I have a feeling, (more accurately a giant tingle in my behind!), that this paddle is going to become my favorite spanko toy for punishment spankings! The metal studs are a kinky plus and add to the bite. I can definitely feel a difference between being spanked with the flat leather side and the studded metal side. Because this paddle is somewhat flexible, I would describe it more as a large "slapper" than a paddle. Regardless, it gets the job done magnificently. I would not recommend this paddle for use anywhere but on the buttocks. If you're a novice spanker or spanko, be sure to find and read appropriate safety tips like these.

This well constructed leather paddle is made by Spartacus. The paddle consists of two layers of leather stitched together. On my sample the stitching is good. If you run your finger over the stitches on the flat side you can feel some of them, but they are not noticeable during use.

The overall length on my paddle is the advertised 16 1/2", and the width is slightly larger than the advertised width of 3" (mine is 3 1/4" wide on the business end). About 6" of the length is made up by the handle, which is 1 1/4" wide, providing a sufficient grip for most people. The overall thickness of the paddle, (not including the studs) is about 1/4".

Did I mention the menacing array of 30 metal studs? They are the main feature of this paddle which attracted me and I have not been disappointed! Each stud is 7/16" diameter, and sticks out about 1/8" from the leather surface, so they are definitely noticeable. There are no sharp edges on the studs on my example, as they are nicely rounded. The studs seem to fit snugly in the leather and do not move or rotate.

The paddle comes with a 9 3/4" leather lanyard which is passed through a metal eyelet and double knotted on each end. The lanyard is not a feature I care for, but it doesn't really get in the way during use. It would not be difficult to remove if you wanted to use the paddle without it.

The workmanship is good, and there are no noticeable blemishes in the leather. If you look closely, you can see there is a stiffener inside the paddle which is about 1" wide, running the length of the paddle into the handle. As a result, the paddle is not completely flat, but the deviation is very small and is not noticeable in use. Despite the stiffener, the paddle is somewhat flexible, but not as flexible as the Double heart slap-her.

The paddle has a slight leather smell, which is not a problem for me, and I am very sensitive to bothersome odors.

I fully expect this paddle will hold up under use, but that remains to be seen!

This paddle can definitely sting your behind and is capable of leaving marks. My husband definitely enjoys reddening my ass with this toy. I agree with the other reviewers who have commented on how flexible this paddle is. It definitely leans more toward the "whippy" side and away from the "thuddy" side, so if you're looking for a more solid spanking experience, like that provided by a fraternity paddle, this is not it. For me, this paddle provides a nice addition to my assortment of spanko toys, and the metal studs make it unique in my collection.

Not too large, this paddle is easy to store in a box. You can also just hang it by the lanyard. I prefer not to do this, because the metal studs definitely give it an eye-opening, kinky appearance, and you never know who will stumble across it. This spanking toy is definitely not a pervertable which can be stored in plain sight. Care and cleaning is similar to other leather products. I'm not sure how well sealed the leather surface is around the studs, so I will not get too aggressive in getting this paddle wet while cleaning it. Under normal use, I seldom if ever have to clean any of my spanking toys, and I don't expect this one to be any different.

The paddle is packaged in a plastic bag, which is not really suitable for reuse. There are no instructions. Frankly, if you need instructions to use a paddle, you probably should find a different hobby! There are also no safety tips included. If you are a novice spanker or spanko, or are just becoming interested in spanking, you should read up and make sure you know what you are doing as the possibility of injury is real if you are careless. A good spanking blog to go to for more information is My Bottom Smarts.

Based on my first experience, this paddle is not really thuddy, like my wooden paddle. Although I really felt it during the spanking (in a good way), it didn't seem to leave the lingering feeling that the wooden paddle usually leaves. However, when I was on the computer afterwards, I realized I was feeling just a bit warm and tingly on my bottom, and more interestingly, I was feeling pretty aroused. All in all my experience with this paddle is positive and I look forward to being on the business end of it a lot in the future.