Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba 19:613

Abu Bakr narrated to us, he said: Abu Khalid al-Ahmar narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn ‘Ajlan, from Zayd ibn Aslam, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was brought a man who had committed a crime requiring a prescribed punishment (hadd). He was brought a new, stiff whip, and he said: "Something less than this." Then he was brought a broken, frayed whip, and he said: "Something more than this." Then he was brought a whip that had become worn—meaning it had been softened—and he said: "This."