Grip Size and Style for Epee

[BubbaM]

An epeeist friend has convinced me to give it a try. Question on grips -
I have a collection of grips for my foils - can I use these in epee?

More specifically - do the "styles" that work best for me in foil translate into epee well? Does the "size" that works best for me in foil translate in to epee well?

I have some German's I have modifed by cutting the tang shorter. I have some Zibkovic ZII's and I think KII's that I like. I have a Belgium and a Visconti or two. Even one Russian. All Large.

Thanks for the comments

Bubba

[DHCJr]

I will answer your second question first. I would think keeping the same handle would help, but as I am not allowed to fence that much, there would be others who could answer this question better. I know there are those out there who swear by the French grip, for Epee, but would not consider it for Foil.

For your second question, yes and no. If you have taped the extremities of your Foil handles as the rules required, but is not necessary, then you would need to remove the tape. From your description of the problem, I would assume you are talking pistol grips, so I will continue under that assumption.

If the handle is painted, there would be no problem. The only problem occurs if use a 'Covering' that could hide a switch. For example a popular addition to a Belgium is to place a surgical tube over the bottom prong. If that were the case, it would need to be removed.

I hope this helped, at least your first question.

[vincikai]

yape french grips are good in epee yet evil in foil xP

[The0ne]

yeah, I like messing with french grips in epee, because it looks cool and I can work on finger stuff, which is all epee is good for . I would say stick with the same size/style of grip that you use for foil, it's what you're used to. . .

[neevel]

There's one minor thing to add about using painted grips for epee. While perfectly legal, the fact that they're insulated means that your opponent will be able to register a touch if they hit the grip, while a hit arriving on an uninsulated grip will not register. It's not a hugely significant thing in the grand scheme of things, but if an opponent gets the touch at 14-14 because the point arrived on your painted grip, it will seem like a big deal!

-Dave

[Artisan]

...if an opponent gets the touch at 14-14 because the point arrived on your painted grip, it will seem like a big deal!
-Dave

If I get scored on the grip when its 14-14, I deserve to lose!

[oiuyt]

Can you imagine how upset you'd get if you managed to hit inside the palm of your opponent's hand at 14-14 only to have it not register due to grounding out because you hit the *&^$#@@ing grip rather than the glove? Say, on a nice, beautiful, angulated stophit right before his/her attack arrives on your chest.

-B :)

[Artisan]

Can you imagine how upset you'd get if you managed to hit inside the palm of your opponent's hand at 14-14 only to have it not register due to grounding out because you hit the *&^$#@@ing grip rather than the glove? Say, on a nice, beautiful, angulated stophit right before his/her attack arrives on your chest.
-B

Thats the opposite case - its supposed to happen that way. Buts its a good argument for positioning the socket to REVEAL as much grip as possible rather than obscure it!

[damianip]

I use a French grip for epee and a Zivkovic Z for foil (not that I fence foil much anymore).

Different weapon, different grip, different game.

However, I know plenty of people who can destroy me in either weapon, who use the same grip for both weapons.

Paolo

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

In epee, you can use some of the big paddle zivcovic grips almost as a little shield for your hand.

[michelle-epee]

i feel a blade is a very personal ting and should suite the person as an epeeist i find the pistol grip better and bf blue blades. for the begginer a french grip always for point control and basics french grips can be to easy to be beating out of the hand if using a foil pistol grip take the paint of it gotting loads of hits because of it in the long run use what best fits your own hand and listen to yourslef not others