Silicone Paddle Guide

I’ve come a long way from turning kitchen spatulas kinky. Silicone paddles designed for spanking and sex play are serious tools: made to not break, while delivering more impact. Some hit harder than others, though: I’ll rate silicone slapper paddles I’ve tested recently vs. other silicone impact toys.

The hardest hit may not the best either: For example, I personally prefer paddles that sound loud (have a “slapper” feeling) but don’t hurt too much, while I have several hardcore kinky friends who sincerely enjoy pain and bruising. So, keep your preferences in mind while looking for a new silicone impact toy! This paddle comparison, accordingly, will assign a value for “Experience level,” “Impact force,” and “Slappy noise level.” Which silicone spanking paddle might be right for you? But first, why choose silicone for a kink paddle, anyway?

Silicone vs. Leather Paddles

What is a silicone paddle? An impact tool, made fully of silicone for extra sting. I have to admit, I love leather paddles too. So why choose leather vs. silicone for a spanking paddle?

Silicone benefits:

• Feels heavier.
• Builds more force pre-impact, if swung hard.
• Imprinted designs can leave consistent marks on the skin (see photo in this section).
• Easy to wash and sanitize: Important if skin is being broken.
• May have a handle that doubles as a dildo.

Leather benefits:

• Smells like leather!
• More likely to be hand-crafted.
• May have a thuddier feel with less bite (depending on the impact toy’s shape).

Best Silicone Paddles for Spanking

These terms can all describe impact, and here’s what I mean by each: “Thuddy” means a blunt weight; “Sting” means a sharper pain; “Bite” is similar to “sting,” but slightly less focused; “Slappy” includes a pronounced noise upon impact.

When you spank with a paddle, you can decide exactly how hard you’re hitting. Even a thick, heavy paddle can be a fun tease, lighter stimulation, when wielded gently. I’ll compare the dominant’s arm to a vibrator with fully adjustable speed range: There are some limits (the highest and the lowest intensities the vibe can operate at), but within that larger range, the toy owner determines exactly how intense the stimulation will be. With paddles: Fast or slow, light or super-stingy, full-on or only an edge hitting the skin; directed at butt cheeks, thighs, or genitals, etc.

With that in mind, I’ll rate the following sex paddle list for each tool’s bravado when it’s moved with forceful purpose, for direct full impact. The impact force ratings run low on a 1 to 10 scale (where 10 is “most painful”) because I’d reserve 8.5+ for “you might need medical attention” kind of intensity. The noise level ratings are on an A-F scale, like grades in American schools, where A+ equals “the slappiest, smackiest paddling around.”

Versatile Slaps: 665 Smack Paddle

Full-on impact force: 5/10
Sting & bite: Very stingy dots, without tons of pain
Noise level: A, slappy even with lighter strokes hitting skin
Experience level: Beginner-intermediate
Price: $29.99 Here

I strongly recommend this 665 Smack Paddle as the best beginner option. It does a lot in one $30 paddle. It’s got a distinct thud, the dots sting, the front rounded edge of the paddle bites, and it’s very slappy—true to its name, it makes an awesome “Smack” noise when it hits the skin.

I say it’s more “beginner” because it’s not as thick as the Boneyard Spank, next; and the small dots don’t leave as much of cutting impression if you do go hard. It has a fair amount of heft, weightiness, as it curves through the air; but not as much as the Boneyard silicone paddle, plus the 665 Slapper’s handle is about an inch shorter. (This isn’t an issue for me, but may be less convenient for bigger-handed doms.)

I used this one on a new sub who’d never been paddled during sex before, and the silicone slapper-paddle did just what I needed it to do. I alternated between hitting my leg/my hand just to make the slappy sound, so he could hear what was coming; and hitting his thighs and butt. Not too hard, mind you; it’s important to know a partner’s limits for sure before playing rougher with them. Honestly, I really like having this slapper-paddle hanging out around my desk, too: Like, get myself moving and in gear with a few smacks.

With how flexible is it, again, the slapping noise demoed here is a great motivator—even though the 665 paddle’s bite isn’t as fearful as the spanking gear I’ll cover next.

