[katana]

Some of us got the “switch” (a narrow freshly cut young tree branch). Watching Dad slowly remove all the stray buds and bark in preparation for use was part of the punishment. And only applied to the derriere, three or four swipes maximum.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

My dad would make me cut my own switch to add to the psyops...hand me a pruning scissors...I brought back a downed limb one time. Pap says, “dang kid I want to switch you not kill you, now get back there and cut a switch” We survived just fine. We made it to Free Republic and beyond!
Freegards
LEX

[circlecity]

I used to get the switch too. Until I was 12. On that whipping I vowed to myself that I would not cry or even make a sound no matter how much it hurt. In fact when he finished I looked at my dad and said “It that all you’ve got?” It was the last whipping I ever received.

[Smokin' Joe]

We got 'the switch', too. Not uncommon in that area, and any or a multitude of adult relatives could use it (and a few others in the community as well). If it was administered away from home, an equal measure was administered upon our return.

We weighed carefully whether any misbehaviour was worth the potential penalty, but even that was not a perfect deterrent...

[who knows what evil?]

My aunt sent us out to the lilac (?) bush to pick out our own switch...if it was too small; she sent you back to get a new one.