Flicking again.

[ReverseLunge]

By now I have been able to fully adjust my flicking technique to land 85% of the time, just like before they changed the timings. Even flicks to the back and back of the flank are no problem anymore. What about you guys?

[dramamine]

mmm... the back is still tough but mostly because i have stiff blades that currently have no tang bends in them (!!!!)

flank i can do on everyone, or chest/shoulder/flank on lefties, but i can only hit poor fencers on the back. the good ones are usually able to upset the distance somehow and make me land flat. any ideas?

i will post this question in the armory, but is it a bad idea to bend the tang after you've been fencing with a blade for a couple months?

[ReverseLunge]

Originally Posted by dramamine

flank i can do on everyone, or chest/shoulder/flank on lefties, but i can only hit poor fencers on the back. the good ones are usually able to upset the distance somehow and make me land flat. any ideas?

When they see your hand cocking back they arch their back minutely perhaps.

[mrbiggs]

Being at the C and Under level, there have been a huge number of fencers that attack, bend over, and remise. It sounds easy to hit them, but it's not, and it's easy to give up pool bouts to these people (or indicators).

What to do? Second intention opposition 6 flick to back. Most of them are so surprised they don't figure it out in time, and it's 5 easy touches for me.

I can't do it on opponents who keep good distance, because if they're too far in or out of distance, it's very difficult to land.

All my teammates can flick as well.

Interestingly enough, I haven't yet seen a good fencer (let's say A or B) who is not one of my teammates flicking at a tournament. During the old timings, it seemed like at least one in three hits, but now I see maybe 1 per tournament. I assume that these fencers can flick, are they just too worried about missing and giving up a stupid point, or what?

[erooMynohtnA]

I used to flick a lot, but I haven't really practiced to try to adjust it to the new timings. As such, I don't flick very much anymore, but I have a very low percentage that land when I do (other than to the chest, which is just a gimme). Is there any trick to it you want to share?

[eac]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

Interestingly enough, I haven't yet seen a good fencer (let's say A or B) who is not one of my teammates flicking at a tournament. During the old timings, it seemed like at least one in three hits, but now I see maybe 1 per tournament. I assume that these fencers can flick, are they just too worried about missing and giving up a stupid point, or what?

Actually I think flicking was out for a long time at the high level while people thought it didn't work or wasn't high-percentage enough or just hadn't tried it enough yet, but is recently making a comeback there. I just came back today from a Bay Cup C-and-higher MF in which there were flicks flying every which way after the round of 16. Similarly, in the Vancouver world cup, the Italians flicked the hell out of everyone else and each other. I really need to learn to flick.

[ChubbyHubby]

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

By now I have been able to fully adjust my flicking technique to land 85% of the time, just like before they changed the timings. Even flicks to the back and back of the flank are no problem anymore. What about you guys?

I find that when I mean it (ie. planned, rather than reflex) they come up most of the time if I tape my foil properly. Folding some tape over the top of the barrel in the gap between the bottom of the tip and the barrel makes a huge difference.

Sometimes I find that I have to check the box I am fencing on is on new timings because am so used it it now.

[rudd]

Hi ChubbyHubby

Just wondering if your using German or Paul points? Damn, means I've been taping incorrectly all this time.

Also for everyone, what if anything have yoiu changed in your flicking technique to accomidate the timings?

[big daddy]

Iv'e never stopped flicking but , one might consider my flick more of a coupe. I use it to the shoulder .flank and chest. It's never been my main attack just another tool in my box.

[rory]

Originally Posted by rudd

Hi ChubbyHubby

Just wondering if your using German or Paul points? Damn, means I've been taping incorrectly all this time.

Also for everyone, what if anything have yoiu changed in your flicking technique to accomidate the timings?

I fix mine up the same way - and it works with either point. Run the tip tape 'round as normal, just make sure that it sticks up past the edge of the barrel maybe a half mil. Then run a fingernail round the edge to push the tape in.

