, it does not really effect the way I paddle. I do not have the accuracy with my left hand to switch hit and make both sides even, so I just apply a proper punishment, knowing that the right side (for me, being right handed) will always receive more. Regardless, when all is said and done their bottom will be sore enough to assure a proper lesson has been learned.

Please keep in mind that most of this discussion is based on the fact that I am assuming this is between consenting adults, with some experience with spanking. This leads me to the discussion of how much force should be used. For me, a paddling means someone has found themselves in an enormous amount of trouble. If this infraction is bad enough that a wooden paddle is going to be used, I see no point in giving soft swats. I tend to swing a paddle between 75-90% of what I am capable of. I expect to see tears before the 3rd swat. I expect that when I am done applying the paddling there will be considerable bruising. A pink bottom alone, will not leave the long lasting impression that I hoped to achieve with the paddle. Generally, a properly applied paddling will leave a bullseye appearance on the bottom (see photo references below). The mark on the right cheek will be much more pronounced, but there will still be a slight bullseye on the left cheek as well. When I see the traditional bullseye look, I know that this person will be sitting gingerly for many days to come.

Opinions certainly vary as to how many paddle swats to apply. I do not feel all that many are required. If the paddling is being applied with enough force, 10 or less will do the trick. Even a severe paddling does not need to be brutal. 10 proper swats, in my experience, will always get the job done. If several hours after a hard paddling, an attitude change is not evident, then you can always apply another paddling. Even more effective, is to apply the additional paddling the next morning when the bottom is as sore as it can get. I generally require anyone being paddled to count the swats. I feel this accomplishes two things. The first is that I can hear their voice, which is always a good gauge as to how effective a punishment is. Some people cry very quietly and you cannot tell how the paddling is affecting them. When they are counting aloud, I can always here the change in their voice pattern and quickly know how much of an impression I am making. Making them count adds once again to the emotional aspect. They are in some way helping me with their own punishment by counting. There is an added submissive element by making them count the swats out loud.

A wooden paddle is a very effective form of discipline. It can teach a proper lesson quicker than any implement I know of. At the levels I have described it should only be used by experienced players. You need to know what you are doing and how you are going to do it. Do not just pick up a paddle and start swinging. Know your abilities, and most importantly, know the limits of the person you are paddling. Make the punishment fit the crime, but do not be abusive. A proper paddling, applied effectively enough has been known to completely eliminate undesirable behavior, from a single application.

* Thank you to Michael Masterson for this excellent article.