Heavy-Duty Imprints: Boneyard Spank

Full-on impact force: 6.75/10
Sting & bite: Damn, those skulls really bite!
Noise level: B+, more about impact than slappy noise
Experience level: Intermediate to “collector”
Price: $52.95 Here

Zing, for sure! This skull-imprinted Spank silicone paddle is actually the same length as the “Smack,” above, but I’m amazed how it being slightly thicker makes an intensely greater impact. The Spank paddle curves less when sweeping through the air, building momentum; so I’ve ranked it higher for pure force. And its unique 💀 imprints bite in a way you feel upon impact; but only see when the spanking is over. I once volunteered the Spank paddle to a very dominant friend for an in-person demo, and *this* is what happened when he said he was going “light,” less forceful than with his own submissive partners:

So, with a practiced (and slightly sadistic) arm, a few minutes of swatting can be rough! The welts that those skulls leave behind are ideal for folks who have a goth flair and/or who enjoy seeing the mark they make in the world, literally. Knowing the Boneyard Smack’s dramatic as the receiver, I lent this one out long-term to a more pain-oriented friend—because it’s just too bad-ass to not be fully appreciated.

Being a lil less flexible, the Smack does feel like it weighs more while hitting the skin, and delivers less fun “slap!” than the similar-looking 665 Spank. But speaking of flexibility, the most “bendy” silicone spankers are the…

Split Tongues: Tantus Tawses

Full-on impact force: ≈6.0/10
Sting & bite: Actually, very stingy: Tawse Small’s pointed tips most of all.
Noise level: B, the separate tongues + floppiness reduce volume a tad.
Experience level: Intermediate-advanced / variety-seeker
Price: $31 to $53 Here

The Tantus “Tawse” split-tongue paddles are really the ticket if you want to spank genitals. But be careful: These super-flexible tongues sting and are difficult to control. If you’re not really experienced, they’re better for lighter swats. (They’re not the kind of toy you’d want to go all-out femmedom with and start spanking the sh*t out of your partner’s cock with as part of ruined orgasm play.¹) Could cause damage in sensitive areas, because each of the Tawses’ 2 tongues fly about in wild ways, when swung with a mission.

The silicone is firm, but thin for its length! Practice first.²

The more-affordable Tawse Small has long dragon-like tongues and a thin handle; vs. the Trip 2 Tawse’s blunter ends and super-textured (easier to grip) handle. See Stockroom’s photos on a F human ass (with nudity; & products sold out) for sizing reference. I don’t own these toys, but have an “all kinky, all day long” friend with an absolute BDSM arsenal (she’s currently got my Boneyard paddle, too!) who informs my opinion that the small Tawse can sting-sting, harder than leather does, and in a more biting way than the Boneyard Spank; and that her dom uses it for gentle pussy-slapping before moving onto more cutting butt-slaps. (Personally, I’d go for the wider Trip 2 Tawse due to its more rounded edges [a bit less sting, at the tips] and grippier handle.)

Other Tantus impact toys:

• The Pelt paddle, in a ping-pong paddle style that’s thinner and more flexible (slappier!) than the Fun Factory toy, next. I personally would’ve preferred this one as a first wider spanking paddle—it’s definitely a stingier step-up from a kitchen spatula (and the Pelt won’t break if you hit at all hard, oops 😄). Again, quite flexible, which means more sting as it flips through the air. With the Pelt, it’s easier to target a specific area, 100% consistently, than with the Tantus Tawses.
• And, for advanced impact: A Silicone Cane, which is your tool if you want the absolute most stingy, focused impact. When swung hard, the Cane will for sure leave marks better than a leather flogger, while biting harder too: this kind of direct impact can really cause damage, from the right arm!

Dildo-Pong: Fun Factory Buck Dich

Full-on impact force: 6.5/10
Sting vs. bite: Broad (not stingy) weight.
Noise level: C, whomp! A less-slappy thud.
Experience level: Advanced / Collector
Price: $79.99 Here

The Fun Factory Buck Dich is one of the first silicone paddles I tried, and I most definitely would not recommend it for beginners. With how much force the thick, firm paddle can deliver… it’s a lot. The name, Bück Dich, is German for “bend over” (…and take a helluva lot of force on your ass!).

