I cannot speak from personal experience here but I always got hit on the bottom with a open hand but I have seen at school pupils been caned on the palm of the hand and it looked quiet a painful experience but they say caning of the hand was also dangerous as if you hit in the wrong place you could cause damage [ how true that was I do not know ] I do not really know which would be more effective or painful punishment the cane on a trouser clad bottom or on the palm of a hand as I say I have never received either