THIS ENTRY WAS POSTED ON October 27, 2022 BY The Pleasure Chest.
If you’ve ever spanked someone or been spanked and enjoyed it, you’ve already begun your journey into the world of impact play. Spanking is typically the gateway that folks experience before diving into impact play more seriously, and a lot of things can fall under the impact play umbrella. Before we get into the finer details and product recommendations, let’s define the types of impact play and learn the safety concerns, materials involved and language used to describe its sensations.
What is impact play?
Impact play is the act of one partner's body receiving an impact (or a hit) by another partner for gratification. Spanking, slapping, hitting, punching and flogging are just a few examples. It’s a common practice in many BDSM play dynamics, especially dom/sub partnerships where role play results in an uneven power exchange.
One of the nice things about impact play is that you don’t need to purchase anything to engage in it. You can enjoy impact play by simply using your hands! You can also use “pervertables” (household items that can be safely used for sexual play) such as wooden spoons or twisted up towels before venturing to your local adult store for crops and paddles.
Safety in Impact Play
Before you engage in impact play, there are a few things you should keep in mind, especially when you’re just beginning to experiment.
First: Safety zones. Here’s a handy safety zone chart detailing the different risk zones of the human body and body parts safe to experiment with.
A good general rule is to stick with hitting the ‘meatier’ parts of the body, particularly the thighs and butt. These are the usual targets. You absolutely want to avoid hitting the neck, head, ears, feet and areas where joints are located (elbows, knees). Try practicing on your own body before attempting impact play on another person. Some less common forms of impact play rely on punching and slapping, but this is always playful and consensual. Even if you think you've delivered a safe blow, communication and use of a safe word is essential.
It may seem like you can’t possibly do that much damage with a hand slap or a paddle, but you really can! The spine bruises easily, the kidneys are very delicate, and some areas of the body are packed with nerves close to the surface so hitting them is discouraged to avoid nerve damage. If you desire to be hit in riskier areas, do as much research as you can on doing so safely and make sure you’re playing with a partner who is mindful of the dangers present.
Second: Communication. Before playing, communicate with your partner and have a negotiation conversation. Decide on all the details: where you will be hit, what you will be hit with, if it’s okay to leave marks, what your safe words are, what your experience level is, what the aftercare will look like, etc. Discuss any and everything that’s important to you for this ‘scene’ or play session before beginning so everyone is clear as far as personal boundaries are concerned.
Impact Play Toys: Sensations & Materials
Sensations you may feel during impact play depend on which areas of the body you focus on. But that's just the beginning. The way an impact feels will depend on the item being used to hit and obviously the person doing the hitting. Using hands first is a great way to see how hard, soft, light, heavy, fast or slow you prefer the hit to be, then you can explore other materials from there.
There are generally two types of sensations impact play items can offer: thuddy and stingy.
Thuddy is used to describe wide implements or those that are larger, sometimes heavier, and made with thicker materials, like a suede flogger or a wide paddle. The sensations a paddle or flogger produce depend entirely on the size and materials employed. Because thuddy items are typically larger, they hit a larger surface area on the body, therefore spreading out the impact. The less concentrated the hit, the more thuddy it feels.
Stingy is used to describe narrow implements that are thinner, lighter weight, and hit a smaller surface area. Stingy items include whips, tails and canes that end in fine points. You can also get stingy sensations produced from wood and plastic materials because they absorb less of the impact. For reference, spanking and slapping with hands is on the stingier end of the spectrum.
Common materials of impact items are:
Leather – can be stingy or thuddy depending on many factors: thickness, if it’s just leather or if the item has a core with leather wrapped around it, and if it’s split or aerated (more on this later).
Vegan Leather – same as genuine leather, although vegan leather is lighter weight, so it tends to be stingier.
Rubber – stingy & slappy; there are lightweight beginner rubber whips and heavier rubber floggers; the more weight, the thuddier it’ll be, but rubber still has a stingy quality regardless.
Suede – thuddy; suede is a popular material for floggers; it adds weight and a softness that relaxes the impact and makes for a comforting, soothing sensation when brushed against the skin after a hit, making it great for aftercare.
