Which do you like to fence best?

[Li'l Bebe]

I've noticed that some fencers love fencing in teams, because the added pressure of others suffering for your points instead of just yourself gives that extra boost. Some dislike doing them, because they don't want others to have to suffer consequenses of their fencing. Others really don't care, and like them equally.

What do you like fencing better, team matches, or individual matches? Why? What do you do when you have to fence in the format you dislike? (such as: if you have a tendancy to fence less than your best in teams, how do deal with it when you have to fence a team?)

Or do you not see any difference in your fencing either way?

[KD5MDK]

I have never fenced a team match, nor actually attended a competition that held them.

Edit - Ooops, I completely forgot non-USFA events, where I have done team matches.

I didn't like them as much, because the format did not allow much strategic matchups, and either my failures were letting down the team, or I got irritated at my teammates for not doing as well as me.

[VELISARIOS]

I like to fence in a team. I can enjoy the happening more!!!

[PalmFrond]

I've noticed that some fencers love fencing in teams, because the added pressure of others suffering for your points instead of just yourself gives that extra boost.

Personally I find that I'm under less pressure in team comps - if I do well some duffer can screw it up, if I do badly then some genius can redeem it. My input is the less important for this. However I prefer individual comps: all of the glory is mine (and so's the shame, but I can deal with that)!

[downunder]

the last 3 bouts of the relay are the most wonderfully tense and amazing moments that you can experiance in this sport.

voted team.

[Feltan]

Team competitions are fun. If you are not in college, they are fun because they are different than the standard fare of pools and DE.

Mind you, I say this as one is not terribly concerned about team results: I will gladly have a brand new fencer from my club on my team without concern if they falter badly. About the only time we get somewhat serious is for Nationals, when we will fence off among club members for slots to form a team.

In practice they can be quite amusing. Often we will have team practice with guys vs. gals, righties vs. lefties, vets vs. juniors. The former and the latter seems to elicit the most hoots and howls and general fun. Try a team of rated fencers against a novice team, and spot the novice team 25 points to start -- good practice for the novices, and good training for competative fencers who have to train to "come back" from a deficit.

Regards,
Feltan

[Valerio Versace]

I love both team, mixed team and tournaments for pairs.
Since our coach makes the teams, that's a great way to impress random chicks from my club I wouldn't hang out with otherwise (can't really keep in touch with all of them).

[Morion]

I prefer individual bouts for the reason stated. If I have a bad day I don't want to drag others down with me.

[whtouche]

I just enjoy fencing in general, both/any format. I wouldn't say I prefer one over the other, tho I voted team because I participate in many more individual events than team events and so they still have some novelty.
I really enjoy team events because if the collective sense of accomplishment you can get from them. If a team mate of mine drops a bout and we suddenly have a deficit, I feel confident being the one they look to to make it up. This is for USFA relay-style team events, obviously.

There's also collegiate team events, which are a separate animal and may have been discussed in this thread already without some people knowing. I enjoy these as well, for the same reasons. I enjoy being the person on my team that people look to to consistently win bouts and either keep us close or nudge us over the edge. I like doing this both for my own sense of accomplishment and to help the team.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Individual bouts. I like my fencing like my sex: with two people.

Seriously, I don't like the pressure of team bouts, since I know that if I **** up, everyone else will be mad at me. I also don't like losing, and in a team bout, I only have control of it 1/3rd of the time.

[swordsen]

I love team matches. There is so much more atmosohere there I suppose. Enthusiasm.

[Mr Epee]

Individual bouts. I like my fencing like my sex: with two people...

Aren't you opposed to mixed events?

Yikes!!!

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Aren't you opposed to mixed events?

Yikes!!!

DUUUDDE!!!! NOOO!!!! Not like that!!!!! gaaaahhh..... thats your style. Weirdo.

[Inigo_Montoya]

I like individual events due to my competitive natural. However, I really like to do team events once in a while. You get a real sense of comradery when your team is cheering you on as you fence.

[parrythis]

I voted for team events, but they get my vote only by a small margin. By my nature, I am very much an individualistic competitor. That being said, I have had wonderful experiences fencing on 3-person teams. I think the commeraderie has a lot to do with it. I also think that the concept that a single bad bout doesn't knock you out of contention also plays a factor.

[CvilleFencer]

I much prefer standard bouts. I have only fenced team events a few times but I did not care for it at all. I tend to feel that I have to win every bout 5-0 or I have let down the team. I also tend to get annoyed if someone does not fence as well as I think they should. In short it tends to bring out two sides of my personality that I don't much care for so I tend to avoid them as much as possible.

[telkanuru]

I prefer individual, because I have yet to come across another format with 15-touch bouts, and I prefer 15s to 5s.

[downunder]

Individual bouts. I like my fencing like my sex: with two people.

arn't you like 15?

[CvilleFencer]

arn't you like 15?

Which is why he is up all night talking about it on fencing.net instead of doing something about it. Doing something about it with someone else anyway! Speaking of which, the fiancée informs me it is bed time. Gotta go!

[JackOfHearts]

Team matches can be fun. Though I prefer individual bouts. Both victory and defeat are mine alone.