Heavy Hitters- Floggers, Paddles, and Crops
- Posted on
- By L
Which toys actually hit the hardest?
Floggers, paddles, and crops are all impact tools used in BDSM and erotic spanking, but they deliver drastically different sensations based on their design and materials.
We get a lot of people in the store wondering where to start, and furthermore, what they might enjoy most. So, here’s a quick and easy guide to what kind of sensations you might expect from each of these implements!
The Flogger
Design: Features a sturdy grip connected to multiple dangling strips of material (falls).
Sensation: "Thuddy" and dispersed. Because the impact is spread out by the multiple falls, it feels more like a heavy, rhythmic massage with a slight sting. It is generally considered highly beginner-friendly.
Play Styles: Great for full-body coverage, teasing, and rhythmic, continuous strikes.
The Paddle
Design: A solid, rigid, or semi-rigid flat board, available in various thicknesses and materials (leather, wood, or dense silicone). Some have multiple layers which will collide with each other to create an even louder sound.
Sensation: Sharp and pinpointed. It delivers a very direct "slap" or smack, localizing the energy to the specific point of contact rather than spreading it out.
Play Styles: Ranges from gentle, echoing slaps to intense, deep impact. Paddles with holes (cutouts) reduce wind resistance and produce a louder noise with less sting, known as "impression play".
The Crop
Design: A long, flexible, yet stiff shaft, often made of a fiberglass core coated in leather or synthetic material, ending in a flexible popper.
Sensation: Stinging and precise. Because it is a single point of striking, it delivers a sharp, biting sting rather than a heavy thud.
Play Styles: Offers high precision, great rhythm, and excellent visual aesthetics. It requires a bit more space to swing properly but allows for highly targeted, delicate taps or swift strikes. Will almost always leave marks.
These three sisters of BDSM are best friends and are all waiting for you at The Art of Loving! If you pay us a visit, you’ll be able to test them out for yourself (not like that!) and find out which one works best for you.
Happy slapping!