Point Accuracy

[LeftHanded]

I think that alot of us have had a tennis ball hanging from our ceilings and hit it over and over. I stopped seeing the challenge in this after about 30 minutes even when the ball was moving. Does any one know a better way to practice point accuracy. This is one area I would like to improve in.

[keith]

Find an epee sleeve, find a willing partner.

Step lunge to wrist. Repeat for half an hour. Change places.

[oiuyt]

Yeah, use a golf ball instead of a tennis ball.

-B

[keith]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

Yeah, use a golf ball instead of a tennis ball.

-B

or glue a live fly to the end of the string.

[bunbury]

Take a clothes pin; pinch it with your thumb and any other finger. Do it 200-400 times for each finger.

[counterattack]

Originally Posted by LeftHanded

I think that alot of us have had a tennis ball hanging from our ceilings and hit it over and over. I stopped seeing the challenge in this after about 30 minutes even when the ball was moving. Does any one know a better way to practice point accuracy. This is one area I would like to improve in.

I think you need to approach your tennis ball a bit more like a bout. Getting good training out of your target is a problem to be solved, so try and figure out ways to make it more challenging. I have practiced with a tennis ball for years and I still can find difficult and challenging things to do with it and have never had to switch to a golf ball even. I lunge at it while it is swinging, I try and set the light off with a flick (hard since the ball is so light), I lunge and redouble trying to hit twice. For further amusement this year I have added a second ball that hangs behind the first by a few feet and try and hit the first ball with a lunge, then the second ball with a redouble and again either with a fleche or just a remise. With the balls moving (differing lengths of string will give different frequencies) you can do all kinds of crazy timing and tempo things with your feet and hands. And yes, I do find that a lot of the training is applicable in a bout.

[Joe biebel]

Originally Posted by LeftHanded

I think that alot of us have had a tennis ball hanging from our ceilings and hit it over and over. I stopped seeing the challenge in this after about 30 minutes even when the ball was moving. Does any one know a better way to practice point accuracy. This is one area I would like to improve in.

I like to use a stationary target with marks on it and numbers. Your right about losing the challenge after a short while with any target. That is why you need be creative with it. Make stuff up like this:

Do your normal target practice with your default point/guard positiion

Do it again and force your guard or point to a different start position and finish with them in different positions too.

Practice point precision after parries.

Start with your guard touching the target, on a mental "go" make a hit, jab riposte, etc.

Start with your guard touching the target and make infighting hits, reverse shoulders and foot position, go behind the back, under your leg, behind your head.

Start with your back or side to the intended target and Follow an imaginary opponent as they pass you and hit them with a riposte.

These situations occur all the time in fencing. Imagine how long it will take to get good in these scenarios, if you only do it when it happens in bouts.

People at my club used to laugh or snicker at my target practice. They have seen first hand the results and now more and more of them are doing the more unusal movements I described. Now they only laugh or snicker when I get caught up in my body cord or something silly.

[Allen Evans]

Joe Biebel and Keith have some good ideas. I especially like working with a partner on drills with a sleeve or pad on their hand or arm (a simple knee pad from a sports supply store will do: it protects your partner and gives you a target area). I did drills like this when I fenced and I felt it did as much for my accuracy in epee as any else, including lessons.

Failing having a partner, a simple padded piece of wood on the wall is somewhat poor substitute, but better than nothing.

I hate the hanging tennis ball/golf ball/bucky ball approach to target practice. It doesn't encourage the smooth extension that's needed for good accuracy and causes a lot of people to just "poke" at the hand.

Allen

[Phaeton]

Point precision? What's that?

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Ok, why does it have to be a challenge? This isn't endurance or strength training, its just a drill to improve your accuracy. If you're hitting the ball consistently, keep hitting it.

Your practice does not always have to be difficult and/or frustrating.

[Mr Epee]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

Ok, why does it have to be a challenge? This isn't endurance or strength training, its just a drill to improve your accuracy. If you're hitting the ball consistently, keep hitting it.

Your practice does not always have to be difficult and/or frustrating.

DFP's got this one.

No need to reduce the size of your ball(s).

A tennis ball is a perfect size.

You can change the WAY that you think about hitting it.

Hitting the ball shouldn't be the challenge... that should be a given. Use to time to focus on things like length, relaxation, shoulder sensation, steadiness, focus, smoothness. Then if you introduce footwork, you can keep track of things like hand-then-foot, acceleration, etc...

One more thing... don't track the ball. Pick the time and hit.


Any monkey can hit a marble with a stick.

Doing it the right way takes effort.