At my school there was a great deal of discussion about “which cane you got it with,” but I am not convinced that one hurt more than another. The Head kept a selection in the umbrella stand in his office and probably took one up at random, while our Housemaster had just the one – which lived in a cupboard in his room.
I have vivid memories from one of those TV documentary/debate programs of the 1970’s. Now the theme of this show was domestic CP, but it used as its focus the availability of 3(?) grades of cane. The parent could choose the appropriate rod depending on age and sex of child. Each cane came with instructions, and the upper age was late teens.
Can’t remember if audience voted pro or con.