Let’s whip up a treat in this post. 

Something that Master Levi and I get asked about often is floggers and flogging techniques. As flogging enthusiasts, we wanted to share with you the various floggers and materials, their qualities and uses, some basic techniques and how to do them safely. There are more advanced techniques than this post contains, such as a double crossover flogging technique, but even we’ve never mastered that one! 

I’m hoping that you’ve either followed this post on from our What’s Your Kink: Flogging post, or you’ve come here because you already know what flogging is and you wanted some more insights. Whichever the case may be, I hope this post is informative and helpful for you. 

To begin with, let’s talk about some of the most popular materials and styles of floggers.

Rubber

Most rubber floggers are made with thin strands of “bungee” rubber. Used lightly, these thin strands have a soft, light, sweeping sensation. With more force (or when wet!), they can deliver a sharper, stinging impact. Rubber floggers are quite economical and widely available from most sex toy retailers. 

Leather

If there is one thing that makes leather unbeatable compared to other materials, it’s the smell. Whether it’s your sole thing or not, if you like the smell of leather, you need a leather flogger. 

Leather is heavier than other flogger materials, so it delivers a deeper sting — definitely don’t start off with a leather flogger if you’re new to S&M play! The manufacturing process of leather makes it a more expensive option, too. 

Faux Leather

Want the look and feel of leather without the cruelty or price tag? We’ve got you covered! Faux leather, or “leatherette” is frequently used to make a wide variety of BDSM toys, and because of its affordability, it is typically both cheaper and more widely available. Just don’t go too cheap — you don’t want any sharp, unfinished edges! 

Because it’s lighter than its organic counterpart, faux leather tends to deliver a lighter, stinging sensation. Monitor your partner for scratches and abrasions, because faux leather can sometimes cut the skin, particularly if you use a cheap flogger.

Suede

Still on the topic of leather, we have another option for you: suede. Suede isn’t as available as faux and real leather, although it still isn’t rare. If you like a heavier, thuddier impact play (and perhaps some bruises, too), suede is the right choice for you.

Like leather, suede isn’t cheap, but nor is it too expensive. Consider adding a suede flogger to your toy bag if you like more intense sensations! 

Cock/Pussy “Mini” Floggers

Designed for those smaller, more intricate places and typically made from bungee rubber, cock/pussy floggers are ideal for those who enjoy some impact play in their more intimate places. These floggers can be used as a “mini” or “travel flogger” in a pinch, although they don’t carry the same weight as a full-sized flogger. 

Given their smaller size, cock/pussy floggers tend to be both readily available and affordable. 

Cat-O-Nine Tails

Neither a flogger nor a whip, cat-o-nines are popular with people who like a more “intense” scene play. Giving the impression of a cruel Master or Mistress, they create quite the impact for whipping your slave into shape! 

Cat-O-Nines are typically made from leather, either real or faux. Price and impact will depend greatly on the material chosen, as well as the build and style of the finished product.

Before You Begin: A Flogging Practice Exercise

I remember — all those years ago when I started into BDSM — I remember being taught one of the best and simplest techniques to practice using just about any long-reach implement. Aim matters in impact play, and the one thing you need to do to be able to aim correctly is practice. This exercise helps you do exactly that. 

The requirements are simple: you need a soft surface, such as a pillow or the end of your bed, a square inch piece of tissue paper, and your implement of choice. Place the piece of tissue paper on the soft surface and, from a safe distance, practice repeatedly striking the piece of tissue paper. Explore soft strokes and hard strokes, more wrist action versus simply letting the thongs of the flogger fall. Once you get a good feel of the implement and how the tissue moves with each stroke, you can consider introducing it to your partner. 

Flogging Safety First! 

If you’re tempted to use a flogger like a bullwhip, don’t. Not only could you cause injury to your partner, but you could cause injury to yourself as well. Floggers require a downwards, sweeping motion, never upwards as you could wind up hitting yourself in the face! Instead, try one of these techniques. 

Also, be careful about the “red” zones like the spine, neck and kidneys, and keep to fleshier “green zones”, such as the buttocks or backs of the thighs. Not sure what to hit? Check out our impact play page here! 

Basic Technique

Stand with your dominant side towards your submissive, flogger in your dominant hand. Hold the thongs of the flogger over the back of your non-dominant hand and use your dominant hand to draw the flogger off of your non-dominant hand and down onto your submissive partner’s bottom, using as much or as little force as you both desire. Keep in mind that more force will result in a deeper sting! 

As the thongs fall off of your partner, you can catch them in your non-dominant hand, and repeat. 

Windmill

Standing sideways on again, hold the flogger in your dominant hand away from you slightly, towards your submissive partner. Use your wrist in a rotating fashion to flog your partner with quick, light, sweeping strokes — perfect for warm-up and newbies!  

Criss-Cross

If you fancy something a little technical without getting too clever, stand facing your submissive and hold the flogger slightly in front of you in your dominant hand. Use your wrist in a “sideways eight” motion, causing the flogger to sweep over your partner in a criss-cross motion. Depending on the flogger, this one can be quite intense! 

Want a basic introduction course to BDSM first? Check out our free Guide to BDSM here!

Until next time.

Stay safe & have fun,

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