Which Grip is Best?

[FortyTwoBlades]

Which grip do you use the most and why?

[aikijohn]

I've ended up using Zivkovic grips; both the Z and K (for epee), after trying a Visconte style (came with my first epee; I had no idea what was what back then), then tried a German grip, but the wrist tang was much too long for me. The Zivlovic grips have more of a palm pad rather than a tang, which I like. I am considering trying a small Belgian and a Dos Santos because I've always liked a certain amount of finger tip control of my weapon as opposed to the "clinch" mode I've experienced with hardcore pistol grips.

Interesting thread...

Cheers...

[Army Fencer]

I'll re-post what I said in another thread:

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

I found out a week ago that I've been holding my grip improperly for the last 8 and a half years. I was letting the weapon rest on the middle of my index finger rather than on the distal joint or the end of the index finger [as noodle said: you need to hold it like a pencil, not like a gun]. While I switched to German grips this past year, I've grown up on Belgians, and I think the reason I've been holding my grip wrong is because of the Belgians.

My tip control has improved dramatically since my revelation.

But between pistol grips, the choice really doesn't matter. It's more personal preference than anything.

[Artisan]

The best grip is the one you are using that feels better than any others.

Take two identical castings, shorten one by 1/8" or change the cant on the blade a few degrees and it will feel like a different weapon - so, try different grips until you find one that feels right.

[Schiavona]

Originally Posted by Artisan

The best grip is the one you are using that feels better than any others.

Take two identical castings, shorten one by 1/8" or change the cant on the blade a few degrees and it will feel like a different weapon - so, try different grips until you find one that feels right.

This is so very true! Time away from using a grip can change the feel too.......

I just got back to fencing after 4 years not fencing and the German grips I'd been using since 1981 feel ALL WRONG! Now I have to go through the whole grip selection thing again!

[The0ne]

visconti's the way to go!

[ztron24]

french for epee, visconti for foil

[whtouche]

PBT rubber over aluminum sabre grips.
Very thin and easily manipulable.

I do have a huge red rubber over plastic miscelaneous brand grip on another one of my sabres that I use if I need more power tho(more close-distance parries etc)

(sabre)

[ShadowHuntr]

Originally Posted by ztron24

french for epee, visconti for foil

question:

for epee, do you find that the extra distance you get help compensate for the fact that you must beat weaker and expose your hand more to touches?

[ztron24]

well, that's the trade off. it took me months working with a french to build up enough hand strength not to drop it at every hard beat or bind. it does make your blade weaker. also infighting is more difficult, some of those angles are impossible with a french. but the tradeoofs are some distance, and also i think it helps my point control. with touches, yes, but also quickness in disengages, etc. best way to find out which is best for you is to try...

[damianip]

Originally Posted by ztron24

well, that's the trade off. it took me months working with a french to build up enough hand strength not to drop it at every hard beat or bind. it does make your blade weaker. also infighting is more difficult, some of those angles are impossible with a french. but the tradeoofs are some distance, and also i think it helps my point control. with touches, yes, but also quickness in disengages, etc. best way to find out which is best for you is to try...

Zach,

I find your comment about the French and infighting interesting. I find extreme angulations easier with a French than an ortho. Then again, my infighting is lousy so it wouldn't take much to improve it.

Paolo

[ztron24]

Originally Posted by damianip

Zach,

I find your comment about the French and infighting interesting. I find extreme angulations easier with a French than an ortho. Then again, my infighting is lousy so it wouldn't take much to improve it.

Paolo

yeah, a case could be made for that. depends on how you're holding it, i guess. also, i think some angles are easier with french, and some with pistol. my infighting is pretty lousy, too. i have the bad habit of starting to turn my back to finish off the extreme prime...

[suregrip]

I don't know if I'm doing this right, but I discovered quite by accident that if I rotated my hand the minute I contacted my opponents blade and closed in, the French Grip provided a fiercer bind than my pistol grip provided. The length of it provided more stability along the wrist/forearm whereas the pistol offered nothing beyond the palm of the hand.

I'm sort of leery about pommeling though - how would keep from being bound or beat hard when you're vulnerable like that?

[Army Fencer]

Wow. A lot more people use German than I ever expected.

[noodle]

Originally Posted by suregrip

I'm sort of leery about pommeling though - how would keep from being bound or beat hard when you're vulnerable like that?

distance, blade absence, and point mobility to keep opponents from taking blade control.

but then again, i've never done it before, though i'd like to try one time. maybe i'll find someone with a french and let me play

[CarlKnoch]

German Short grip. The long ones don't allow me to prime high and flick as they hit me in the wrist and cause issues there.

[grotto]

French for epee, with a couple of belgians for fencing a heavy handed opponent or when my timing just sucks.

[Elemental]

I prefer french since I can use more versitally(sp?) than any of the pistol grips.

On a side note: my friend just invented a new grip. He attached his foil blade and guard to a cordless power drill. Ackward to weild but it had push button parries...

[I_luv_saber]

Originally Posted by whtouche

PBT rubber over aluminum sabre grips.
Very thin and easily manipulable.

I do have a huge red rubber over plastic miscelaneous brand grip on another one of my sabres that I use if I need more power tho(more close-distance parries etc)

(sabre)

My fav is whatever they put on those Santelli specials... leather over something I think. Wish I had one, they're really nice grips.

[CalFencer]

I first started with the Italian Visconti, but soon changed over to the German style. I have a small hand, and for some reason, the German feels better. The only problem I have with it is that it cuases friction near my thumb and there is a long tang. I got use to it.