A parent should never use a hand. Hands are for hugging. It's hard to find a good spanking implement. You want something that will sting, but not bruise or injure. You want something with a long enough handle to allow the parent to get a real swat properly aimed so that it doesn't hit the leg or back. And you want something that is known as the instrument of instruction. We used to put rods in every room of the house so we were prepared to go through our discipline ritual as needed.
I prefer an awareness that the hand can administer a hug or a smack, and the child's behaviour will determine which is dispensed. A "rod" is over the top in my book.
I agree with that as well.
"You want something that will sting, but not bruise or injure."
The plastic paint paddles with the holes in them that Sears used to have were excellent. My second choice was a good switch.
My grown daughter now tells me that the time she had to wait in her room for me to cool off beforehand was worse than the actual spanking.