Hostile Witness

Law people: I finally got around to looking into what it means when the judge gives you permission to treat your witness as hostile and I am underwhelmed. There has got to be something more than being able to ask leading questions. Maybe in the old law books there's a clause that says that you can strike a hostile witness across the face with your glove or have the bailiff remove his/her wig. Please look into this matter. That is all.