Which would hurt most?

[Gerri Attrick]

For plot purposes only, you understand. Please don’t try this at home. 

Would it hurt more to be smacked with a rolling pin on the back or the front of the knee?

[Vijaya]

I think the front. But it depends on where your characters are in relation to one another. If the person holding the rolling pin is behind, then it makes more sense to give a blow to the back of the knee. But maybe it's quicker not to have to bend and go for the lower back.

[Simon Haynes]

Speaking as someone who hammered his kneecap into a doorframe three days ago whilst carrying a basket full of damp washing...

THE FRONT

by a country mile.

[notthatamanda]

Front.

[Betty Blast]

I think the front would hurt the most. If hit in the back of the knee your leg would just move forward, but a hit from the front wouldn't give your leg a place to go to avoid the full force of the hit.

[elleoco]

Front. What's more there'd be the potential for real damage like a fractured kneecap. I had a kneecap injured badly in an auto accident. No fracture, but it damaged the cartilage in the knee - painkillers, long time limp. Lingering knee pain in some circumstances for at least a year.

[Jeff Tanyard]

The kneecap, definitely.

[Gerri Attrick]

Thanks everyone - and commiserations to Simon and elleoco. 

I’ll make it the front, then.