What Is A Flogger? Let’s Talk About It

What is a flogger? This may be a question from sexually curious and intrigued people who want to delve into the world of sex. More specifically, sex toys that also falls under BDSM.

Lucky for you, we’ll answer this question through this fun guide! We’ll also delve into a little

history lesson on flogging and how to use such a tool in the bedroom.

What is a Flogger?

A flogger is a tool used during flogging, an antique means of punishment that is now reimagined as a kinky activity. More specifically, it’s part of impact play.

As you can see, flogging has quite the history. Lelo highlights the law called The Whipping Act in England, which allowed whipping to thieves or anyone who committed a crime. Whipping and flogging, being in the same family, were also used against slaves to show power in the past. Self-flagellation is a known thing back in the day as well, done to avoid sickness or as a punishment. 

Fortunately over time, such an act became illegal in many countries. Yet it’s not completely banned either.

Okay, enough historical trauma!

Floggers are used for impact play, a kind of sex toy that has tails. That’s what makes it stand out from the other types. Flogging is also, and most importantly, a consensual act, meaning receiving or giving the pain is agreed upon beforehand. It can also be done with other sexual or BDSM activities like sensation play and degradation kink.

Anatomy of a Flogger

This informative blog entry from the Dark Side Leathercraft explains the breakdown of a traditional flogger as follows:

1. Hanging Loop: This loop is meant to hang the entire flogger to the nearest hook when not in use. It’s not meant to be wrapped around your wrist because it can cause injury, especially when flogging is a lengthy and tiring activity.
2. Shaft/Handle: This long part is where you grip and hold the flogger. It’s important that your flogger is well-balanced, which can be determined through a balance point found along this part. A well-balanced flogger indicates that it was properly made. You can search for it by placing the flogger on one or two of your fingers.
3. Neck: This detailed woven part connects the shaft to the tails of the flogger. It tightly gathers all the tails together so no excess flyaway tails fall behind or even hurt someone unintentionally.
4. Butt: Also a detailed woven part; it’s the topmost part of the handle.
5. Tails: These are the flowing parts of the flogger that are in charge of delivering impact. They’re made of various materials which ripple into unique sensations. One sensation is a sting, which is more subtle, less harsh, and felt mostly on the skin’s surface. Meanwhile, a thud feels more skin-deep and intense.

Why People Like Using A Flogger?

Uncover the different reasons why people are interested in this prop and activity.

1 They like BDSM.

BDSM stands for Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism. You enjoy the power play and the ability to safely test your limits. Sure, it can sound intimidating and dark at first, but doing your research lessens any nerves and fears around it. It also reduces any more misconceptions surrounding it.

But yeah, BDSM requires a lot of give and take, trust, and occasional props to add more thrill. So if that’s something up your alley, then venturing into flogging may naturally be brought up.

2 They’re eager to explore their sexual desires.

It’s only part of being human to be curious about sexual pleasure and fantasies, regardless of what society or our distinct cultures have to say.

Flogging is quite a wild activity, but it’s not a full no on the idea for some people. Using a flogger toward your skin unlocks sensations like never before, eager to keep going and even intensify it once you’re used to the activity.

3 They find pleasure in pain.

Aligned with BDSM, finding pleasure in pain shows an interest in sadism, masochism, or a combination of both (sadomasochism). There’s a lot of “pain”, the consensual kind, in flogging. But they do target those erogenous zones, which elicit more satisfaction and pleasure. 

Strenuous activities like flogging also release dopamine and endorphins, which get your heart racing and block the pain. Hence, the urge to do more is stronger.

4 They want to spice things up in the bedroom.

When sex starts to feel like a routine, boredom creeps in. And we don’t want that! Hence, it’s key to try new things. Constantly or every now and then. 

Flogging is one of those activities that can take things up a notch. For one, there’s an important prop needed to make it work. It’s not every day you may use a proper one in the bedroom. Two, it’s a learning experience in which the succeeding sexcapades with it always get better and more pleasurable. And lastly, you can strike almost any body part except the upper body. We have a map for reference that we’ll show later on.

5 They’re a fan of impact play.

So you like the sensation of being struck by something in a sexual context. Often, it can start with a spank or slap. And if that’s the case, liking flogging can be an upgrade in your sexcapade roster. Plus, the liking may come naturally, too, because a flogger is bold and unique. 

Characteristics of a Flogger

Keep these traits in mind when you’re searching online for your ideal flogger.

1 Material

Floggers are made of numerous materials, but what’s important to consider is your skill level.

For beginners, suede is ideal for its smooth and sleek texture against your skin. All while still giving the right amount of sting.

As for pros, there are a lot of materials to choose from. There’s rope, leather, chain, nylon, and many more. It’s all about preference and how far you want to go in experiencing that blend of pain and pleasure.

2 Length

An online store that specializes in creating whips and floggers named Decadent Transitions states, “A flogger should be no longer than the length of your arm.”

For beginners, having a flogger as long as their forearm is ideal as they experiment and get used to the feel. Anything longer than that is great for the more experienced ones. 

Aside from the length of the flogger, considering the length of the tails is also important. And the same rules still apply — shorter tails are best for the newbies, while longer ones work best for the pros.

