For the uninitiated, impact play is the fancy name given to the act of spanking or hitting for erotic enjoyment or sexual arousal. Impact play is one of the most common and popular forms of BDSM play. It is an easy and inexpensive way for even the most vanilla folks to dip their toes into those dark & kinky waters. Spanking and being spanked in a sexual context is a huge turn-on for many and can really spice up any sexy scenario.
What can we say? Some people just really like being spanked! If the thought of being bent over your lover’s knee and walloped for being naughty, or leaning on a spanking bench getting your buns warmed before a scene turns you on, impact play might just be your ideal form of pain as pleasure!
There are plenty of doms and tops out there that are more than happy to dole out those spankings as well; they get off on the power and control they get from causing their partner this pleasurable pain.
While your hands are your most obvious tools for spanking since you have them ready to go at all times, there are also lots of great toys and props available for the impact player that’s ready to get more serious. No kinky dungeon or BDSM boudoir is complete without a few of these instruments of delightful torture!
Paddles
Paddles are probably the easiest impact toys to start with. They act like a natural extension of your hand, so you can easily control the speed and strength of the hits. Paddle play is ideal for booty spanking; other parts of the body aren’t quite naturally padded enough to take the pain. Paddles can pack quite the punch, so start gently and do plenty of experimentation to find your preferred levels before going all out!
Leather or vegan leather paddles like the Sportsheets Saffron Layer Paddle or the Bondage Couture Paddle from NS Novelties offer a softer slapping sensation, while harder paddles, like the Sincerely Bow Tie Acrylic Paddle or the Sportsheets Acrylic Spanker (with holes for more whoosh and less drag as you go in for the thwack) give a firm, thuddy wallop. Wooden paddles are also powerful and popular if you want to live out your hottest sorority or naughty schoolgirl fantasies. If your partner really loves to feel the sting of your spanks on their bottom, paddles are for you!
Floggers
Next on the popularity ladder for impact toys come floggers. These fun, whippy bundles of cord are often made of braided leather or other leather-like materials, though some are made from strands of silky rope or plastic instead. Floggers create the ability to do firm, concentrated spanks or broad sweeping grazes, so they allow you to play over wider surface areas of the body. They can also be dragged gently across the skin for a tingling, tickly feeling during sensation play. Add a blindfold for even more sensory surprises during your play!
Grab the handle of a Sinful Black Whip vinyl flogger or the Coquette Pleasure Collection Flogger, complete with a beautiful rose gold wrist strap. Start with some soft passes and simple spanks, and make your partner beg for more. When you’re ready to graduate to something bigger and badder, the Noir Necessities 18″ Suede Flogger should be a perfect fit for a sexy spanking session.
Floggers are great for those who like to turn their impact play into more of a sensual performance. Once you get the hang of using one at a time, add a second one and practice spinning, flipping, and twirling them artistically in your hands in between pommeling your play partner with them!
Crops
Finally, let a crop or two round out your impact play arsenal. Like a riding crop one might find in a horse stable, these toys are thin rods with a small flap or molded shape of leather or other material on the end made for dishing out sharp, snappy sensations. Since they cover so little surface area, they definitely create a sting, and they can be used anywhere on the body, including for little snaps on the limbs if your partner is willing!
Try the Scandal Wide Tip Crop or the 20 Inch Leather Jockey Flexy Crop by Spartacus for your basic sassy spanking needs. The S&M Feather Slapper from Sportsheets features a snappy crop on one end and a feather tickler for some soft and gentle sensation play on the other end, so you can tease your partner with both kinds of pleasure. Crops are popular tools for brat training or just keeping your sub in line, so you may find it handy to have one around if that’s your thing.
Safety (and Consent) First!
No matter what toys you use for impact play, remember to always stay within the parameters your partner consents to. Everyone has different levels of pain tolerance and a limit on what they are willing to submit to, and it’s crucial to respect those boundaries. If the recipient invokes their safe word or says “RED”, play must stop immediately. This means you’ve crossed a line and need to communicate about how to resolve the problem and prevent it from happening again before carrying on. With these considerations about consent and safety in mind, impact players can enjoy lots of slap-happy spanking for their (and their partner’s) pleasure.
