Domination & submission _ the BDSM relationship handbook ( PDFDrive )

sensations you want the flogger to deliver. The impact sensations of being
flogged can range from “thuddy” at the low-end of the pain scale, to “thwappy”
or “slappy” in the middle, and on to “stinging” or “biting” at the high end of
the scale. The sensations can also be varied a great deal by adjusting the
distance from the subject, changing the way the flogger is swung, and increasing
or decreasing the amount of force of the swing. Generally speaking, the closer
to the subject you stand, the thuddier the strikes will be. The further from the
subject you are, the more stinging the strikes will be.
One of the most common misconceptions about floggers is the assumption that
being struck with one will always be a painful experience. In actuality, most
people describe the experience of being flogged as a pleasant or even therapeutic
sensation, often equating it with a low-impact massage. Of course, a flogging
can always easily be delivered in a painful way, if that is your personal
preference. Floggers tend to be one of those BDSM items which look a lot
scarier than they really are and, for that reason, are valued as much for their
psychological impact as for their physical impact.
The use of a flogger doesn’t typically raise many safety concerns, aside from the
obvious ones. Have a safe word. Avoid breaking the skin. Watch for sharp or
rough edges or foreign objects entangled in your flogger’s falls. Give yourself
plenty of room to swing the flogger, and be particularly mindful of overhead
lighting which, if struck accidentally, could shower you in broken glass. If a
flogger is going to be used on a subject’s genitals, his or her bodily fluids will
come into contact with the falls, which can be difficult, if not impossible, to
properly sanitize. If doing so is a conscious decision and your plan is to fluidbond
the flogger to that individual, that’s fine. But if it happens inadvertently or
without much thought for the consequences, then you may end up having to
purchase another flogger or, at the very least, with an unpleasant ethical dilemma
on your hands.
Paddles
The types of paddles used in BDSM impact play, like many of the other items
we’ve discussed, can range in style and workmanship from novelties to
sophisticated instruments of pain and intimidation. The design of most paddles
is pretty simple and straight-forward, consisting generally of a short plank of
wood or other rigid material, wide at one end to form the blade, and narrower at
the other end to form the handle. Wood is the most commonly used material in