Upper body tickling positions

The best positions to have the ticklee in for upper body tickling may not be the same as for lower body tickling. In general a position should be used that best exposes the most ticklish spots of the ticklee.

Inverted Y

Inverted Y is a favourite for upper body tickling. The ticklee is on their back with the feet tied wide apart, such as to the bottom posts of a bed, while the wrists are tied together and stretched up above the ticklee's head. This exposes spots such as the sides, belly, armpits and the arms being stretched up may make the ticklee more sensitive. For the ticklee, there can be a strong psychological effect of making them feel very vulnerable. In addition, this position exposes the inner thighs, knees and feet if you wish to engage in lower body tickling as well, but the legs are not completely immobilised and some squirming should be expected. This position may be stressful on the ticklee's shoulders after an time, so spread-eagle is an alternative.

Spread Eagle

Spread eagle is very similar to inverted Y except that the wrist are not tied together, but separately tied to the top corners of the bed. The arms are still restrained well away from the ticklee's body, exposing the same ticklish spots as inverted Y, but the strain on the shoulders can be less.

For both inverted Y and spread eagle, a pillow placed under the hips of the ticklee can raise the belly, thighs and any ticklish spots around the hips and make them feel more sensitive. This does create a slight backwards bend in the spine but if done carefully and in consultation with the ticklee, should not be painful.

Hogtie

Hogtie, where wrists are bound behind the back and tied to the ankles, has the benefit of exposing the feet which are held up in the air away from the body, but can also be great for upper body tickling. The sides are very exposed as the ticklee's arms are generally held away from them, and placing a hogtied ticklee on their side makes tickling of the belly and one side very easy. The only ticklish spot this position obscures is the armpits but the remainder of the upper body is made very vulnerable.

Face-down tickling

Many ticklees find that they are more ticklish when placed in positions face-down. Inverted Y or spread eagle can be formed with a downwards facing ticklee who will have a back and sides very exposed to tickling.