A Whipping Good Time: A Short Guide To Impact Play

What is impact play?

Impact play is a form of BDSM that focuses on physical impact between partners. It can range from light spanking to heavy flogging and everything in between. Impact play is one of the most common types of BDSM play and requires trust, communication, respect, and consent between partners.

While it’s not for everybody, it can be a great way to explore your own limits as well as your partner’s.

What are the benefits of impact play?

Let’s start with the physical perks. Impact play can trigger intense sensations that are as thrilling as they are pleasurable. Whether it’s the sharp sting of a cane or the thudding impact of a flogger, it’s sure to awaken your senses and release those sweet endorphins.

And what exactly are endorphins? These handy hormones are your body’s natural pain relievers and mood boosters. Endorphins are released when your body experiences pain or stress, acting as messengers from your brain to provide relief, reduce stress, and enhance your mood.

So, while you may be exploring your boundaries, you’ll also be experiencing waves of relief, reduced stress, and even euphoria.

If endorphins aren’t enough for you, maybe an added dose of creativity will do the trick.

Whether you’re teasing out a seductive scenario or plunging eagerly into the tantalising action, impact play invites you to explore a world of thrilling roles and power dynamics, transforming the bedroom into a provocative playground of boundless imagination.

Who knows? Perhaps during your discovery, you’ll find that you crave the liberating thrill of being submissive or the intoxicating authority of embracing your dominant side.

Not only is this kind of exploration liberating, but it can also help you understand your sexual desires and preferences better. And who doesn’t want that?

Safe words and boundaries

However, before you dive into the action, make sure to have a chat with your partner. Talk about your desires and limits. Don’t be shy about voicing your concerns, sharing your preferences, and setting your dos and don’ts. And hey, let’s not forget to agree on a safe word to use when things get too hot to handle.

And speaking of safe words, make sure to choose one that’s easy to remember and is not generally used during sexual activity. Oh, and it’s crucial that both of you know what it means!

For instance, if you both decide to use my favourite safe word, “pineapple,” does hollering “pineapple” bring the whole scene to a standstill or merely dial down the heat to a gentle simmer?

It’s also worth mentioning that some folks who partake in BDSM opt for a traffic light system to indicate their level of pleasure or discomfort. Rather than abruptly transitioning from “yes, this is good for me” to a definitive “stop right now,” the traffic light system provides a specific word to convey your desire for your partner to take it a bit easier without completely halting the scene.

Here’s an example of how it works:

• Green means everything’s great. Keep going. This colour signifies that you’re feeling completely comfortable and are happy to continue.
• Yellow indicates the need to slow down and to think about wrapping up early. Calling out yellow also suggests you’re beginning to feel discomfort and would appreciate a gentler approach.
• Red signifies a stop everything immediately. This is a clear signal that you want to halt any further activity.

However, during impact play, there may be instances where verbal communication becomes impossible. Whether it’s because you are gagged, wearing a muzzle or bondage hood, or your partner simply requests silence, it is helpful to have an alternative signal to indicate a need to slow down or halt the play.

Just like its verbal counterpart, a non-verbal safe signal gives the nod to your partner that adjustments or even a complete cessation of the scene may be necessary.

Non-verbal safe signals include hand squeezing, tapping, snapping fingers, and pinching. Additionally, using a bell, squeaky toy, or other loud object nearby can effectively end play when it becomes overwhelming.

Choosing the Right Tools

When it comes to impact play, the options for tools are vast and varied. Each device brings a unique sensation to the table, from hairbrushes to paddles, wooden spoons to whips, and even your own hands. Each tool creates a different feel, and it is crucial to choose a toy that is appropriate for your level of experience and comfort level.

But before you go on an all-out shopping spree at your favourite adult toy store, let’s talk about the right tools for impact play beginners. Because trust me, you don’t want to jump right into the deep end without knowing what you’re getting yourself into!

Now, when it comes to impact play, there are two tantalising sensations to explore: stingy and thuddy. The stings dance playfully on the surface of the skin, while the thuds dive deep into the sensual depths of your tissue.

But how can you differentiate between the two?

Here’s a naughty little guide just for you: If you desire a tantalising sting, opt for small, narrow, light, and flexible tools, such as canes, crops, and single-tail whips. On the other hand, if a pronounced thud is what you crave, embrace large, heavy, and rigid implements like paddles, batons, and floggers.

As a side note, feathers are an excellent way to add lightness and sensuality to your impact play sessions! You can use feathers to tickle or brush against your partner’s skin or as a teasing tool before getting into more intense activities.

Before diving into play, take a moment to inspect your toys and ensure they’re tip-top to avoid any unwanted injuries. Keep an eye out for ragged ends or sneaky sharp edges, as they could spring a surprise on unsuspecting skin.

Oh, and don’t forget! If your toy happens to flaunt a fancy loop or a marvellous wrist strap, definitely use it. Believe me, you wouldn’t want that gem slipping through your fingers and performing a gravity-defying spectacle across the room.

Strike zones

Now it’s time to learn that strikes are not just for bowling! When it comes to impact play, technique is key. You want to strike your partner with just the right force and target specific areas of their body.

Need more certainty about the amount of force to employ? Well, take matters into your own hands, literally! Give yourself a whirl with a paddle, wooden spoon, or any instrument that tickles your fancy. Experiment with striking various parts of your own body and acquaint yourself with the intensity of each strike and tool wielded.

Top tip: Try using a pillow as a target to practise precision. Observe the imprints left behind by your strikes, and perfect your control with each hit.

When you start using an implement on someone else, ensure you’re hitting areas of the body that can handle impact, with the safest places to strike the fleshy parts of the body, such as the buttocks, upper thighs, and backs of the legs.

Avoid hitting more delicate or vulnerable areas, such as the face, neck, wrists, knees, elbows, armpits, stomach, Achilles tendon, or genitals.

And for the love of all things holy, please don’t hit sensitive spots like the kidneys, spine, lower back, or ribcage.

Take your time

When you finally decide to unleash your prowess with a paddle on your partner, remember to start off easy, like a gentle summer breeze. Let both of you get comfy with the sensations, and turn up the heat gradually.

For starters, you can begin with gentle strikes using your hands, gradually building up the intensity. Likewise, if you have a selection of tools, like a paddle, a hairbrush, and a cane, opt for the less cumbersome option initially. Once you get into a rhythm, you can elevate the scene from simply satisfying to utterly astounding by alternating between harder and softer blows and playfully dancing with the tempo.

Top tip: Spanking does not just consist of repeatedly striking your partner with the same implement at the same rate until boredom sets in.

This slow start helps you gauge the right force for your partner and tool, ensuring no one gets hurt. Because while impact play can indeed be an exciting and pleasurable way to add variety to your sex life, it is important to be aware of the physical risks involved. If done incorrectly, impact play can cause unwanted bruising, swelling, and even broken bones.

Aftercare

It’s a wrap! Or is it? Not quite yet; now it’s time for some much-needed aftercare.

Aftercare is an essential part of any BDSM activity, but especially so when engaging in impact play. Aftercare involves providing comfort and caring for each other’s emotional and physical needs after a scene ends. This can include offering comfort, hydration, and warmth and debriefing about what worked and what didn’t so that you can both learn and improve.

Also, be sure to clean up any toys or equipment used during the session.

Conclusion

Impact play can be a thrilling and liberating experience when done safely and with consent. It allows individuals to explore sexual dynamics and push their physical and emotional limits. However, it’s crucial to always prioritise communication, safety, and respect for boundaries. Remember to establish a safe word, understand strike zones, and discuss your preferences and limits beforehand for an intense and enjoyable impact play session.