French grip more useful in foil now?

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

with the new timings... and foil is more like epee, where a very long reach is useful, and flicks becoming less useful, would the french grip, if pommeled, be of increasingly greater utility? I've seen it used in epee to great effect.

[Purple Fencer]

I wouldn;t think as much as youmight think...foul is STILL a right of way weapon...length of reach doesn't do anything there.

Now, for a straight attack on a guy who's retreating it MIGHT help....

[Epee Scherma]

French handles are great and all but... you wouldn't be able to pommel it in foil, I believe. The thumb has to be at most 2 cm from the guard. That rule doesn't apply for epee. However, there are people have been awesome with french handles even before the new timings. I've seen someone do everything a pistol person can with a french, except so much better!

[garyhayenga]

Originally Posted by Epee Scherma

French handles are great and all but... you wouldn't be able to pommel it in foil, I believe. The thumb has to be at most 2 cm from the guard. That rule doesn't apply for epee. However, there are people have been awesome with french handles even before the new timings. I've seen someone do everything a pistol person can with a french, except so much better!

Pommeling is just as legal in foil as it is in epee. In both if there are prongs on it must keep the thumb in a fixed position no more than 2 cm from the guard. No prongs, pommeling is legal.

Pommeling would still not be effective in foil, even though it might be more effective with the new timing than the old. The problem is that the tradeoff when pommeling is trading reach for power. The ability to bind the blade to avoid remises and to infight is even more important now and pommelling limits both of those severely. While these are also important in epee, pommelling in epee still threatens target while you are still too far away to get your blade taken and it doesn't in foil.

gary hayenga

[DHCJr]

Originally Posted by Epee Scherma

French handles are great and all but... you wouldn't be able to pommel it in foil, I believe. The thumb has to be at most 2 cm from the guard. That rule doesn't apply for epee. However, there are people have been awesome with french handles even before the new timings. I've seen someone do everything a pistol person can with a french, except so much better!

The rule doesn't apply to Foil either. You can pommel, if you use a French grip. If you believe, I am wrong, what is the rule that would not allow you to pommel in Foil with a French grip? You might look at M.4.6. No where does it specify a weapon. In fact, it could apply to a Sabre. For example you could not use a Dos Santos for a Sabre handle.

[Epee Scherma]

I stand corrected. Those darn geezerly coaches! It's their fault!! I wonder if there ever has been a pro foilist who has pommeled. I can't think of any.

[mrbiggs]

Is it better than it used to be? Yes, because attacks are harder to land, and when a hit lands is more important. Is it useful yet? Probably not for most people.