My friend tells me the Caners are trained to hit the exact same spot each time, to maximize the pain. After several hits most people will pass out.
In Singapore at least, passing out is no excuse for not receiving your punishment. If you pass out, a doctor examines you to determine if you can get more whacks that day, or if you must come back in a few days.
Their repeat offender rate is extremely low. When interviewed anonymously the ex-criminals say it was the cane that they feared most when they had an opportunity for a crime.
It may seem barbaric, but it works and in the end is better for the criminal as well as the society, IMO.
"evil flourishes when good people fail to act"