Wood – stingy or thuddy depending on the shape; wood is solid and has no give so the hit will concentrate on the skin and not reverberate back into the material at all, making it feel more intense.
Silicone – stingy & powerfully slappy; silicone is flat and firm like wood but also bendy, so the impact is harder due to there being less resistance.
Acrylic – same as wood; can be stingy or thuddy depending on the shape and size of the item.
Metal – similar to wood and acrylic but thuddier due to its weight; a more advanced-level material to work with.
Now for the fun stuff. Let’s hit it!
Impact Play Recommendations: Paddles
Paddles are a great place to start in impact play. There’s a wide variety of styles to choose from and you can get them at any price point. Paddles are wide, flat and have a handle. They’re usually shorter than other impact items so they’re good for wielding from short distances. Paddles can be stingy or thuddy depending on what they’re made of, but they tend to lean towards the thuddier side. Paddles are typically the easiest impact instruments to use, making them beginner-friendly!
Fifty Shades of Grey Twitchy Palm Spanking Paddle - $29.95
Our most beginner-friendly paddle for those who really want to take it slow, the Fifty Shades of Grey Twitchy Palm Spanking Paddle is made from soft satin and lightweight faux leather. It’s inexpensive, stylish and even comes with a storage bag! It offers a thuddy hit that’s extremely light so you can experiment with harder hits without worrying about doing too much damage.
Patent Leather Pocket Slapper - $39.95
The Patent Leather Pocket Slapper from Kookie Leather is high-quality, cost-effective and comes with a loop attached to its handle for extra security (or hanging up in your sex room!). While leather in general is thuddy, the patent aspect of this paddle adds a little bit of sting and a ‘slap’ noise when it hits the skin.
Leather Slapper - $89.95
The Leather Slapper features one flat side and one ‘tawsed’ or split side. This effect makes the hit louder because the leather strips smack against each other as they smack the skin. The split side also allows air to travel through the strips, removing some resistance and allowing for a harder hit with less effort. This particular paddle also has a reinforced handle, perfect for impact players who want their items to withstand their strong swings.
Sportsheets Saffron Acrylic Spanker - $27.95
This Acrylic Spanker from Sportsheets is hard, lightweight and aerated (meaning holes are punched through the material to let air pass through, creating less resistance). Hits from this rigid implement will feel stingy and firm. If you want to experiment with harder hits but don’t want to spend too much, this under $30 paddle will do the trick!
Red Heart Aluminum Paddle - $76.95
The Red Heart Aluminum Paddle is a rigid implement made with quarter-inch thick anodized aluminum and has a large heart-shaped aeration in the center. This intense combination makes for the perfect middle ground between thuddy and stingy. Plus, depending on the hardness of the hit, a cute heart can materialize on your skin!
Tantus Silicone Gen Paddle - $29.95
The Gen is just one of the many silicone paddles from Tantus that we carry, but there’s something special about this one—the handle doubles as a dildo! This multi-purpose paddle is made of lightweight silicone and, when used with force, delivers a stingy slap like no other. Players beware (and have fun!).
Impact Play Recommendations: Crops
Crops are such a fundamental symbol of the kink world, so much so that they’re often seen as accessories in kinky and BDSM-adjacent Halloween costumes. They’re defined by a long thin rod with a handle on one end and a small piece of material (usually leather) on the other. Hits from crops lean towards the stingier end of the spectrum. Because of their length and the impact surface area being so small, crops require more skill and can be harder to wield than they appear. We suggest practicing on an intentded target area before hitting a partner with a crop to avoid hitting them with the rod (which can sometimes double as a cane, a more intense impact instrument).
Sportsheets Motivator Crop Slapper - $27.95
The Motivator Crop Slapper from Sportsheets features a long leather strip, a shorter rod and a thick, grippy handle. These details make it great for beginners; you don’t have to be as precise with your hit due to the crop’s longer surface area. The short rod gives you more control and the textured handle allows your grip to remain firm.
