Why Is the Golubitsky Grip Legal?

[chinbeard]

EDITED: NEW QUESTION, (because I fence epee)

Can I put clear tubing on the lower protrusion (so it won't hide a switch)? CVille mentioned that he was going to do that, but there weren't any responses to that. It seems that m.4.3 is satisfied, but is there any chance that a ref could eject my weapon, even if the clear tubing was removable?

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by chinbeard

I thought it was illegal to tape orthopedic grips, but I was shopping earlier, and I came across the Golubitsky Pro Ultra Grip. Does this mean that I can put some tape on the lower protrusion of my Belgian grip as well?

It's not illegal and is in fact extremely common.

It may be a bad idea in epee, however, because any touches your opponent scores on the tape will be counted as valid.

[KD5MDK]

What are the odds they hit the tape instead of his fingers? Isn't the point of tape to put it where your fingers go?

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

What are the odds they hit the tape instead of his fingers? Isn't the point of tape to put it where your fingers go?

People put tape in different places, and people care different amounts about this possibility.

I'm just mentioning the only reason tape on the grip could be a bad thing.

[fencerbill]

Originally Posted by chinbeard

EDITED: NEW QUESTION, (because I fence epee)

Can I put clear tubing on the lower protrusion (so it won't hide a switch)? CVille mentioned that he was going to do that, but there weren't any responses to that. It seems that m.4.3 is satisfied, but is there any chance that a ref could eject my weapon, even if the clear tubing was removable?

You should be able to do it. But you should remember that you are subject to the decisions of any referee you encounter. it seems to be more of a problem with shiny new refs who just remember catch phrases from the rule book, referee seminars and the referee's exam. And the shiny new refs don't want to appear indecisive so may be reluctant to consult anyone. Good luck.

[telkanuru]

The only grief I get about my heavily taped french grips is from other fencers at national events, and those tend to be the new variety. Most wear bandanas for some reason. Maybe there's a causal relationship, I don't know. I've even had one try to convince me that I couldn't move my hand up and down the grip during the bout.

I've had every ref (and several armorers) support my side.

You should be fine.

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by chinbeard

EDITED: NEW QUESTION, (because I fence epee)

Can I put clear tubing on the lower protrusion (so it won't hide a switch)? CVille mentioned that he was going to do that, but there weren't any responses to that. It seems that m.4.3 is satisfied, but is there any chance that a ref could eject my weapon, even if the clear tubing was removable?

Fencerbill is right, the rules for this sort of thing are not necessarily well-known by new refs, so you're taking some risk whenever you do something unusual with your grip.

However, that should probably be fine for most refs. Honestly, odds are low that anyone's going to notice as long as your modification is simple.

[KD5MDK]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

The only grief I get about my heavily taped french grips is from other fencers at national events, and those tend to be the new variety. Most wear bandanas for some reason. Maybe there's a causal relationship, I don't know. I've even had one try to convince me that I couldn't move my hand up and down the grip during the bout.

I've had every ref (and several armorers) support my side.

You should be fine.

The difference is of course that French grips are not mentioned in the rule that addresses coverings on the grip, only orthopedic grips are.

[telkanuru]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

The difference is of course that French grips are not mentioned in the rule that addresses coverings on the grip, only orthopedic grips are.

That depends entirely on how you parse the sentence.

[HDG]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

That depends entirely on how you parse the sentence.

Where's the interpretive leeway?

However, at épée, orthopaedic grips, whether metal or not,
may not be covered with leather or any material which could
hide wires or switches.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Originally Posted by HDG

Where's the interpretive leeway?

You could always parse the sentence wrong.

[HDG]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

You could always parse the sentence wrong.

Touché... touché

[telkanuru]

I've had people to take that to understand that the grip can't be covered in anything, even if it couldn't conceal a switch.

I don't know how they came to that one.

[Grimaldi]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

I've had people to take that to understand that the grip can't be covered in anything, even if it couldn't conceal a switch.

I don't know how they came to that one.

Probably because the only exception would be something transparent, either completely (clear plastic) or practically (fishnet). Heck, even some goofy fishnet thing could "conceal" a wire along one of the threads, I guess, so only something truely transparent would really count.

Such things exist, of course, but aren't likely to be used as grips.

[kuroutesshin]

Out of curiosity- what does this Golubitsky grip look like? Something funky like the Gardere, or more tame like the German orthopedic?

[piste off]

Originally Posted by HDG

Where's the interpretive leeway?

However, at épée, orthopaedic grips, whether metal or not,
may not be covered with leather or any material which could
hide wires or switches.

I take it to mean that clear is OK.

Moreover, I take it to mean that French grips (metal or not) are excluded from the rule - therefore they are better for hiding the switches.

R-

[wahrman]

http://leonpaul.com/acatalog/Foil_Handles.html

It's the 3rd one down.

Originally Posted by kuroutesshin

Out of curiosity- what does this Golubitsky grip look like? Something funky like the Gardere, or more tame like the German orthopedic?