Is Gentle Parenting Better Than Corporal Punishment?

I always question if I was making the right decision not using corporal punishment on my kids, hearing that if they don't get “spanked” they won't learn their lesson or would be brats even though I get so many compliments on how well behaved my kids are. Today I seen the effects of gentle parenting when my son got slime in his sisters hair while she was sleeping. He was honest and told me he wanted to wake her up by putting slime on her neck/cheek so she would be awake to tell their dad bye and have a good day at work, but she turned her head and it got in her hair. Just thinking if a child assumes a mistake will result in physical punishment they wouldn't tell them the truth or just shut down and take the consequences for a honest mistake. I made the mistakes of assuming my oldest had to be this perfect never make an error kid and raised my hand to him one too many time that he is this teen that seems afraid to make mistakes. I hope I can reverse all the mistakes I've made. I want my kids to respect me not fear me.