Red Heart Crop - $39.95
The Red Heart Crop is a cute crop with a heart-shaped tip made with a mixture of leather and metal. The thick leather adds a bit of thuddiness while the metal studs add a little sting. The rod is also long and sturdy enough to double as a cane. Not to mention, this cupid crop would look great just as decoration!
Scandal Feather Crop - $24.95
The Scandal Feather Crop gives you the best of both worlds with slappy vinyl on one side and soft feathers on the other. Switch from stingy precise hits to ticklish brushes to sooth the skin. The rod is made of ABS plastic, so it’s very lightweight and easy to wield.
Riding Crop with Loop - $19.95
The Riding Crop with Loop combines a long rod and a teeny tiny tip to ensure a swift and intense stingy smack. The added loop on the handle promises a better grip and more control, which is helpful for impact items that are lengthy and slim.
Impact Play Recommendations: Floggers
A flogger is a type of whip classified by how many falls it has. Floggers that feature multiple tails or ‘falls’ are usually made of leather. They typically have thick handles with textured grips to help carry the weight of the impact and the flogger itself. It's essential to practice first. When a flogger makes contact, the remaining length wraps around body parts if you are off target. Floggers can of course be used to hit and spank a partner, but they’re also great for caressing the skin as a form of aftercare, especially following an intense impact play session. The larger and heavier the tails of the flogger are, the thuddier its impact will feel. Thinner and lighter falls create a stingier hit. An advanced skill known as Florentine flogging is when two floggers are used at once, one in each hand, with alternating hits.
Sportsheets Saffron Flogger - $29.95
The Sportsheets Saffron Flogger has tails made with lightweight soft and pliable faux leather. The durable metal handle allows for a firm grim and more precise control when swinging the tails. This is the perfect beginner flogger—it’s a good size, it’s easy to wield and it’s made with high-quality materials considering its low price point. The Sportsheets brand creates excellent intro BDSM gear in general; you can be confident in your choice regarding anything you purchase from them.
Lite-Line Suede Flogger - $84.95
Not all kink gear needs to black and red! The Lite-Line Suede Floggers come in bold pink and teal colors and are great options for brightening up your kink collection. They’re made with soft, thin suede tails which offer a nice thuddy hit. The thick braided handle helps to easily wield the weight of the tails and the added loop offers extra security. The velvety texture of the suede can be brushed against the skin after a hit for a soothing sensation.
Pride Rainbow & Trans Pride Floggers - $174.95
These high-quality leather Pride Rainbow and Trans Pride Floggers are made with black buffalo hide and double-strung with angled cowhide tails. Buffalo is a thicker leather option with a bumpy texture that offers weight, durability and a satisfying thud. The angled shape of the tails creates one pointier side that will tip off the thuddy hit with a nice sting.
Fullsize Rubber Flogger - $104.95
The Fullsize Rubber Flogger will give you an intense and stingy session. While the heaviness and size of the hit will feel thuddy, the rubber material will add an intense sting on top of it, creating a combination of sensations perfect for folks who want to feel it all. This longer version of the Midsize Rubber Flogger allows for wider swings and a stingier impact. This flogger is recommended for intermediate to advanced impact players who are interested in graduating to harder hits and larger swings.
Impact Play Recommendations: Whips
Whips are characterized by a single fall or tail that ends in a fine point. Essentially, whips are floggers but instead of having multiple tails they only have one. Whips with a single tail produce a sensation that feels stingy. Whips are commonly conjured in our minds when we think about kink and BDSM. Catwoman, for instance, is known for keeping a long and impressive whip at her side. Or take this iconic image of Bettie Page:
Whips are usually used from long distances because their tails are so long and skinny, but short ones are also available (and they’re great to start out with). Because there’s so much distance required to use a whip, the power of the swing is that much stronger. The ends of whips are skinny and usually pointed, making the impact fall on the far end of the stingy spectrum. Whips with single tails are called "Bullwhips." The act of using single tail floggers is known as single tailing. Whips are a more advanced impact tool as they require aim accuracy over longer distances; they should definitely not be your first venture into impact play. Before using on a partner, do some target practice on a pillow or stuffed animal. And make sure you have enough room to swing your whip!
