I'm a hand tapper. I prefer other forms of letting DD know she's doing something unacceptable and needs to stop now, normally I just start counting, speak up and put my stern voice on and if she continues I find a naughty spot for her to stand/sit while I tell her again why that is not ok etc and she gets the point, but there are some situations it's not practical - ie the supermarket trolley etc - then I will hand tap. It works, but I agree, although I was smacked as my main form of discipline (with the wooden spoon mostly then too as we were too good at darting hands not painfully of course) and have no issues with it as I respect my parents immensely and am so glad they disciplined us and taught us how to behave appropriately from childhood - I also find other methods to be more effective.