Bondage Basics: Safety in Flogging

In practically all BDSM toy play and use of bondage gear there is some risk, which is nominal if the proper precautions are taken.  Before trying any new BDSM activity or using any new piece of bondage gear make sure you read all the safety warnings and learn how to keep it safe.  Flogging is no exception to this rule and should be treated with respect or somebody will get hurt.

One of the biggest problems that floggers run into is an issue that's referred to as "wrapping".  Wrapping occurs when you over extend a strike with a whip and the tips actually wrap around your target to some extent, this action causes the tips to greatly accelerate and can cause a much larger than desired level of pain or even bodily harm.  This is why when you first try flogging you should practice on something such as a pillow to learn aim and control.  Make sure you practice with the pillow in a horizontal and a vertical position.  The comfort and safety of your sub is at stake so be sure you are comfortable with your flogging devices before you start.

After you become familiar with the basics of flogging and want to try your hand at a human submissive you need to know what body parts are ok to strike, which are ok, but only lightly and which are completely off limits.  So I will go over those various parts now.

The first parts I will go over are those that are ok to strike.

The buttocks:  This is a very common location to flog and typically very safe.  There is a lot of padding here and no vital organs nearby so as long as you keep the strikes within reason there should be very little in the way of safety concerns.  This is also a perfect place to begin if you are just starting.  A couple things to keep in mind: watch out for wrapping as the hips are delicate and should be avoided and be careful to not strike the tailbone.

The upper back:  Another common place to flog is the upper back, there is usually little in the way of fat but there is a large amount of muscle here providing great protection.  For some, parts of the lower body are a bit too sensitive and so the upper back is the preferred location for work.  One big safety point for this area is to not use any floggers that are stiff such as paddles or canes.  The spine and shoulder blades are delicate and can be damaged if struck by a stiff instrument.

Thighs:  The thighs can be a great spot for many submissives, there is still ample padding but there are also multiple places that are extra sensitive.  The inner thighs are often targeted due to their sensitivity as is the 'sweet spot', located in the crease between the lower buttocks and the upper thigh.  This area is also popular for many other types of bondage gear such as sensation play toys.  Keep in mind to be careful about wrapping here as the target area is not a flat surface.

There are areas of the body that should always be avoided due to the possibility of doing serious damage, those are:


Hips
Tailbone
Lower back (the kidneys are here and have little protection)
Head and neck
Feet (the bottoms of the feet are sometimes used, but be very careful, bones in the feet are fragile)
Spine
All joins (elbows, knees, wrists, etc...)
Shoulders (near the neck and collar bones)
Upper chest
Abdomen and lower chest (lots of organs and ribs and very little protection)

There are areas not covered in either of the above two sections, these areas can be worked although you need to be very careful when doing so and should only be done either very lightly or when you have learned full control.  One particular area that many people are interested in are the breasts.  The breasts are a common and fun place to use various types of bondage gear, however you should be careful when using a flogger and be very gentle.  There are many people out there that say flogging can cause serious damage to the breasts, so keep it light, the nipples and surrounding area are very sensitive so heavy hitting is not necessary.

But safety always comes down to using common sense and following safe habits.  Learn from experienced BDSM masters and learn from your sub, they will teach you a lot.