Lightest foil blade

[Captain Hook]

Hi everyone

I'm looking for a new steam foil for training after previously using a Paul France. I've searched the forums and found topics on the best foil blade butttt

which is the lightest non-FIE foil blade on the market in your opinions?

[Joe biebel]

Originally Posted by Captain Hook

Hi everyone

I'm looking for a new steam foil for training after previously using a Paul France. I've searched the forums and found topics on the best foil blade butttt

which is the lightest non-FIE foil blade on the market in your opinions?

I don't know, but I don't think it is in your best interest to have the lightest "steam" foil blade you can find. It will promote less robust hand/finger/arm strength. For training, should probably use the heaviest "steam" blade you can find or an electric foil perhaps that no longer works. A light blade will make the transition from Steam to electric harder.

I teach some very young children that would be using short blades if they were in Y-10, Y-12 competitons. They use short blades to "promote" blade play as opposed to trying to outreach the opponant or remise. For this purpose (a body that can not adequately wield a normal size/weight blade) it is advantageous to have a light weapon.

[erooMynohtnA]

Blue Guantlet practice blades may be the lightest, but they're extremely whippy.

You're really not going to get much lighter than a Paul France. It's one of the lightest blades I've used. Maybe try a Paul Etoile.

Also, Joe's right.

[Icarrytheirgear]

Originally Posted by erooMynohtnA

Blue Guantlet practice blades may be the lightest, but they're extremely whippy.

You're really not going to get much lighter than a Paul France. It's one of the lightest blades I've used. Maybe try a Paul Etoile.

Also, Joe's right.

I agree, the France blades are very light, and also hold up pretty well. They are what my kids currently use after trying many different blades. We're quite pleased with them (and I recommend the LP-GT points as well!)

We did switch from the the Etoile because, in my experience, it is about the same weight but a bit too flexible.

[HDG]

I have dinamo (aka fleche) blades on my dry weapons; they're quite nice and fairly light.

[Captain Hook]

Originally Posted by Joe biebel

I don't know, but I don't think it is in your best interest to have the lightest "steam" foil blade you can find. It will promote less robust hand/finger/arm strength. For training, should probably use the heaviest "steam" blade you can find or an electric foil perhaps that no longer works. A light blade will make the transition from Steam to electric harder.

I teach some very young children that would be using short blades if they were in Y-10, Y-12 competitons. They use short blades to "promote" blade play as opposed to trying to outreach the opponant or remise. For this purpose (a body that can not adequately wield a normal size/weight blade) it is advantageous to have a light weapon.

Is there any truth to the theory that using a lighter blade will train your muscles to function faster, even when using a heavier blade, but with a reduction in muscle endurance?

[erooMynohtnA]

Originally Posted by Captain Hook

Is there any truth to the theory that using a lighter blade will train your muscles to function faster, even when using a heavier blade, but with a reduction in muscle endurance?

I'll ask that in the general fencing forums, but I haven't heard anything like that. I certainly haven't experienced anything like that.

And if you really want a light blade, you can just grind some material off a normal blade. But a Paul France is very light already.

[Alex_Paul]

Some people deliberately train with a heavier blade and guard and then use a lighter one for competitions. I am not convinced of the value of this but to each their own...

[fatfencer]

has the lightest blades on a consistent basis....but then again batches can vary so widely its hard to tell. BTW: prieur blades last about 3 days. they suck.

I've felt epees that were lighter than my foils...both were BF blue.

FF

[AdamH]

This raises the question; what is the heaviest blade? One reasonable idea would be to get the same blade as you use on your competition weapons and use one of Leon Paul's dummy tips for steam training.

Weight isn't everything. Balance on the blade matters, as does the flex in the blade. In the long run it may be prudent to look for consistency between training and competing.

A few months ago I was looking for a similar solution as yourself; find the lightest blade availible. For specific people and with particular tactics I went for the simplest answer. Cheap, stiff blade. Paul France, Paul Etoile were a bit whippy so I went for an Ecostar blade from Allstar Uhlmann as I could choose the blade myself at a competition stand. Size 3. Small grip, titanium guard.

Very quick blade and an interesting experiment. I prefer BF maraging blades for longevity, consistency and quality. My steam foil blade is a generic job but still very light (very narrow at the foible). Too much use affects the transition to my competition blades. Will have to see about getting a maraging steam foil for consistency. Wallet ouch!

I have also found that using a smaller grip leads to a lighter feel. The weight and balance are hardly affected, but the scope for more fingerplay has been very rewarding as the point control has improved.

