Well I usually got hit open hand by both parents and mom would at times go for the wooden spoon or belt and give me maybe 2/3 good licks. But hell it never went overboard I was never bruised up or had open wounds. And I certainly don't recall being spanked by anything but an open hand on the butt at a young age like 4. I got no problem with spanking but their is a line you don't cross between discipline and torture or abuse.