Epee Double Hits

[gesk]

I was in an epee comp recently and was leading by 3 point, time was running out. So naturally I am playing for time. The opponent was on the attack to catch up. He did catch up 2 points. Clubmates were yelling "GO FOR DOUBLE HIT! GO FOR DOUBLE HIT !"
Thats got me thinking that I know no technique for double hits.
I am relatively short with short arms.

Suggestions for double hits,anyone ?

-Gesk

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The truth is out there ........ you just have to find it.

[thebigriddle]

Well being short has little to do with double hits. A lot of does with timing and distance. Just remember once the point is up on the guys guard only a few inches to the arm. Counter attack if he attacks you. Try to move fast then the other person.

[attila]

A good way to get a double is to keep your arm WAY ouside and invite the attack to your chest, as soon as you see the attack develop fleche into his chest and the provability of a double is quite high. Gotta be nimble on your toes though.

[veeco]

A good remise on the guy's attack does the trick for me.

I am pretty good at setting doubles. I can actually score doublés in a row. Sometimes I'll do that. I'm up by say two points at 10-8, and I can score 5 or 6 doublés in a row to finish the bout.

[d8m2k]

Veeco,

The extra reach and angle that your grip provides a big advantage in getting those doubles though.

[Bugaboo]

You should've taken a double hit when you were three points ahead, NOT when you've only got one point to play with.

Consider: It's an iffy proposition to race your opponent to a touch, whether it's double or not. Your attack intention should always be to score without being scored upon. Anything else is a clash and a crap-shoot -- he might just close out your attack, and then where does that leave you? To borrow from a casino scenario: If you're going to gamble, do it when you've got money banked, not when you're down to selling off your ticket home.

The best plan is to get a single touch. Doubles should be unplanned mistakes or windfalls, not your initial goal.

[gesk]

Of course going for single light is the safest and best way in epee. If I can consistently go for 1-light then thats great. But sometimes situations in the middle of a bout changes, so the best that I can do is perhaps go for double hits.

From the sound of veeco's post , he can control the game enough to maintain double-hits as and when he wants. Now that is skill, IMHO.

So I gather from the replies that there really isn't any particular technique to a double-hit game besides :
1) Timing and distance - thebigriddle
2)Arm out, invite attack to chest and fleche - attila ( I do this for my attack, 1-light about 60% of the time)

But thanks anyway guys.

Regards
-gesk

[d8m2k]

Timing and distance are important on most actions...
Other factors are involved...
If you are ahead, time running out, your opponent needs a couple of one light touches,
And in those situations, the attacker will be most likely to make a mistake, opening up possiblities for a double touch. Does your opponent favor the blade? Absence of blade? It all depends on how your opponent goes about trying to get a touch.

Also, think of it as just turning your light on no matter what. If you think of it as going for double touches, it can cause problems.

[This message has been edited by d8m2k (edited 04-25-2001).]

[gesk]

d8m2k
Most of my opponents like to mix up their styles. They usually start with the usual arm at mid-level. After a while they will try the absence of blade . Basically it is a mixture .

-gesk