Do you use a wrist strap for your foil or epee?

[Epee Scherma]

Do you use a wrist strap for your foil or epee? Why or why not?

[S. Hunter]

Well I fence classical italian style...so....Well, what do you expect? :-D

[CvilleFencer]

I think the judge would frown on my Zivkovic grips drilled for a lanyard or strapped to my wrist...

[Zilverzmurfen]

No definitely not (épée)!
And if I'm not completely wrong using a martingal is also forbidden in competition. (DHCJr would know for sure.)

I use pistol grips - hence no need for martingal.

[grotto]

I use the french grip and will change my hand position on the grip depending on how the action is going and if I "need a little extra" a martingale would hinder this so nope don't use it. though I have wrapped the body cord around the back of my hand (instead of straight to the plug) and this works as a faux martingale, and keeps the body wire from getting in the way of the pommel when I end up in unusual positions while infighting.

[suregrip]

Darn that's a good idea! I'll have to try that - as I continually get my body cord looped out of my glove and caught up my opponent's blade.

[grotto]

it actually works rather well, just need to have fairly long body cords

[CvilleFencer]

I also wrap my BC around my wrist but lately with a couple of the division reels I have been having a prblem with it pulling out so I may have to stop it. I just do it to have one less thing sticking out near my wrist though.

[cfaustus]

I use a martingale for my French epee when fighting competatively... I actually do this mostly to save the body cord and socket some strain when the violent smacks of my opponent dislodge it from my hand.

Beign classically trained, I have also fenced with an Italian competatively... and am finding it more and more beneficial against competative fencers. However, my Italian training is more fo the Northern italian school than the southern school and as such, I am more comfortable without the strap.

[cfaustus]

No definitely not (épée)!
And if I'm not completely wrong using a martingal is also forbidden in competition. (DHCJr would know for sure.)

I use pistol grips - hence no need for martingal.

A martingale on a French grip is not forbidden. A wrist strap for a French is forbidden.

Wrist strap for Italian.
Martingale for French.

[grotto]

I also wrap my BC around my wrist but lately with a couple of the division reels I have been having a prblem with it pulling out so I may have to stop it. I just do it to have one less thing sticking out near my wrist though.

yes that is primarily the reason I do it as well, the faux martigale (with the french) is just a side benefit (possibly only psychological).

[DHCJr]

No definitely not (épée)!
And if I'm not completely wrong using a martingal is also forbidden in competition. (DHCJr would know for sure.)

I use pistol grips - hence no need for martingal.

First a martingal and a wrist strap are different. For French a wrist strap would be illegal, but as noted above, it is used for Italian.

A martingal WAS required until 2002 FIE rule book for all Non-electric FIE competitions. A martingal is used so the weapon can not be thrown even acidentally, which the body cord does now.

M.4.6 precludes the wrist strap from the French.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Point taken!

[glowstix]

First a martingal and a wrist strap are different. For French a wrist strap would be illegal, but as noted above, it is used for Italian.

A martingal WAS required until 2002 FIE rule book for all Non-electric FIE competitions. A martingal is used so the weapon can not be thrown even acidentally, which the body cord does now.

M.4.6 precludes the wrist strap from the French.

whats a martingal???

[DHCJr]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. Basically, it is similar to a strap that is on some collapsible umbellas or other items, so you could let go with out loosing them. It is loose so it does not strap yourself in, but if your hand slipped the weapon would hang, much like what would happen with a body cord.

Last time I looked, Leon Paul sells a package of 10 for a few pounds. They are the only ones I have seen recently.l

[equine]

I use the french grip and will change my hand position on the grip depending on how the action is going and if I "need a little extra" a martingale would hinder this so nope don't use it. though I have wrapped the body cord around the back of my hand (instead of straight to the plug) and this works as a faux martingale, and keeps the body wire from getting in the way of the pommel when I end up in unusual positions while infighting.

Grotto's description of wrapping the body cord is very similiar to the placement of the martingale for the military sabre of the 18th and 19th century. The loop was placed over the thumb, brought over the back of the hand and into the palm while grasping the handle. This is the way a polo mallet is held as well. With this position it is very hard to dislodge the weapon or mallet amd even if it does the martingale tends to pull the handle back into the palm. It also allows the holder to strike very hard (think of the force at the mallet head while galloping a polo pony at 25 MPH), while not very important for a sport fencer has obvious advamtage for the cavalryman.

[Junkie]

"Non-electric FIE competitions."!

I think i may know why the fie took that one out the rule book

[xcr]

My belgin grip (practice) has a martingal. I dont use it. It came with the foil, and I put it on essentially to act as a washer, for a tighter fit. The blade was abit loose, and it was sufficient, and easier than any other method of dealing with said looseness.

[mrbiggs]

I don't strap because I angle my french grip in épée in order to score difficult touches. Thus, with a wrist strap, I'm just fencing with less grip than a pistol.

[ebonylevin]

What is the difference between a martingale and a wrist strap? I know what a martingale is but I have never heard of a wrist strap.
When I first started fencing I used a post/french grip that had a martingale but I didn't like it and I kept dropping my foil just as much as w/o the martingale.