Length, Diameter & Flexibility

  • The diameter affected the sensations received by schoolboys and girls.

    The Nursery (6-8mm) cane was the mildest.

    The Junior (8-10mm) cane stung for a short time.

    The Senior cane (10-12mm) was more 'thuddy' and the sensations lasted longer.

    The Dragon cane (9-13mm) - named because it is made from a type of cane called 'Dragon' as opposed to being made from 'Kooboo' - was the most severe type ever used in a school. It's severity arose from the fact that Dragon is much heavier (denser) than Kooboo.

  • The traditional length of a school cane - overall - was about 36".

    However, such lengths made it harder to control accurately than a shorter one. Additionally, a shorter cane is more convenient to transport.

  • The flexibility of the cane determined the amount of 'swish' sound the cane made - the more flexible, the more 'swish'. However, the less flexibility, the easier to control.