fencing epee choose grip?Visconti or Belgium

[vincikai]

ok i dont fence epee that often, Foil is really my mean weapon…. hear me out anyway. I have been use Visconti grip since I start fencing foil, yet I have switched into Belgium recently. I quite like the feel of it ”in foil anyway.” And now I have this big epee game on Sunday, I never fence epee with a Belgium grip just yet, as some of you might aware Visconti and Belgium has a huge difference. One good at flick to hand, the other good for point control. i am also consent the fact in epee the beat is much harder than in foil, don’t know if my hand would hold Belgium still after receive a strong beat. Yet knowing Belgium grip is about an inch longer than Visconti ._. that would make a difference as well.


So your experience will really help my game and confidence. “I have no intention end up on strip at the tournament and wondering what if ;p.” thanks

[mrbiggs]

Choose whichever is more comfortable for you. Personally, I can hardly hold a Belgian, while a Visconti is awesome. Therefore, I use a Visconti.

[ThatReallyHurt]

At the risk of starting a war, does anyone in competition use a French grip anymore? Everyone seems to recommend using one, but then I see them fence, and they're all using something else...

[mrbiggs]

At the risk of starting a war, does anyone in competition use a French grip anymore? Everyone seems to recommend using one, but then I see them fence, and they're all using something else...

In épée, maybe 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 fencers use one, in my experience. I use them about half the time. They provide greater point control, distance, and allow you to angle your blade in ways that are not possible with a pistol grip. Also, French grips tend to be slightly better for infighting.

In sabre, they're pretty common.

In foil, very, very few high-level fencers use French grips, but there are a few. In foil, the point control and greater control over angles doesn't give you much, and you can't parry as well. Therefore, French grips don't work for most high-level foilists.

[glowstix]

At the risk of starting a war, does anyone in competition use a French grip anymore? Everyone seems to recommend using one, but then I see them fence, and they're all using something else...

in epee, yeah, in foil, only the inexperienced ones. if you see a french grip on a foil it usually means they're a newbie and haven't discovered the pistol yet.

[vincikai]

At the risk of starting a war, does anyone in competition use a French grip anymore? Everyone seems to recommend using one, but then I see them fence, and they're all using something else...

i do love french for epee ;] butttttt at the time i only have one french cut epee blade working "its freaked heavy" thus i am really not counting on my french skills T.T

[OffTarget]

i do love french for epee ;] butttttt at the time i only have one french cut epee blade working "its freaken heavy" thus i am really not ***** on my french skills T.T

errr- I hope you are not relying on your spelling either - whoo! maybe you should read your posts before submitting.

[vincikai]

errr- I hope you are not relying on your spelling either - whoo! maybe you should read your posts before submitting.

gee thats really helpful ;p

[OffTarget]

seriously, you should edit what you are doing with your french skills.

[vincikai]

can someone just tell me which grip to use already ._.
i am 6'1... quite tall yet slow if help
my problem is i dont know which grip, i am more comfortable with. and i simply dont have the time to fence a bout, and find out the difference.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

can someone just tell me which grip to use already ._.
i am 6'1... quite tall yet slow if help
my problem is i dont know which grip, i am more comfortable with. and i simply dont have the time to fence a bout, and find out the difference.

then stick with what you know. The french grip takes many years of training before its true power becomes visible. The first few years, you are at a significant disadvantage, but in the long haul (over the course of a decade or more) you have a really solid advantage. Thats just my opinion.. anyone want to second that one

[telkanuru]

Nah, the french grip can be learned quick, but only if you have an experienced coach. A year, tops, to be fully proficiant (with weekly lessons). I would, however, suggest pistol if you haven't developed the needed hand strength to use french (ie. it feels to heavy).

In other news, how many Freudians does it take to change a lightbulb? Two, one to change the light bulb and the other to hold the penis... I mean ladder!

[vincikai]

in higher levels of epee competition which grip is used more often Visconti or Belgium??

[telkanuru]

Visconti, hands down.

[Zilverzmurfen]

in higher levels of epee competition which grip is used more often Visconti or Belgium??

I personally have NEVER seen anyone use what you refer to as a "Belgian Grip" in ANY competition. Neither in Sweden, nor abroad.

From my experience most épéeists use a Visconti-style grip (or similar pistol grip) and about a tenth of your opponents would probably be using the french grip, with or without pommeling.

Things may be different in the US, but as I said - this is based on my experience.

Good luck with your choice anyway!

[DangerMouse]

I personally have NEVER seen anyone use what you refer to as a "Belgian Grip" in ANY competition. Neither in Sweden, nor abroad.

When watching the Lisbon World Cup DVD last night, I noticed a couple members of the French team use Belgian grips. I'm not sure which competitions you go to, but people use them. That said, I use viscontis

[vonschlick]

I use a Belgian and one of the best fencers in our club uses a Bellgian also. Most everyone else uses a visconti. I am a beginning fencer just learning epee after finishing a beginner foil class. The club president who is also the armorer let me try out a bunch of different grips without blades attached as well as several that where already completed. The one that felt the best was an allstar belgian, so that is the one I picked.

[riptide]

French. Visconti when I fence women.