During the late 50’s the canadian school strap in nova scotia was a piece of endless rubber belting, I received this a number of times during my early teens in Jr. High, always on the hands and from both male and female teachers, sometimes as many as a dozen on each hand, never once did I as much as say ouch,however, it did sting like blazes.
At home was another story, my father was a military man and a firm believer in discipline when you broke the rules. he used the same instrument as a strap but it was always administered to the bare bottom, his minimum was always 10 swats, up to the last strapping I received when I was 15 or 16 I never got past four before I was broken to tears and by the tenth I was usually bawling profusely. Hands or bottom, I’ll take it on the hands anyday as on the bare bottom that strap was pure hell.
As for positioning I was always strapped at home face down on the bed so about the same force to deliver the blows was used in both cases.