Obviously, if you swing less hard, it’ll be less painful. But the Buck Dich is not versatile, in that its paddle side isn’t great for sensory play / pleasure-focused BDSM, IMO. There aren’t tassels you can tease with, a slappy sound that heightens anticipation, or a front edge that swings and bites, lightly, without a ton of pain. Instead, this Fun Factory sex paddle will give big, broad, hard thumps.

This is why I call it a more advanced tool than other spanking toys.

The two-sided design is intriguing, but IRL didn’t do everything I’d hoped for during sex:

1. Unyielding ping-pong paddle on one end,
2. Dildo/handle on the other.

The dildo’s ridges are tougher to hold onto than a normal smooth handle, then you’ve got this fucking massive paddle hanging out when you try using the handle as an actual dildo. (Personally, I’m also biased against the dildo because I prefer super-soft silicone & dual-density / triple-density silicone; so the Buck Dich handle’s “firm-cored plus firm silicone” composition is ultra-hard. Again, reminding me that this spanking paddle is really not a pleasure object, it’s BDSM sex toy.)

Why Use a Silicone Paddle During Sex

Of course, all dominant/submissive play should be both (1) fully consented to, by both parties, before play starts; and (2) both should know they can change their mind and back out if something upsets them (have a safeword ready, especially if you’re new to kinky play, or are exploring any new frontiers³

• Punishment play: Smack their butt hard for not correctly following your directions.
• Teasing and sensation play: Lighter hits & thuddy paddles are the best for creating erotic feelings that aren’t painful. (This is a “foreplay”-oriented kind of BDSM, for “spicing up” a couple’s routine.) “Slappy” paddles are excellent here: they “bark louder than they bite,” creating anticipation.
• Pain, if you like it: For sadist + masochist pairtings, who like dishing out hard hits & enjoy feeling pain on their skin (then seeing the resulting marks). Hardcore impact play is great if everyone is a willing participant. These kinksters will seek out sturdy, biting paddles and will delight in bruising and broken skin that will turn others off. This is a spectrum, so you can enjoy giving out occasional smacks once in a while (without turning into a leather daddy), or you may be someone who requires S&M play on a regular basis.

Silicone Paddle Safety Tips

Impact play with paddles, canes, and other heavier tools should be undertaken carefully. (Especially if either partner is new to spanking during sex.) Floggers are most-often included in beginner bondage kits because they’re unlikely to hurt anyone.⁴

If you’re a new dom, please do whack yourself first with any tool you plan to hit another human with. (Front of the thighs is easiest for gauging force.) Be gentle at first, gain more experience. Allow your partner to communicate. Have your safeword. (No gags for beginner impact play.) Then, communicate with them about the session went after it’s over.

Stick to safer areas, in particular if you’re either using really focused tools (canes) or swinging hard. Impact play safe zones include most of the body’s backside that’s not (1) the kidneys or (2) spine. Of course it’s most fun to slap someone’s ass; other meaty back areas like the thighs are a nice reprieve, too. Here’s a handy diagram:

Genitals & breasts can be slapped lightly but, again, use common sense there; don’t be rough with extra-sensitive areas. This is especially true for weighty silicone paddles or stingy leather ones.

Takeaway: You’re in control of your partner’s well-being when dominating them. Use your power wisely. Check in with them afterward too: right away and (if either of you is new to spanking or the D/s relationship) the next day after they’ve had time to process.

Enjoy being naughty! 😈

NOTES

1. As one might do more safely with a flogger: Those can sting, but in a less-impactful way.
2. I absolutely would not trust a dom who’s not willing to slap their own skin, to a fairly hard degree, with any silicone paddle, leather paddle, or even light-weight flogger, before using it on another human being. Know your tools first.
3. Safewords may seem like an overcautious step, but they absolutely exist as a standard BDSM practice for many good reasons. Setting up an unexpected safeword like “hookah!” will absolutely break the mood of a scene (and stop play) faster than a moaned “no,” which might be taken as sexy, rather than as revoking consent.
4. Unless you’re being really stupid and hitting in the eyes with the flogger.