OH that sound!
Tori Douglas on Oct 11th 2021
We all like to get a little kinky sometimes. Spanking and paddling, otherwise known as impact play, are one of the most common kinks around. There are many surprising reasons spanking and paddling are so popular and turn so many people on. Read on to learn more about it. There is more to impact play than a quick swipe to the bottom.
First and foremost is the sound. Surprisingly, the sound of spanking, of the hand or object striking the buttocks, can be the most pleasurable part of spanking. This goes for both the spanker and the spankee. Something about that sound triggers us psychologically. Sound can be very sexy, and the sound of spanking can flip the switch of many people. Auralism, or the sexual arousal brought on by sound, is real and is in full effect during a spanking session. Sound, especially rhythmic sounds, are sexually triggering for many of us. This is one reason music and sex are so closely intertwined. Some people have even reported that the sound of the impact is hotter than the feeling of the impact. Getting that good, resounding smack noise is often the goal of the session, and is a turn on for all involved.
The rhythm of a spanking session is important. For optimum pleasure and release in a session of impact play, establishing a rhythm can be an important component of enjoyment. Both the sound and the feeling are heightened by the anticipation of the next strike. Having a good rhythm in your impact play session can be the difference between hot and smoking. Losing the rhythm or being sporadic can be detrimental to the enjoyment of the session. Oftentimes, this rhythm can be an alternative between the impacts and a soothing rub on the bottom every so often. Feel free to switch it up, but having some rhythm there is key. Some want slow, others fast and hard. It depends on the participants. Communicate with your partner about what rhythm works for both of you. As with all sexual scenarios, communication is vital. See our article about establishing safe words to learn more.
The emotional release of spanking and impact play is a vital component. The act of spanking, even in a case where it is not implicitly sexual, is intimate. You and your partner have a certain amount of trust to enter into impact play. This creates an intense intimacy before the first strike. This intimacy creates the space for the emotional release often brought on by impact play. Many people seek this release more than the actual sexual pleasure of impact play in itself. The release can be in the form of an audible sound, a clenching or biting on something like a bit, or even tears. Physical release is often the goal.
There are many reasons to get into impact play. Whatever your reason, we hope you enjoy it with your partner or partners. If you have never tried it, here is your invitation to let go and get spanking. For more information see our previous article on impact play and get to your own impact play experience.