Slappers make the most delicious sound when they are swishing through the air and landing on a pair of lovely, upturned buns. They can be amazingly punishing or just exciting enough for the bedroom enthusiast. The Velvet Lover's Paddle by Pipedream falls squarely in the center of these two extremes!
I have to admit that I like the Fetish Fantasy line and I have quite a few of the items. For us they offer a nice, utilitarian but not threatening set of BDSM toys that work but aren't so harsh that they scare off our playmates.

The Velvet Lover's Paddle is a perfect example of what I am talking about. It is soft and velvety, has a lovely heart shaped cut out and sounds exciting. It can deliver a stinging slap accompanied by a loud popping sound but the user has to be careful not to drive the paddle home. If there is too much flexion in the wrist the paddle will not only impact the flesh but also bend at the point where the slapper connects to the handle. This can possibly ruin the paddle. The strike must be glancing and the swing must be followed though to cause a high amount of sting without breaking the paddle. This type of "swiping" blow will also leave a great red mark but we have yet to figure out how to leave a heart shaped mark. Perhaps it is possible but we are having fun figuring it out!
The blow we have found most effective with this paddle is an underhanded blow where the user "cups" the buttocks, breasts or thighs. This gives the best sound and prevents the paddle from being bent. Now if you are the type of player who wants really deep marks from a paddling this paddle probably won't cut it. If, however, you are looking for sting and just a reddening of the skin this is an excellent addition to your arsenal. It's a great warm up to something harsher as well!

The Paddle is about 12 inches in total length. The paddle area measures about 7 inches leaving 5 inches for the handle. This is long enough to fit even the largest hands comfortably. Smaller handed players might want to scoot up the handle just a touch to avoid putting too much stress on the paddle area, possibly leading to bending and breaking of the portion where the handle connects to the striking surface.
The striking surface of the paddle measures roughly 3 inches wide and the paddle tapers to 1.5 inches to form the handle. This is wide enough to prevent "clenching up" during a longer session but the paddle handle is not rounded so the user will want to remember to relax the hand to prevent fatigue.

The Velvet Lover's has a lovely velvety, flocked covering that is well stitched and very sensual. The core of the handle seems to be a heavy but flexible piece of vinyl. I have noticed a sort of twisting of the handle that I associate with more inexpensive materials but it's not unattractive nor does it affect the paddle in use. The twisting seems to follow my own strike pattern so it actually helps with accuracy, at least for me!
Punched through the handle is a small hole for the little strip of vinyl that forms a hanging strap. It is useful for storing the paddle, especially if, like me, you prefer a tie rack in the closet for storing your impact toys. I have noticed a touch of fraying around the hole but nothing that makes me regret buying the toy.

This Paddle is very flexible and the core seems to be heavy cardboard. I could be wrong but it really feels like cardboard! For this reason I would advise not getting the paddle wet both because of what could be the inner core and because the flocked covering will spot unattractively. I have noticed some areas where the covering has become rather shiny with use, I expected this but it might come as a shock to another user.

The Velvet Lover's Paddle is a split slapper type paddle and the stitching that reinforces the split tip of the toy is very even and well done. I have not noticed any pulling or stress on the stitches and I have also not noticed that the slapper pieces are starting to bend or curl with use like more inexpensive split slappers can. The inside of the split is lined with the same flocked velvet as the entire paddle. There are no seams that could cause problems either for the giver or receiver.

Aesthetically speaking this is a very pretty paddle that can deliver a moderately painful paddling or be used to stroke and tease a partner. While the very experienced pain slut might be nonplussed by this toy, I am fairly confident that the bedroom enthusiast will be well entertained.

Spot cleaning is just about all you can do with this paddle. It's not going to last forever but keeping it away from body fluids and lube will prolong it's useful life. For me, the point when the paddle loses it's brand new shine and looks a bit shabby and worn speaks to how useful and exciting it is. I am loving the rubbed spots on this toy!

Although I have to remember not to bend the handle of the paddle with smacks that are snappy I still really like this little paddle. It is perfect for bad girls and boys that just need a gentle tap to remind them of who's in charge. It has lost its velvet flocking on one side from use but I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. All in all I am still pleased to have this hanging in my closet.