Leather Bullwhip - $99.95
The Leather Bullwhip is the most classic version of a whip we carry in our selection. It’s made of genuine cowhide leather and features a long, rigid braided handle as well as a small brush tip. The rigidity of the handle allows for maximum control of the length of the tail and the brush tip will procure a sharp sting when swung or a soft tickle when caressed against the skin.
Suede Dragon Tail Whip - $79.95
Dragon tails are a type of whip that are rolled (usually suede or leather) from thickest to thin to create a point at the end. They’re usually heavier and easier to swing than longer classic whips, making them excellent introductory whips for beginners. They’re also super versatile! For instance, the Suede Dragon Tail Whip can be used from longer distances for stingy, pin-pointed hits or from short distances for slappy spanks (similar to a lightweight paddle). Then you can use the soft suede to brush the tender skin where its been hit.
Edge Dragon Kiss Whip - $49.95
The Edge Dragon Kiss Whip is almost a crop-whip combination with a long rod-like handle and a long piece of leather split down the middle. This impact tool can be very stingy due to its sharp tip or it can be more slappy when swung back and forth, allowing the flat side of the leather to hit the skin. This is a great choice for folks who enjoy crops but want to try something different (and maybe a little more intense).
Impact Play Recommendations: Canes
Canes are advanced impact play tools that are long, usually thin and provide intense stinging hits. This kind of rigid implement can be made with wood, metal, silicone, leather and more. Caning can leave marks and even break skin, so practicing beforehand and working your way up to canes from crops and other less intense impact items is an absolute must.
Master’s Choice Rattan Cane - $20.95-$21.95
The Master’s Choice Rattan Cane is a classic wooden cane with a flexible core and a stingy hit. Because it’s lightweight, you can really put a lot of power into your swing and give a serious hit. Rattan is a springy wood that absorbs impact well, making it a durable and long lasting addition to your collection (as long as its given the proper care!) for an inexpensive price.
Hurra Cane - $59.95
Another silicone stinger from Tantus! The Hurra Cane is a serious tool with a bite that smarts. It’s made of silicone and is an extremely bendy, flexible implement, creating a unique cane-whip hybrid. And because it’s silicone, it’s extremely long lasting, can withstand excessive use and is easy to clean. Get the swing power of a whip with the bold smack of a cane in one intense toy! But beware: this one’s definitely not for beginners.
Impact Play: Aftercare
Aftercare has been mentioned a few times throughout this blog, but what does it mean and why is it important?
Aftercare is simply time spent with a partner in which you’re recovering from a play session. It’s especially important to practice aftercare following sessions that involve a lot of intense physical sensations and heightened emotions. When you’re playing roles within a session, aftercare serves as a time to revert back into ‘normalcy.’ For instance, in a dom/sub play situation, unwinding from operating within these roles is important psychologically to avoid them slipping into reality and messing with your mental health.
The physical aspect of aftercare can look like soothing areas of the body that have experienced restriction or impact. Massaging wrists after being in cuffs, brushing feathers over the butt after being spanked, using ice packs, and rehydrating or eating a snack for rejuvenation are just a few examples.
Some items we recommend to make your aftercare just as memorable as your impact play include massage oils, bath soaks, and feather ticklers. Even doing a neutral activity with your partner like a coloring book is a good option for resetting the energy after a session.
Impact Play: In Conclusion
So, you’ve grasped the basics of impact play. Now what?
With any human sexual practice, especially where the sexual gratification of either or both parties may present itself, safety and consent is key.
We recommend visiting your local adult store to look at and feel these impact toys in person. Try them out on your hand or calf to get a feel for the item (please save hitting your partner for your personal playtime!). If you can’t browse in person, hopefully this blog has been detailed enough that you can get a clear idea of how these toys will feel IRL. And as always, you can easily direct message us on Instagram @pleasurecheststores if you have any questions!
Happy spanking.