Whats the best grip to use?

[John Nguyen]

I currently have Visconti and Russian.

However, can anyone tell me the upsides/downsides to each grip.

Im interested in the Belgian grip, and I really love my Russian grip, but someone told me that theres a parry thats hard to do with the Belgian, because after doing it, you have to essentially "regrip" to get back into enguarde?.

And my second question regards the Russian.

I've been told the russian large is more boxy, (which is what it looks like) and have been told its like holding a block of wood. But then I've been told that the small russian grips are less boxy, and I looked, and they look a little bit smoother. Can anyone confirm this?

[latenight]

What weapon? I would use a Russian in Epee , but never foil. It's really mostly personal preference. I used to swear by German's for foil. Now I think they suck and wouldn't use anything except PBT's "Hungarian".

[John Nguyen]

Well, I like the Russian for my Foil, but Im looking for a similar style. I hate the whole Ribbed grips which place your fingers in certain spots. I like the russian because my fingers are free to slide about the handle, sort of like a french grip with a leg. Does anyone know of any grips which are smoother then the box shaped russian? I detest my Visconti's....they kind of hurt. Guess im just wierd like that.

[latenight]

Germans( particularly ones with a long tang, give you some freedom from having your finger in a set place. They are a good transition from french to pistol grips. However, since they are so intermediate, they have none of the strengths of the more common pistols grips.

[D'Artagnan1673]

<a href="http://www.amfence.com/items/Rambeau1.jpg" target="_blank">The grip you are looking for</a> if you like the Russian but want something smaller and less like a block of wood. I tend to agree with you on the Russian. I've fenced with one just a couple of times. On Epee, my main weapon, I like the Spanish Offset as far as orthopedic grips. However, I fence almost exclusively with a French. I've been succesful with it and therefore see no reason to look around.

[Psi Shadowdark]

i like the visconti on foil, they come in a mnay diffent size , they are the finger guide type of grip, the belgium ones feel good to me cuz of the room.
for epee i go french.... just feels right

[rusty epee]

The best grip to use is the one that fits your hand.

Whether it's Russian, baby russian, italian, german visconti...the variations are endless. If you don't already own one you'd like to try, borrow someone's (with permission of course!). But find the one that feels comfortable and go with it.

Personally, I like baby russians; but I have a relatively small hand and prefer the butt end of the grip to be very small anyway. I rarely use my german visconti because of that. The butt gets in my way.

(Then again, if it's not one butt, it's another.... )

Good luck!
-- k

[Iwant2bafencer]

I use a pistol grip for Foil, but it is the only one I've used or tried at all. So I'm afraid I wont be a lot of help. I personally like it. Although, it could be simply because it's all I know. I don't know how it is on flexibility with more of the advanced moves because I haven't tried it yet. It is pretty set on where and how you hold it, and deffinatly hurts if you 'kill your birdie'. Other then that, I find it to 'fit like a glove'.

----------------------------
Carpe Diem
Ad Asha

[Psi Shadowdark]

today i used a germn grip.... and i didn;t like ti what so ever... it felt like it had to much unneed area to it if u know what i mean... almost to long?