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by erooMynohtnA

And if you really want a light blade, you can just grind some material off a normal blade.

I'd be careful about doing any grinding - rule m.1 specifically forbids any form of treatment between the guard and the tip, including grinding.

This leaves you the few millimeters near the tip of the blade that are covered by the barrel and the tang. Not much there to work with.

[Captain Hook]

Originally Posted by AdamH

This raises the question; what is the heaviest blade? One reasonable idea would be to get the same blade as you use on your competition weapons and use one of Leon Paul's dummy tips for steam training.

Weight isn't everything. Balance on the blade matters, as does the flex in the blade. In the long run it may be prudent to look for consistency between training and competing.

A few months ago I was looking for a similar solution as yourself; find the lightest blade availible. For specific people and with particular tactics I went for the simplest answer. Cheap, stiff blade. Paul France, Paul Etoile were a bit whippy so I went for an Ecostar blade from Allstar Uhlmann as I could choose the blade myself at a competition stand. Size 3. Small grip, titanium guard.

Very quick blade and an interesting experiment. I prefer BF maraging blades for longevity, consistency and quality. My steam foil blade is a generic job but still very light (very narrow at the foible). Too much use affects the transition to my competition blades. Will have to see about getting a maraging steam foil for consistency. Wallet ouch!

I have also found that using a smaller grip leads to a lighter feel. The weight and balance are hardly affected, but the scope for more fingerplay has been very rewarding as the point control has improved.

Thankyou for the replies everyone,

I originally had the idea to train with a heavier weapon, but after a conversation with a random sports scientist one time they said it would actually train my muscles for using a heavier/slower item, so eventually would slow me down even when using a lighter blade. Ifound it very interesting

are there any blades that are known to be well balanced?

The blade I currently use for electric fencing (the Golubitski-pro) feels really sluggish, yeah I've also noticed the same about the smaller grip

[erooMynohtnA]

Originally Posted by SJCFU#2

I'd be careful about doing any grinding - rule m.1 specifically forbids any form of treatment between the guard and the tip, including grinding.

This leaves you the few millimeters near the tip of the blade that are covered by the barrel and the tang. Not much there to work with.

The question was about a steam blade, so that doesn't apply.

[erooMynohtnA]

Originally Posted by Captain Hook

Thankyou for the replies everyone,

I originally had the idea to train with a heavier weapon, but after a conversation with a random sports scientist one time they said it would actually train my muscles for using a heavier/slower item, so eventually would slow me down even when using a lighter blade. Ifound it very interesting

are there any blades that are known to be well balanced?

The blade I currently use for electric fencing (the Golubitski-pro) feels really sluggish, yeah I've also noticed the same about the smaller grip

If your G-Pro feels sluggish to you, I don't know what to tell you. That's the quickest maraging blade in my experience. Mine's also very well balanced.

[Captain Hook]

Originally Posted by erooMynohtnA

If your G-Pro feels sluggish to you, I don't know what to tell you. That's the quickest maraging blade in my experience. Mine's also very well balanced.

Wow, mine feels like an epee

the point of balance is miles from the forte

wanna swap?

[fatfencer]

Originally Posted by AdamH

This raises the question; what is the heaviest blade? One reasonable idea would be to get the same blade as you use on your competition weapons and use one of Leon Paul's dummy tips for steam training.

Weight isn't everything. Balance on the blade matters, as does the flex in the blade. In the long run it may be prudent to look for consistency between training and competing.

A few months ago I was looking for a similar solution as yourself; find the lightest blade availible. For specific people and with particular tactics I went for the simplest answer. Cheap, stiff blade. Paul France, Paul Etoile were a bit whippy so I went for an Ecostar blade from Allstar Uhlmann as I could choose the blade myself at a competition stand. Size 3. Small grip, titanium guard.

Very quick blade and an interesting experiment. I prefer BF maraging blades for longevity, consistency and quality. My steam foil blade is a generic job but still very light (very narrow at the foible). Too much use affects the transition to my competition blades. Will have to see about getting a maraging steam foil for consistency. Wallet ouch!

I have also found that using a smaller grip leads to a lighter feel. The weight and balance are hardly affected, but the scope for more fingerplay has been very rewarding as the point control has improved.

The heaviest blade I've ever felt was my old Golubitsky pro. The last few years that I was able to visit the LP booth at Nationals confirmed to me that that is one consistently heavy blade, but my biggest complaint with LP is that they don't bring enough blade stock for me to get a really good feel.

Don't know why Golubitsky likes them frankly. I had to adjust mine so many times I actually brok off the tang at the shoulder.

FF