Aha! Thinking like a true citizen of the New World, use what is available and adapt it to your use. Any resilient switch is less likely to bruise than a rattan cane provided it is thin enough.

The first trick to to balance the velocity with which the switch is wielded with the length of the switch and the thinness of the switch for a given material. This is usually determined empirically in about 45 seconds.

Be sure to remove bumps and sharp points from the switch as these are what really cuts. Yes, the submissive, the first time they are being disciplined generally reports feeling the pain of being cut to ribbons. However, aside from spectacular welting, cuts are rare (if poperly done) and the submissive is spared the bruises of the cane.

I would be interested in hearing from submissives that have been chastised with the switch. What are their experiences, thoughts and emotions?