what grip do you use?

[MikeHarm]

Lately I've enjoyed the french grip a lot. The spinning parries you can do with them are pretty wicked now that I've gotten them down a bit.

They freak out a lot of the pistol grip people used to weak french grip actions which is also pretty cool.

[pacer]

When I first started fencing (ladies could only compete in foil back in those dark ages) anything other than a french grip was considered an orthopedic grip and not widely used. Since I got back into fencing I tried using a french grip but found it contributed to my fencer's elbow, so I now use a pistol grip.

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

I just remembered that I use French grips for epee, but I already voted pistol.

Since the thread has been revived, I don't do this anymore.

[ThatReallyHurt]

I switched from French to Visconti after my last tournament - it immediately made a very positive difference for me. Haven't tried it outside of the club yet, but I'm quite pleased with it so far. Still have one French grip foil, though...

[WhipLash]

i used to use a uhlmann visconti but now using a zivkovic K2. Feels so much more comfortable and gives more control. i can't hit an elephant's butt with a french grip though...

[mackillian]

Does anyone else here use Belgian shorts? They're SO hard to find now. Our armourer ordered a couple for me from TCA but got sent Belgian smalls instead and had to grind them down. But the balance is all off. My favorite one at the moment is an old Prieur one. Love it.

[RebelFencer]

I don't have exceptionally large hands, but I love the large russians for my epee'. w00t!

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I go between french and pistol, tactically. Sometimes switching in mid bout to throw my adversary off, and changing my game drastically.

[Araznal]

I started with a French grip simply because there was nothing else until I started on Belgian grips. Now I can't use anything else (Viscontis are ok, but I can't work well with them). I think that dwarf Belgians are the best, but I can't find them and I don't want to just hack my Belgians down. Do they make those grips anymore?

Oh yeah, if you answer pistol and you fence foil, please specify. Belgian, Visconti, Russian, Chinese, etc. Pistol grip only is specific in epee.

[mackillian]

Araznal, do you mean the short Belgians? They don't have the sticking out part at the end, but instead end at the bottom of your palm and are rounded?

[Araznal]

Yeah, I just call them dwarf Belgians because I like to be non-pc.

[TeskoSuicide]

I've always used French grip. I started off fencing foil and then switched to epee about 3 years later. I've never had a problem with flicking with a French, but in foil a pistol grip is definitely better. As far as epee is concerned, French all the way. Pistol grips = part of hand sticking out of bell guard = target. I hold mine different though, at least according to most people. I always have my index finger pointed straight out into the bell guard (which has hurt me before quite a bit) and the rest of my fingers curling to the base of my hand along the grip. Anyone else hold it like this?

[mackillian]

Araz, TCA has belgian shorts (like the ones Prieur used to make), or so they claim. Our armourer ordered two for me and we got Belgian smalls instead and they had to be ground down. I'm going to call TCA today, actually, and see if they really do have shorts. I wish I could find more of the prieur ones. I have ONE.

[npkeith]

russian on my epee, belgian on the foils (they are hand-me-downs, and the tangs are too short to change to russian without drilling out the grips. I can't be bothered.) When they foils die, I'll replace them with russians.

[Bran]

It's astonishing how in every one of the "which grips do you prefer?" polls that Zivkovic grips are never one of the polling options, yet are mentioned numerous times in the thead.

Therefore, I'll have go with the typical reply: "This poll is flawed"

[FencerGuy900]

I know that there are about a hundred different types of handle, some I find comfortable and some not. Is it that big of a deal? My X-Large visconti is doing great. In reading some of these other posts it seems that there are advantages to these grips or a lot of confident people behind them. To spit it out.......


Is there really an advantage of one grip to another (in foil)?

[downunder]

only one here with a carbon fibre....

obviously i pommel/post with it with my epees

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by FencerGuy900

I know that there are about a hundred different types of handle, some I find comfortable and some not. Is it that big of a deal? My X-Large visconti is doing great. In reading some of these other posts it seems that there are advantages to these grips or a lot of confident people behind them. To spit it out.......


Is there really an advantage of one grip to another (in foil)?

Well, a French or Italian grip is nearly always at a disadvantage in foil. Other than that, whatever works for you is fine.

[FriendlyMonkey]

Russian. I have large hands and the russian is perfect for my grip.

[Sciurus-Rex]

I see no option available for "Grip of Death."