well. Have a safe word (seriously)
I think the next level up would be either paddles and cat-0-nine-tails. The trick is to find the "sweet" point between pain and pleasure. Start off slow and build up to it. It is an art really on how you use the tool to exert the maximum pleasure. It all in the wrist and flicker movement. experiment a little but definetly go slow
It is suppose to be fun and pleasurable not painful