3 Patterns

Floggers come in unique, assorted patterns. There’s the flat or square pattern, braided ones, and knotted ones with beads for that extra sting and bite.

How to Use a Flogger

If you’re ready to start flogging and using a flogger, this section provides a clear step-by-step guide.

1 Determine who’s who.

In this activity, there are usually two people. One would be the dominant, while the other would be the submissive. Other duo names, such as top and bottom or giver and receiver, also apply here. 

Knowing which role goes to who makes it easier to determine the tasks you need to do moving forward.

2 Figure out when and where you want to use the toy.

Do you want to do this activity tonight? Tomorrow? Over the weekend?

Should we do it in the bedroom? Somewhere in the living room with the window closed? Are you on your knees or standing up? 

This step sets ground rules and encourages proper scheduling for crucial activities like this one. Because compared to most sexual acts, this one requires full trust and planning. Going on a whim can be dangerous and risky, even more so if neither of you is familiar with the activity.

3 Get into position.

The person flogging must have straight posture and an open stance to balance out their body weight. The person being flogged can either go on all fours or hold onto a chair or wall for support. It usually depends on what they’ve agreed on from the previous point.

4 Explore striking techniques.

For flogging, the dominant can swing the flogger underhand or overhand.

They can test these techniques on a pillow or any surface that isn’t your partner. That way, they can observe which technique works well for them, almost like a trial and error. They can also practice different angles on where it’s safe to strike while using those techniques.

5 Target the right body parts.

This step is crucial! You can’t just flog any body part or erogenous zone, as it can risk the health of the person getting flogged. Refer to our map above to see the distinct green and red zones and keep things running safely and smoothly.

6 Go slow and easy.

Beginners or experts, this kind of pace is encouraged when you’re starting out. You don’t want to shock the person you’re flogging, so this pace helps the both of you warm up and slowly transition into a feistier mood.

7 Have fun with it!

As you find your rhythm, allow yourselves to get loose!

Test different areas to flog, try different flogging levels, and even add more kinks to it! Keep exploring while exploring this activity.

8 Cap things off with aftercare.

Once you’ve reached an o’ or your limit, which has you buzzing and feeling good, it’s important to unwind right. Especially with all those crazy emotions running through your veins? You need to rest and recover right!

For one, clean up after one another if things get messy. That’s already part of aftercare. When you’re done there, you can continue unwinding and resting with more intimacy, like cuddles and pillow talk.

What to Avoid When Using a Flogger

Remember these no-nos as you venture into the world of flogging.

1 Avoid having the wrong posture or stance.

Having the wrong posture, like twisting your body or leaning it too forward, is risky for the dominants as it can hurt their bodies. They can also accidentally aim for the wrong body parts of the partner. In turn, it affects them massively—possibly even more than the flogger themselves.

2 Avoid certain body parts for this act. 

Not all erogenous zones are meant for impact play. Those include the face, the upper body, feet, and even healing skin if you’ve done impact play before or were injured for other reasons.

3 Avoid going past your limits.

Like any sexual or BDSM act, you have to listen to your body and know when enough is enough. Going over can cause physical and mental harm to your body. Plus, it shows that you don’t honor your boundaries and would rather focus on pleasing your partner to the point of hurting yourself. That shouldn’t be the case!

Sex should be enjoyable for all, so avoiding your well-being ruins its essence.

Tips To Remember When You’re Eager to Use A Flogger

Call this section a semi-extension to the previous part! 

1 Do more research.

Aside from our guide, it helps to divulge more research about flogging and impact play. That way, it gives you more confidence in the bedroom and further teaches you its ropes so you can pull it off well. You’ll also learn more about its history and how to properly honor it.

2 Discuss with your partner.

Flogging is an activity that requires mutual consent and trust. Respect is also needed as you discuss how far you want to go and even if they’re down to do this with you. When you talk things out, include your boundaries and limits. Whether you want to be flogged at a certain body or only do the act in a private space, don’t leave anything out to avoid potential harm.

3 Know your skill level.

This tip is crucial! If you’re a newbie to using a flogger or impact play, stick to the beginner’s lane. Going beyond that can put you at risk of danger. So on your first sexcapade with flogging, think of it as a skill-level test.

Then if you’re experienced in impact play, it still helps to take things easy with flogging so you and your partner don’t get overwhelmed.

4 Set a safe word.

Flogging is under BDSM, and safe words are common when engaging in them. It keeps those involved safe and protected, especially the submissive. You can use one unique word that symbolizes a complete halt or a system like the traffic light system. Green is to keep going, yellow is to pause or slow down, and red is to completely stop. Feel free to get creative as you collaborate with your partner.

5 Take your time.

Flogging and using a flogger isn’t an overnight experience. It takes practice to find your rhythm, get used to the prop, and figure out how you like to use it. So don’t beat yourself up if your first few rounds with it aren’t so good, whether you’re dominant or submissive. Practice makes progress, so you can always try again until you find your groove.

Takeaway

And that’s our guide on everything you need to know about a flogger and flogging! Well, almost. We hope you’ve learned a lot from it and perhaps plan on checking one out from your cart soon. As long as you establish boundaries and trust with your boo, you’ll have an enjoyable flogging session.

For more BDSM-related guides like this one, check us out on the Lauvblog here.