This prevents fibres of lamé cloth getting into the gap between tip and barrel and shorting you out when you hit: many flicks don't hit dead-on at 90 degrees, and the cloth gets forced inside.

In addition, keep your hand nice and high when starting the hit, but as you make contact, maybe just lower it a fraction to drop the point on rather than "bouncing" it. And keep your hand soft - you're looking to hit firmly, but not so hard that the tip springs back off.

[ChubbyHubby]

Originally Posted by rory

In addition, keep your hand nice and high when starting the hit, but as you make contact, maybe just lower it a fraction to drop the point on rather than "bouncing" it. And keep your hand soft - you're looking to hit firmly, but not so hard that the tip springs back off.

Yes, should be a "thud" rather than a "ping". Go for soft bits rather than bone.

[BoutAfrica]

Originally Posted by rudd

Also for everyone, what if anything have yoiu changed in your flicking technique to accomidate the timings?

I have changed almost everthing about my style of fencing to suit the new timmings. The hardest was changing the tempo of my attacks so that I start much slower than I end, even more than before. This prevents attack in preparation and counter attacks that are so poularar today and makes sure that I finish my attack within the lock out time. I also had to get rid of my habit of bringing my arm back during attacks.

I also flick more now than I did a year ago. I only fick when the situaltion is right and distance is perfect. Distance is the crucial thing that ensures the sucess of a flick. I get almost every fick to light up now partly because I can tell when a flick will work or not.

[noodle]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

Being at the C and Under level, there have been a huge number of fencers that attack, bend over, and remise. It sounds easy to hit them, but it's not, and it's easy to give up pool bouts to these people (or indicators).

What to do? Second intention opposition 6 flick to back. Most of them are so surprised they don't figure it out in time, and it's 5 easy touches for me.

I can't do it on opponents who keep good distance, because if they're too far in or out of distance, it's very difficult to land.

All my teammates can flick as well.

Interestingly enough, I haven't yet seen a good fencer (let's say A or B) who is not one of my teammates flicking at a tournament. During the old timings, it seemed like at least one in three hits, but now I see maybe 1 per tournament. I assume that these fencers can flick, are they just too worried about missing and giving up a stupid point, or what?

i see and have seen plenty.
almost noone, though, uses them as their primary form of attacking.
now they're just a tool to be used when appropriate. sometimes that means they're used often, sometimes it means they're never used.

[Durando]

Originally Posted by noodle

i see and have seen plenty.
almost noone, though, uses them as their primary form of attacking.
now they're just a tool to be used when appropriate. sometimes that means they're used often, sometimes it means they're never used.

Really interesting. Last week I watched the French national foil championships. In something like ten hours worth of bouts I probably saw two flicks. Neither was successful. You all might be out in front on the return of the flick.

[bunbury]

Chest protector, anybody?

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by eac

Actually I think flicking was out for a long time at the high level while people thought it didn't work or wasn't high-percentage enough or just hadn't tried it enough yet, but is recently making a comeback there. I just came back today from a Bay Cup C-and-higher MF in which there were flicks flying every which way after the round of 16. Similarly, in the Vancouver world cup, the Italians flicked the hell out of everyone else and each other. I really need to learn to flick.

Interesting, thank you.

[eac]

Originally Posted by Durando

Really interesting. Last week I watched the French national foil championships. In something like ten hours worth of bouts I probably saw two flicks. Neither was successful. You all might be out in front on the return of the flick.

I am of the impression that the French never did flick very much, nor did they like other people doing it (hence Roche); I think it's more the Germans and Italians who like to flick.

[noodle]

Originally Posted by Durando

Really interesting. Last week I watched the French national foil championships. In something like ten hours worth of bouts I probably saw two flicks. Neither was successful. You all might be out in front on the return of the flick.

the french didn't flick much when it was popular

[Durando]

Originally Posted by noodle

the french didn't flick much when it was popular

Well you learn something new every day. Thanks!

[Mergs]

Originally Posted by noodle

the french didn't flick much when it was popular

Which may be why Mr. Roche eschewed it in the first place! Conspiracy theories, anyone?