Noooo. The switch is much worse. Many lickins. Much longer. The kid getting knocked out only involves two hits: kid getting hit, kid hitting the floor. 
As a 16 yrs old, Forgot what I did, but my dad came at me, knocked over a lamp and lit me on the side of my jaw ...he's 6'0 and my jaw, was rocked..kinda out of place...As I said, I forgot what I did, I thinki just got mouthy!
The switch, was effective when I was younger. My dad used a belt, a belt that had been split at the end, a big black, worn hard belt. Sometimes my mother used it.
For some odd reason I have the utmost respect for my parents, and even now, will not raise my voice at them..