Tennis Ball Drill Recommendation

[The Armourer]

Our club coach recommended that you actually use elastic (knicker elastic we call it quaintly over here!) to suspend the ball and induce more movement into it.

[pammie003]

Originally Posted by fresfisher929

ping pong balls anyone? smaller than golf balls and incredibly easy to use... just stick a hole in it.

I've tried ping pong balls before (tennis balls are getting really easy), but I find they're too light. They swing so far that I have too much time to recover and reset before my next hit. I usually work on multiple attacks (up to 15) before I stop the rope swing and start again.

If I could find something as heavy as, and with the same texture as, a tennis ball that is smaller, it would be ideal, but oh well. I've settled for colouring a smaller circle onto the tennis ball and hitting it.

[Epeecurean]

Dribbling a tennis ball with your epee is good practice too. You'll likely start halfway up your blade but then you gradually move the ball out to the tip, hitting it with a flicklike action.

[howtobrew]

Honestly, sometimes I think you guys are pulling my leg! Dribbling with it? hitting it back and forth with another fencer? Damn, I have a ways to go...

Currently I am using a high density sponge rubber ball with a 2 oz lead weight inside. It is smaller than a tennis ball, about racquet ball sized.

I am not just poking it, but trying to incorporate its' motion into circle 6 drills, and non-presentation of blade counterattacks.
Thanks for the tips and suggestions!
John