02-15-2004, 06:36 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 143
| Switching to french grip in epee.
I am thinking about changing from pistol grip to french grip (fences epee). Do any of you "frenchies" out there have any advice for me regarding tactics? How should I change my game to use the full potential of the french grip? In what way does the tactics of the french grip differ from the tactics of the pistol grip?
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"One more duel would make his reputation.. young ladies would take to their smellingsalts whenever he narrowed his eyes.." - The Duellists -
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02-15-2004, 07:43 PM
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#2 | | Fencing Expert
Join Date: May 2000 Location: The valley of the -hot- sun, NorCal
Posts: 3,184
| Check out this thread, and others. It has been discussed quite a bit before. http://www.fencing101.com/vb/showthr...ht=French+grip
__________________ - Epee is the Louis Vuitton bag of fencing: only the best can get it, and the rest of the masses must content themselves with cheap knockoffs (sabre, foil)
- To not recognize the power of the French grip is to be in denial
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02-16-2004, 05:39 AM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 143
| ohh right, thanks mate 
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"One more duel would make his reputation.. young ladies would take to their smellingsalts whenever he narrowed his eyes.." - The Duellists -
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02-16-2004, 07:20 AM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 256
| I would disagree alot with the supposed disadvantages of the french grip that was mentioned in that thread. I used the french grip as a straight weapon, no modifications to the tangs (eg. bending left or right) and I don't need to use the finger strap (which came along with it). I've never being disarmed by anyone before scoring my touch and I don't flick with it, to keep with the idea of traditional fencing.
I wouldn't say the pistol grip or french grip is clearly superior over the other. It is more of a matter of preference for most individuals who fence competitively. For those who choose to fence more for the traditions and history of fencing or dueling as a few have mentioned, I would strongly recommend the french grip.
Of course, on a more bias point of view, I did say the french grip is better. Its the way you hold the weapon that gives you a slight edge in distance. At least for myself, I checked, it gives me a 1 or 2 cm advantage when I'm holding right behind the guard (compared to my pistol grip [slightly bent downwards for light flicks]) and if I "pommel" it I can get a 3.5 inches with the aid of the finger strap increasing stability.
Its an excellent way to get one light touches. | |
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02-16-2004, 01:19 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: TX en route to KY
Posts: 1,357
|  I ought to dirrect one of our men to that thread. He's 6'8" and wants a french... wait for it... wait for it... so he can POMMEL!!! *bangs head on table* | |
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02-16-2004, 02:40 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wilmington NC
Posts: 431
| I'll probably get blasted for this....
The french game (as I learned it) is much more about precision point work subtle evasions e.g. not being there for the beat rather than a power game. e.g. take the blade, transports etc. If your game is a "power" game you might be a little frustrated with the french at first. I use both depending on my opponent, French for the flixsters and foil/epee crowd. (yes I hit you on the fingers.) and pistol for the beat and go or envelopment (only because I am a coward and don't practice enough) crowd. by the way I have NEVER pommeled in competition. | |
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02-16-2004, 04:20 PM
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#7 | | Fencing Expert
Join Date: May 2000 Location: The valley of the -hot- sun, NorCal
Posts: 3,184
| Quote: Originally posted by MyraTrue
I ought to dirrect one of our men to that thread. He's 6'8" and wants a french... wait for it... wait for it... so he can POMMEL!!! *bangs head on table* |
This actually makes a lot of sense. If he's tall and strong and has big hands, he wouldn't suffer as much from the lack of strength and will gain all the advantages from the French grip.
Using a French correctly takes some time and practice. Trying it once you will probably either hate it, or love it. In any case, if you continue doing it, you will hate it a couple of weeks after. About a couple of months later you might start to feel some improvement and using it in a way that makes sense.
__________________ - Epee is the Louis Vuitton bag of fencing: only the best can get it, and the rest of the masses must content themselves with cheap knockoffs (sabre, foil)
- To not recognize the power of the French grip is to be in denial
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02-16-2004, 04:30 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: TX en route to KY
Posts: 1,357
| Actually, I'm inclined to fence with the French I put together for him myself. I've never fenced epee French, and I admit it feels much better than it did on a foil. I DO NOT have the strength, and I find my point control somewhat lacking with a French so far, but have no problem with a ball with my Visconti. Hmmm...
What seemed so utterly absurd about the 6'8" epeeist wanting to pommel for was that he said he wanted the extra reach. He's got some seriously crazy wingspan (an easy foot + on me!), so I don't see him needing to add to it. | |
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02-16-2004, 05:02 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 140
| Quote: Originally posted by MyraTrue
He's got some seriously crazy wingspan (an easy foot + on me!), so I don't see him needing to add to it. | The difference here is that those couple extra inches of reach are on the weapon, rather than valid target...
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If this post did not contain any sarcasm, it very well should have.
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02-17-2004, 01:23 AM
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#10 | | Member
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: chicago, il
Posts: 62
| i tend to prefer french. like disengages, stop thrusts, hand attacks, blade evasions, etc. not really good at binds or beats.
my advice would be that if you are gonna give posting a serious go you have to stick with it awhile to be able to see how it could really be used effectively. when i first started posting a strong beat or bind would take the weapon right out of my hand, it took me quite a few months to build up the hand strentgh to really be able to hang onto the thing. you have to find a pommel that's comfortable for you too.
just a matter of personal preference in the end. the fencing part comes form the brain...  | |
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02-18-2004, 11:58 AM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 143
| well, now its done, I just bought my first epee with a french grip
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"One more duel would make his reputation.. young ladies would take to their smellingsalts whenever he narrowed his eyes.." - The Duellists -
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02-18-2004, 12:32 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gulf Coast Division
Posts: 2,414
| Good luck in learning a new style of epee.
I have fenced French for most of my epee lifetime. This Fall I switched to a Russian grip. I love the lightness of the weapon and the strength of a pistol grip. This all occurred as I got back into epee fencing after having been away from the weapon I love from Nov. 2, 2002 to about August 12, 2003.
As I think back on it I guess I had lost all that hand strength I had acquired from fencing with a French handle for so long. I found I could not parry six nearly as well as I had before. It seems that my solution was to convert to a pistol.
I did fence with my ol' Frenchie this Saturday when I was having a ground issue with my Russian. It was quite nice to go back to the game of playing with distance and stop thrusts. During most of my French fencing, I never posted. As I think on this, I feel compelled to leave the 'easy route' of using the strength of the pistol to back to my game of distance fencing.
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... without remorse for the past, confident in the present, and full of hope for the future, [d'artagnan] went to bed and slept the sleep of the brave.
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02-18-2004, 12:57 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 140
| Quote: Originally posted by D'Artagnan1673
This all occurred as I got back into epee fencing after having been away from the weapon I love from Nov. 2, 2002 to about August 12, 2003. | That's a rather accurate "about".
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If this post did not contain any sarcasm, it very well should have.
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02-18-2004, 12:58 PM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gulf Coast Division
Posts: 2,414
| hehe, the about was for August 12. I had made it to fencing a few times over the past few months. However, it wasn't until the Tuesday after I returned from my honeymoon that I was able to truly get back into fencing. I put about because technically I had started fencing seriously a week or two before my wedding.
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... without remorse for the past, confident in the present, and full of hope for the future, [d'artagnan] went to bed and slept the sleep of the brave.
- The Three Musketeers
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