Grips

[sandworm]

Ive been fencing for a few months with a french grip for foil and always dry. Recently, however, I have had the opportunity to fence electric against some of the more experienced fencers. But, since I dont own my own electrical equiptment I have had to borrow theirs, and everybody uses pistol grips. I <dont want to use the word hate> am not used to fencing with this kind of grip and am finding that I have no point control at all when using it. Any tips for holding it?

Thanks!
Jess

[Fencergrl]

Your thumb and first finger (as with French grip) control your weapon. The rest of the fingers are there for balance.

Practice using the thumb and finger to aim towards where you want to hit. Find someone helpful in your club you can practice hitting specific target spots on their body until you get the hang of it.

[OROD]

Originally Posted by sandworm

Ive been fencing for a few months with a french grip for foil and always dry. Recently, however, I have had the opportunity to fence electric against some of the more experienced fencers. But, since I dont own my own electrical equiptment I have had to borrow theirs, and everybody uses pistol grips. I <dont want to use the word hate> am not used to fencing with this kind of grip and am finding that I have no point control at all when using it. Any tips for holding it?

Thanks!
Jess

Everyone uses pistol grips because they are superior to French grips for modern fencing. If you want to be a serious fencer and be competitive your best bet is to switch all your grips to pistol grips and start practicing with them as often as you can until you become comfortable with them.


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[Purple Fencer]

If the grip is too large you may have some control problems (above and beyond those from adjsting to the new grip). If the back of your knuckle (index finger) lays against the back of the guard, that will enhance your control.

[OROD]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

If the grip is too large you may have some control problems (above and beyond those from adjsting to the new grip). If the back of your knuckle (index finger) lays against the back of the guard, that will enhance your control.

Oh, yeah, Sam's got a good point here... make sure you try all the different sizes and get ones that are appropriate for your size hand and fencing style. That is, there are different pistol grips types (Belgian, Visconti, Russian, etc.) and depending on how you like to fence some may feel better than others. For example, if you're used to a lot of very classical style fencing, then maybe Belgian will be best. On the other hand, if you want to try out flicking and such then a German Visconti (Uhlmann) or something like that will be better.

Also, if you really want to try something in the style of your French grip, you might try to seek out a Spanish grip. It looks something like a Belgian with the big part that sticks down sawn off.


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[striker]

Originally Posted by OROD

Everyone uses pistol grips because they are superior to French grips for modern fencing. If you want to be a serious fencer and be competitive your best bet is to switch all your grips to pistol grips and start practicing with them as often as you can until you become comfortable with them.


.

OROD,

Hmmm, someone from EMFC? Say hello to Alex.

[OROD]

Originally Posted by striker

OROD,

Hmmm, someone from EMFC? Say hello to Alex.

Sure, I'll tell him striker says hello, hehe.


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[El Chucko]

The off-hand dismissal of the French Grip is perhaps a bit biased. I use a pistol grip myself, but I know a few French grip fencers who are exceptional.

A couple of months ago, I posted a question about French grip fencers. I asked if there have been any high-level competetive fencers who use a French grip, and a very, very few were identified.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but why is it that the French grip is so rare among competetive modern fencers? Certainly it has disadvantages, but it also has a few advantages. I might point out that for many people, the pistol grip may encourage many bad habits, and can do more harm than good if you are not very careful and disciplined.

Oh well.

[ThatReallyHurt]

I like the French grip. I resisted switching (my clubmates, coaches, and people on this forum were suggesting I should switch), and I would still be using it, except for one demonstration that I was given at a tournament:

The president of our fencing association came up to me after my last bout of the tournament, and out of the blue started giving me pointers and suggestions as to how I could improve my fencing. The first thing he said was that I should switch to an orthopaedic. I told him that I liked the French grip, so he asked me to go to my en garde, he grabbed another foil, and then promptly disarmed me with a little flick of his wrist. I picked up the foil, he told me to get a good and proper grip on it, and when I told him I was ready, he disarmed me again. The way it was explained to me was that the French grip is superior if you prefer absence of blade, but there are very few fencers nowadays who train to fence that way exclusively. He also said there's nothing stopping anyone from being an excellent fencer with a French grip - but you need to "sleep with the weapon, eat with the weapon, go to work with the weapon, watch TV with the weapon". It was really good of him to give me the advice, and it was the thing that put me over the tipping point to switch grips.

I went to the little fencing equipment booth that was set up there, spent the next while sizing and trying out different grips (remember to try it with your glove on!), and picked up a Visconti. Back at the club, my parries were more effective almost immediately, and my point control has improved dramatically.

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by OROD

Oh, yeah, Sam's got a good point here... make sure you try all the different sizes and get ones that are appropriate for your size hand and fencing style. That is, there are different pistol grips types (Belgian, Visconti, Russian, etc.) and depending on how you like to fence some may feel better than others. For example, if you're used to a lot of very classical style fencing, then maybe Belgian will be best. On the other hand, if you want to try out flicking and such then a German Visconti (Uhlmann) or something like that will be better.

Also, if you really want to try something in the style of your French grip, you might try to seek out a Spanish grip. It looks something like a Belgian with the big part that sticks down sawn off.


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Thanks! I know that when I altered my beklgian grips to get my kni=ucle closer, I started landing shots I'd just been missing before.

To add on...find the grip that fits best inyour hand...do NOT worry if the nose is too long...you can cut it down...just don't foeget to cut the wire notch in it as well!

[sandworm]

Thanks so much, when I go to buy my first electrical foil I'll put all of this into consideration.

Jess

[YOULLSEEE]

French Grips should be a part of your fencing no matter what. Without at least a few months with it you could turn into a terrible wreck. French teaches you point control and absence of blade along with timing and distance. I occasionally take one out so I can get away from the focus of parries and bladework. French grips don't stay well with heavy bladework like pistol grips. But pistol grips lead to using strength instead of power and speed instead of quickness. French grip is only limited by the power you can put into it. Once I reached a certain point I was disarming my friend left and right, but he could still (kinda) get me with absence of blade.

[Inquartata]

Take up sabre, where there are no orthopaedic grips.

[sandworm]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Take up sabre, where there are no orthopaedic grips.

I plan on it bwahahaha

[mrbiggs]

It may be that you are just not used to the pistol grips, which keep your hand, wrist, and fingers in different places from a French grip. The point control problems should go away reasonably quickly if you practice simple hits with the pistol grip.

[HDG]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

If the grip is too large you may have some control problems (above and beyond those from adjsting to the new grip). If the back of your knuckle (index finger) lays against the back of the guard, that will enhance your control.

I've been fencing for years, but in the last few weeks, I have been rubbing the knuckle of my index finger raw against my guard pad, and I can't figure out why. I'm not doing anything differently, haven't changed my equipment and I haven't had an early-thirties growth spurt.

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by HDG

I've been fencing for years, but in the last few weeks, I have been rubbing the knuckle of my index finger raw against my guard pad, and I can't figure out why. I'm not doing anything differently, haven't changed my equipment and I haven't had an early-thirties growth spurt.

Hmmm...all I can think of wound be a dent in the guard projecting inside, a rough spot inside teh guard, or maybe youf fingers have gained a little weight...

[HDG]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

or maybe youf fingers have gained a little weight...

Well, if my waist is any indication...

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by HDG

Well, if my waist is any indication...

Sadly, mine, too!!