Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Psi Shadowdark · 08-05-2002, 01:58 PM

hey guys im a new fencer and im wondering what the advantages of a french over pistol grip are and vice-versa
i like the feel of the french but would like to know if im missing out not using a pistol

thx

Bebop and Rocksteady · 08-05-2002, 03:49 PM

I smell another grip war coming, so let me just get it out of the way. I would suggest trying a lot of different grips (not just the grips themselves, the whole weapon), with a glove on. If you live near an equipment vendor, take advantage of it. If you find your point control better with a french, by all means use it. If you like the feel of an orthopedic or italian, try them for a month or two.

By the way, if anyone tells you 'this grip allows for more control' or 'this grip is obsolete', just say it isn't so. Just use what fit's your hand and your fancy.

damianip · 08-05-2002, 05:55 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Psi Shadowdark:
hey guys im a new fencer and im wondering what the advantages of a french over pistol grip are and vice-versa
i like the feel of the french but would like to know if im missing out not using a pistol

thx<hr /></blockquote>No war to start. Each grip has its advantages and disadvantages. I use a French in épée and a Zivkovic ortho in foil.

I could use the reverse set up too. It wouldn't make too huge a difference. Learn to fence with what your coach tells you to until you are skilled enough to make your own decision.

Don't fence to suit your grip. Choose your grip to suit your fencing and your hand.

All that said, the vast majority of foilists and épéeists in FIE fencing use pistol grips. There's a reason for that and that most (but not all) fencers find them to be advantageous to modern sport fencing.

Paolo

veeco · 08-05-2002, 06:14 PM

Yep, but the top 2 men's epeeists in the world use a French grip. That has to be something else than a coincidence, right?

John Nguyen · 08-05-2002, 06:34 PM

I'll only answer by saying,

Pistol is also known as orthopedic. It reduces stress on your fingers and wrist. I started with French because it forced me to use proper form, but after a while, I moved to Pistol for the sake of the added convienance. Once you try pistol, im not sure if you'll go back. But again, grips are a tasters choice. Noone can pick YOUR grip. Though, I remember trying to fence Epee, and being given a Pistol, once I tried to return to French foil, I lost 11 straight bouts because I forgot how to fence. My hands had memorized the pistol grip.

I truly believe Pistol is better because it doesn't fatique the hand as much, but I strongly believe its all about how you feel.

damianip · 08-05-2002, 06:39 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by veeco:
Yep, but the top 2 men's epeeists in the world use a French grip. That has to be something else than a coincidence, right?

<hr /></blockquote>I'm with you on that.

The 2 of the 3 best men's épéeists of the last 10 years used one also. (Mazzoni and Srecki)

Paolo

veeco · 08-05-2002, 08:28 PM

And the number one epee fencer in the US standings does as well (Justin Tausig).

I thought I should I mention Philippe Riboud as well as one of the top men's epeeists of all times... Oh, yes, he was using a French grip also...

No really, if you want to be successful, use a French grip. The referees will call touches your way, and you will experience the satisfaction of having attractive women look at you in a shall we say, interested manner?

Well, so much for the French grip propaganda...

damianip · 08-06-2002, 04:31 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by veeco:

<Snip!!>

No really, if you want to be successful, use a French grip. The referees will call touches your way, and you will experience the satisfaction of having attractive women look at you in a shall we say, interested manner?

<Snip!!!>

<hr /></blockquote>Was that the look I was getting? I thought it was horror.

Here's an interesting anecdote. I was at the Sectionals this past spring and one of the coaches at one of the clubs where my son hangs out approached me after a bout. He commented that he didn't know that I,too,fenced and was surprised that I fenced "Italian".

I corrected him and told him that although I'd spent a good portion of my youth in Italy, I received all my training in the States.

He replied (apply thick Kazakh accent here),

"No, you fence Italian style, you know, with French grip."

Paolo

D'Artagnan1673 · 08-06-2002, 06:33 AM

Wow, I feel among friends here

Of course, I'm a little different from Vecco and Dimianip because I don't post or pommel the grip. I use the grip in the same way that a student of foil would.

My take on the original question is fence French as long as you can before you start toying with the Orthopedic grips. The French handle will really teach you how to fence properly.

And John, although it is difficult, you can go from a French to a pistol BACK to a French. I did it in both foil and epee. I had a Spanish Offset foil I used for about a month, I hated it and made my form stink. When I first started getting interested in Epee, I used the club's Belgian before I got the idea to put my Spanish on the weapon. I loved the Spanish on Epee but was very happy when my French Epee came in from TCA. I went back to the French and my accuracy went back up significantly.

Truth of the matter however, is that I have never fenced with an orthopedic long enough to really have a good feel for its style. Considering my goals and preferences in fencing, however, I will continue to stick with the French.

Psi Shadowdark · 08-09-2002, 10:07 PM

what u guys think of the spanish off set i don;t know anyone with one and we don;t have any in my salle, but it looks like i would like it =)

John Nguyen · 08-09-2002, 10:23 PM

D'art I would DEFINATELY agree with the french thing. It does make you fence more properly. But I found when going to the pistol, it caused me to do the unneeded "screwing action." But I think I might try the French again this season.

John

D'Artagnan1673 · 08-10-2002, 10:39 AM

PSI,

A clubmate of mine fences quite well with a Spanish in Epee. Although I find the Spanish to be a poor grip for the French, I find that its very good in epee. Give it a go. If ever I do move to an orthopedic, it will more than likely be a Spanish.