Handle suggestion for my daughter

[jvswan]

Hi all,

My daughters and I are new to fencing. My youngest (just turned 8) has been fencing with a small visconti grip I got for her. Recently she admitted that it makes her hand hurt. In our own practice sessions, I've noticed that as we progress, after about 30 minutes she complains of finger pain and starts to hold her arm up with her wrist cocked down to relieve the pressure on her hand.

She has tried her sister's foil with a french grip, and says it feels better. So, I'd like to re-grip her foil, but I'd prefer a pistol grip to giver her more strength and control. The club has Belgian grips on their practice weapons, and she didn't complain with those. But, when we are practicing with the club, there are lots of starts and stops (opportunities to rest her hand). Still, she is pretty young, and it is hard to get good feedback from her.

Her hand isn't very big. She wears a size small glove. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[rudd]

But, when we are practicing with the club, there are lots of starts and stops (opportunities to rest her hand).

The answer is in your post. She is young and needs to rest often. Local muscular endurance will come with time.

Traditionally young fencers start with a French grip. If that does not aggravate her hand then I'd suggest changing over. Strength should not be a point of focus for a child.

[rory]

Also make sure she isn't holding it too tightly.

[Kimmuriel]

I suggest your daughter should try as many grips as possible (fence with each type at least once), because taste of people can be very different. My hand hurts very badly between my thumb and index finger if I hold a Belgian grip type K (according to http://www.fencepbt.com/pbthome3.nsf...oductNav=Grips) because of the bulky trigger, but the grip type S (Visconti I think) is very comfy to my hand. Some of my clubmates really hate pistol grips, and use French handles. Russian, German and Zivkovic grips are also worth a try I think. Then your daughter should choose the most comfy one to her hands.

[Rick Shellhouse]

At our club Valhalla we use Zivkovic's KIII and BIII for the young ones.


However I do tend to be biased towards them.


Rick

[TodG]

Nothing wrong with French to build up strength and point control. A little bending and a French can be quite comfortable as well, for people more accustomed to a pistol grip.

I have one young fencer who had problems with the small visconti as well, and she changed over to the small Belgium that AFS sells and found it much more comfortable. I also like the feel of the Zivkovics.

http://www.amfence.com/html/foil_grips.html

[jvswan]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess sometimes I get so hung up on equipment that I forget about her abilities and technique. I am working with her on proper handling of the foil, but I do think I'll try a different grip. Just to let her get a feel of something different. I won't worry too much about finding the right grip now, just a different one. Relatively speaking, grips are cheap, so we can get a few types...

Thanks again!

[CadetVet]

Hi all,

My daughters and I are new to fencing. My youngest (just turned 8) has been fencing with a small visconti grip I got for her. Recently she admitted that it makes her hand hurt. In our own practice sessions, I've noticed that as we progress, after about 30 minutes she complains of finger pain and starts to hold her arm up with her wrist cocked down to relieve the pressure on her hand.

She has tried her sister's foil with a french grip, and says it feels better. So, I'd like to re-grip her foil, but I'd prefer a pistol grip to giver her more strength and control. The club has Belgian grips on their practice weapons, and she didn't complain with those. But, when we are practicing with the club, there are lots of starts and stops (opportunities to rest her hand). Still, she is pretty young, and it is hard to get good feedback from her.

Her hand isn't very big. She wears a size small glove. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

All that being said, if she seems more comfortable with the belgian, ask the club owner if he/she'll let you switch the visconti for the belgian for a few days and see if it helps. That is cheap and easy, and will give you an answer fairly quickly.

[Rockstar44]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess sometimes I get so hung up on equipment that I forget about her abilities and technique. I am working with her on proper handling of the foil, but I do think I'll try a different grip. Just to let her get a feel of something different. I won't worry too much about finding the right grip now, just a different one. Relatively speaking, grips are cheap, so we can get a few types...

Thanks again!

If the grip she is using hurts her hand, stop using it right away. Sometimes it can cause permanant damage to the tendons (trigger finger syndrome). At her age, it might just be muscle fatigue, but watch closely!

[fencerbill]

A minor modification to a Belgian, cutting off the bottom back prong, makes it feel very much like a French. She might like it, I know I did.