Foil size: 5 vs 4

[soygirl]

After fencing for about 8 months with a sz 5 blade that was given to me by my coach, he just took me for a lesson with a sz 4 and told me it was what he had learned with (hey, then why didn't I start on it??? :P) I guess he wanted me to be able to feel the difference. Anyway, I found that the weight reduction and the added control was really amazing, and I am now considering making my first blade purchase, a Leon Paul sz 4 Maraging FIE. I am 5'7" and female, so my reach is not extremely long, nor exceedingly short. What is your experience with a 5 vs a 4, what do you see as the positives and negatives of each?

[akaiyuki]

One time my foil broke and my coach replaced the blade with a #4 without noticing. I didn't bother checking or anything of course so I fenced awhile with it until I realized that it's a #4. I did notice that I had better point control and did better parries which was quite awesome. However though, my counter attacks and attack in prep didn't work as well and since I liked excecuting those, I sticked with the #5 blade.
Just have to remember that when you're judging your distance with your foil, your foil is not a #5 anymore :P But that can also mean that you might be able to get closer to your opponent without them noticing if they don't know you have a #4 blade.

[soygirl]

Thanks for the reply I'm hoping to become an infighting afficianado, so being in close with a 4 would probably be better.

I just realized I probably posted this in the wrong section - gonna go repost in the Armory, mod please delete.

Thanks

[edew]

I use #4 blades exclusively for fencing (in foil; epee and saber are #5, of course).

Attacks in prep doesn't require a long blade, as your opponent is advancing towards you, and you're going towards your opponent. Stop hits might benefit with a #5 blade, but once you're used to your distance, it makes no big deal.

The point control factor is the main one for me. Secondary are the parry and infighting.

Now that flicks are pretty much a done deal, maybe going back to #5 might not be so bad. But I'm very used to #4 blades for balance and weight now.