I need help finding a new grip. Please help me.

[Efencer8934]

Hi, this is my first time at fencing.net. I need help finding info on new grips. I would just like tips, advice, or just info on different grips (visconti, belgian, german, etc.). Also, if you can tell me where to find a fencing store in the chicagoland area, that would be great. thnx.

[noodle]

what type of info are you looking for?

[Efencer8934]

any info on this would be great. Your opinions on each grip, the pros and cons of each grip. Just pretty much any info would be good.

[JackOfHearts]

My advice would be to try different grips. There are a variety of pistol grips out there that have their own advantages and disadvantages. There are many threads on the board that can attest to each different variety. Of course there's always the french grip. Simple, yet many feel comfortable with it. And then there's the italian grip, which is what I prefer. If you can, have a go at each of the different kinds. Nothing really beats first hand experiance when it comes to this sort of thing. Though keep in mind, a different grip won't neccesarily make you a better fencer. What kind of grip are you currently using?

[Zilverzmurfen]

What kind of grip are you currently using?

And what weapon?

Here's a list of different equipment vendors..

[Larrison]

Efencer -- check out some of the local clubs and see if they have a small store or armerer on the premises, and call/ visit them and ask to try several grips. The club I go to has a small amount of stock on the premises, and the armory has a reasonable selection of different grips for different weapons (but maybe one of each, not like they have a lot..). Try several and see what seems to feel right.

Also, check out and seem if there is a larger tournament in the area. There are amorers or vendors who come to many tournaments who will make up a weapon for you on the spot, and if they have the stock on hand will let you try the feel of different grips as well. Of course, the armorer/ vendor's priority is fixing or providing weapons to folks fencing in the tournament, so you'll be a second priority in having a weapon made up to your specification -- so it make take them an hour or so to put one together.

I recently did this at a large tournament in Socal (the LBI) -- and while it took the folks vending an hour or so to put a couple weapons together for me I bought a soft drink and wandered in to watch some of the DE's in foil... which was fun to watch and let me cheer on some of my clubmates. The vendor was cool with it, since he knew he had a guaranteed sale, I had told him that I understood competing fencers were his priority, and I wasn't being extremely pushy or demanding in what I wanted. I wandered back in a hour, and there were two new shiny weapons and some other stuff, sitting on the table waiting for me.

[Efencer8934]

The weapon that I use is a foil. And right now, my grip is the first pistol grip I ever owned. I dont know exactly what style it is. It's non- insulated tho. My grip was ordered by my club, so I dont know what style it is. It was ordered off of physical chess .com

[Guymelef]

Funny I should happen upon this thread the day I signed-up. I have recently concluded a long, painful, and expensive search for grips the beginning of the season. This was prompted by an observation that I lose point-control and strength at the extremis of my extension-lunge.

The first thing to consider are the dimensions of you hand. I have small, narrow hands and fingers; especially for a grown man. My needs included a grip that would compensate for my relative lack of hand mass. This was especially true when I started fencing the heavier epee.

The second consideration is your glove. Thicker gloves give you protection, but the tactile feedback is limited. If you use a thick glove, a grip with ridges is a good idea. If you use thin leather or synthetic gloves a smooth grip is fine. Once you've settled on a glove type and size buy several pairs for backup. If you change gloves you change the whole interaction at your hand and you may have to start from square-one.

Third, your fencing style. What kind of fencer are you? Do you take the initiative with direct attacks or do you execute compound feints? Are you more defensive? Do you prefer strong parries, or faster parries that deflect the threat sufficiently to gain priority? If you are a direct attacker who prefers strong parries then a French or a Belgian is a good choice. If you prefer quick parries and are trained to disengage, then a Visconti is good.

The drawback to the Visconti, however is the heal that extends beyond the wrist-joint. If you do primes or wide prises you might want a Zivkovic, which lies flush to you hand and has no heal-spur.

Fourth, ask to try other weapons from other fencers in your club. Ask them why they chose the grip-weapon combination they did. Do the same at tournaments if you have enough down-time. Fencers like talking about fencing.

Finally, talk to vendors. American Fencer's Supply and Triplette are good places to call and chat about grips.

Good luck.