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Tai Wilson · 12-31-2004, 01:05 PM

I just got a new foil for Christmas and I'm thinking about putting a Spanish grip on it, but all I could find online were the whole blades. So, now I'm wondering, can you even put a Spanish grip on a blade, or would it just be easier to just buy the whole blade?
Also, if anyone has any suggestions on a different grip that they think is good, go ahead and say something.
And, just to get this out of the way now, I know that Spanish grips are illegal in tournaments, and I would like to avoid a pistol grip, just because it seems like I would get stuck in it if I ever started using it.
And of course, to complicate things further, I'm left handed....

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 12-31-2004, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tai Wilson

I just got a new foil for Christmas and I'm thinking about putting a Spanish grip on it, but all I could find online were the whole blades. So, now I'm wondering, can you even put a Spanish grip on a blade, or would it just be easier to just buy the whole blade?
Also, if anyone has any suggestions on a different grip that they think is good, go ahead and say something.
And, just to get this out of the way now, I know that Spanish grips are illegal in tournaments, and I would like to avoid a pistol grip, just because it seems like I would get stuck in it if I ever started using it.
And of course, to complicate things further, I'm left handed....

they make pistol grips for left handers you know. Pistol grips are popular for a reason, that being that they provide a power advantage.

Tai Wilson · 12-31-2004, 03:29 PM

I know, but they also make you sacrafice finger control. With the pistol grip, it seems like you move your arm, rather than your wrist.

SouthPaw · 12-31-2004, 04:31 PM

Not true, you do plenty of finger/wrist movements with a pistol grip as well. They are actually very sensitive to small movements of the hand and don't require much arm movement in any direction.

Welted 24/7 · 01-01-2005, 12:25 AM

Aren't Spanish grips illegal in competition? And-

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tai Wilson

I know, but they also make you sacrafice finger control. With the pistol grip, it seems like you move your arm, rather than your wrist.

No offense, but if you're controlling your weapon primarily with your arm with ANY grip, you're doing it wrong.

It · 01-01-2005, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welted 24/7

Aren't Spanish grips illegal in competition?

.

Yes.

Lefty1 · 01-01-2005, 02:56 PM

I'm a lefty also and pistol grip seems to work well. Which grip did you use before?

drippingwet · 01-01-2005, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tai Wilson

I just got a new foil for Christmas and I'm thinking about putting a Spanish grip on it, but all I could find online were the whole blades. So, now I'm wondering, can you even put a Spanish grip on a blade, or would it just be easier to just buy the whole blade?
Also, if anyone has any suggestions on a different grip that they think is good, go ahead and say something.
And, just to get this out of the way now, I know that Spanish grips are illegal in tournaments, and I would like to avoid a pistol grip, just because it seems like I would get stuck in it if I ever started using it.
And of course, to complicate things further, I'm left handed....

Why would you want to put an illegal grip on a new foil? Aren't you competitive?

Grips:

French
Italian
Pistol (various types)
Gardere
Carbon fibre

The great advantage of the pistol grip is that it fits your hand, and a good grip makes holding the blade, sensing and controlling the blade and point easier. With French, Italian and carbon fibre, your hand has to fit the grip, you have to mold yourself to it and it's not a powerful hold.

If you simply don't like pistol grips, then you might consider the gardere, which is like a cross between pistol and French. But I'm not sure how legal the gardere is.

There's really no problem with getting used to the pistol grip. I can't think of any current great fencers who use anything other than pistol grips. And being left handed doesn't come into it. Pistol grips are also good for flicking.

neevel · 01-01-2005, 05:16 PM

The pommeled Spanish grip is illegal in competition, so that's why you'll have trouble finding them (especially for leftys). The reason why is that the presence of the extra spires in combination with the pommel allow you to pommel-hold the weapon and gain some extra reach without a compensating disadvantage in control.

If you're manipulating an ortho grip more with your wrist and elbow than your fingers, then you're using wrong. You should normally keep a very light hold on it (even lighter than with a French grip, since you don't need to worry about it being knocked from your hand), use the thumb and forefinger as your primary control fingers, your pinky as a secondary control finger, and modulate pressure with the middle two fingers as needed for strength and leverage.

A common mistake that beginners make is to choose a large pistol grip that fills the hand. You want a smaller grip that leaves space to shift around in the hand as you manipulate it with the fingers.

Tai Wilson · 01-01-2005, 06:03 PM

The only thing I've used so far is a French grip, and I know that the Spanish grip is illegal in competition, but I just fence for the recreational and social stand point. I don't see my self getting into any real tournaments any time soon.

Lefty1 · 01-01-2005, 07:41 PM

Have you had any experience fencing with a Spanish grip before? Also have you tried to fence with a pistol grip for an extended period of time?

LUDICROUS · 01-01-2005, 08:09 PM

Don't see anything wrong with the pistol grip myself, apart from maybe getting cramp from holding it too tightly...What is your objection to le pistol grip?

Welted 24/7 · 01-02-2005, 12:08 PM

Really, the only way a pistol grip is going to hurt your hand is if it's too big/small, or if you're using it wrong. I'm willing to bet it's number two.

Zilverzmurfen · 01-02-2005, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tai Wilson

I know that Spanish grips are illegal in tournaments

So why do you want to "get used to it" in the first place?

Quote:

I would like to avoid a pistol grip, just because it seems like I would get stuck in it if I ever started using it.

In that case, may I suggest you try the french grip instead?

Quote:

to complicate things further, I'm left handed....

Whooa, that REALLY sounds complicated!!!

I've been left-handed my entire life. Ease your heart now and tell my what you find so complicated about it, I might be able to help you out!

Lefty1 · 01-02-2005, 02:00 PM

A couple months ago I was using a french grip too. Then I converted to a pistol grip. It was really awkward at first and i got some blisters and cramps but then i got used to it, in like two weeks.

Tai Wilson · 01-02-2005, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Whooa, that REALLY sounds complicated!!!

I've been left-handed my entire life. Ease your heart now and tell my what you find so complicated about it, I might be able to help you out!

What I meant by that is in terms of purchasing a Spanish grip, it will be harder to find a left-handed one thatn it would be to find a right-handed one.
And the only reason I'm looking for a Spanish grip is because I just got a new foil, and rather than having two French gripped blades, I'd like to try something else and put a Spanish grip on it. I'm aiming for a Spanish grip because I was told it was a sort of combination of the French grip and the pistol or Italian grip, so I decided that would be my best bet for an easy transition, and I don't plan on going to any tournaments because I simply do this for the recreational and social aspects. I didn't mean for this to become a debat over why the pistol grip is good, I was just wondering if anyone knew where I could find a Spanish grip. That's all. Nothing more!

Sorry that I had to get all angry like that, but that's really the only reason I started this topic, and it seem like the whole time it's been up, people have just been trying to figure out why I wouldn't want to use a pistol grip.