less target area with a lexan mask?

[chase]

is the lexan in sabre masks conductive? as a sabre fencer, i care about winning. i know it is rare to get hit right in the eyes, but if i did get hit there the opponent might not score. my coach says "every point counts," so i am thinking about getting a lexan mask for this reason.

[erooMynohtnA]

The lexan is not conductive. There is reduced target area.

If you want more touches, spend the money on training.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

is the lexan in sabre masks conductive? as a sabre fencer, i care about winning. i know it is rare to get hit right in the eyes, but if i did get hit there the opponent might not score. my coach says "every point counts," so i am thinking about getting a lexan mask for this reason.

No, it's not conductive.

You don't care about winning because you're a sabre fencer. Sabres and sabre fencers are special in many, many ways, but that's not one of them.

Yes, sometimes it happens that your opponent hits you on lexan and only lexan and you get a point you wouldn't otherwise get. That is an upside. But there are also downsides, including decreased airflow and the lexan fogging up. There are also concerns that the lexan masks are not as safe as other FIE masks. They're also expensive.

Only you can decide if the pros outweigh the cons, but I personally decided to spend that money on lessons, and I think it was a better investment.

[chase]

The lexan is not conductive. There is reduced target area.

If you want more touches, spend the money on training.

...or BOTH. every point counts.

[Applesauce and Foils]

I knew someone was going to get him on the saber fencer=wants to win comment, lol!

(Laughing with, not at you. Laughing at the board.)

AF

[Purple Fencer]

is the lexan in sabre masks conductive? as a sabre fencer, i care about winning. i know it is rare to get hit right in the eyes, but if i did get hit there the opponent might not score. my coach says "every point counts," so i am thinking about getting a lexan mask for this reason.

The lexan DOES cost touches on occasion...happened to an Egyptian in Beijing in a team match against France.

French attacks, Egypt parries and makes a riposte cut to the head...you clearly hear the *tick* as he hits across the lexan....but no light...French counters with a scoring touch.

Now Egypt was getting destroyed, so this had no effect on the results.....but had this happened with Keeth Smart in the role of the Egyptian even ONE time in Beijing, there would be no medal for the men's sabre team.

[mrbiggs]

is the lexan in sabre masks conductive? as a sabre fencer, i care about winning. i know it is rare to get hit right in the eyes, but if i did get hit there the opponent might not score. my coach says "every point counts," so i am thinking about getting a lexan mask for this reason.

lol.





Don't do that.

[SJCFU#2]

But there are also downsides, including decreased airflow and the lexan fogging up. There are also concerns that the lexan masks are not as safe as other FIE masks. They're also expensive.

And the lexan needs to be replaced every two years, even when the mask has never been used.

[AndrewH]

Well hey if you have the money to spend, then go for it. Personally, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I've been hit only on the lexan. I could then count on the other hand how many times I've hit someone else only on the lexan (practice included).

Is it worth $300-$400 for maybe 2 or 3 touches over several years? I think for most people the answer is no, but again, if you have the money laying around and you feel there's no better use for it, then go right ahead.

That being said there's plenty of good reasons to use a lexan mask, but if avoiding touches is the sole reason, I really think that investment could have better returns if spent elsewhere.

[lindajdunn]

I've never won a touch because a fencer hit only the lexan part of my mask. I've only had a problem with fogging at local competitions. Much has to do with the environment in which you're fencing.

My justification for the mask is that I have a hearing impairment and the clear mask improves my ability to see the director's signals (but only as long as the director is in my line of sight, obviously).

I use a regular mask for practice.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

...or BOTH. every point counts.

Every touch counts, yes. But not every touch is about getting that point. Some touches are about NOT getting the point, but setting up getting 10 points later. Some touches are about learning how to get a point later.

Particularly in practice, while it's important and worthwhile to be "in the zone" for as much of it as possible, trying things and concentrating and learning, there are a LOT of things more important than getting a point at any cost.

[vivoescrimare]

If you want more touches, spend the money on training.

I seem to rep erooMynohtnA all too frequently, and, since I couldn't do it again, I will merely say: Q-F-T-M-F-T.

[Superscribe]

As a someone who's not a complete wuss, i care about winning. As a result, i feel like i'm qualified to speak on this matter.

no, you should not get the mask for the reasons you're thinking about.

Every point matters. So do things that'll get you the most points, because that'll prevent people from getting points on your.

other people are right when they say you'll get more points by spending the money of a lexan sabre mask on something else like lessons.

The problem is whether you like to win more, or you like to have nice things more.

Things that will probably screw your opponents out of more points than a lexan mask for equal or less money?

1) Get a regular sabre mask that is smaller.

2) corroding the head cord and body cord alligator clip so when people hit your regular mask or lame the chances of it not going off are increased.

3) going through your entire lame and corroding it so the resistance is as close to borderline passing as possible, increasing the chances an opponents hit not going off.

4) Get shoes that fit you and allow you to get away really quick.

5) Get knickers that allow you to move freely so you can get away quick.

6) tailor your lame so that it is as close fitting to your body as possible, allowing no excess for the opponent to catch on. Make sure you hike it up as high as possible.

7) Get some more material for your crotch strap so you can hike the lame up higher than the regular crotch strap will let you hike it up.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

6) tailor your lame so that it is as close fitting to your body as possible, allowing no excess for the opponent to catch on. Make sure you hike it up as high as possible.

7) Get some more material for your crotch strap so you can hike the lame up higher than the regular crotch strap will let you hike it up.

.... Are you thinking sabre lame that looks more like a bra, or do the lames I've worn have a more generous crotch strap than the ones you've worn?

[foibles]

If you want more touches, spend the money on training.

this and only this.

[chase]

im already getting private lessons 3 times a week, and it isn't for lack of money that i dont live with my coaches or whatever. my family is middle-class, so were not exactly poor or anything, lol.

[D'Art]

So, working by logic, if you feel you need to but a mask that'll give you maybe three hits a season, you've either got a coach who wouldn't be able to stop-cut a barn door or have pretty much no talent for the sport. Either way, you'd still be better spending your money on something else, be it good coaching or a sport where you won't be totally useless.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

im already getting private lessons 3 times a week, and it isn't for lack of money that i dont live with my coaches or whatever. my family is middle-class, so were not exactly poor or anything, lol.

Buying good gear isn't cheap-- that includes FIE everything, and replacing it when it breaks/wears out/you outgrow it.

Buying lessons isn't cheap. But at least it's currently budgeted for.

Transportation and fees for competition aren't cheap-- especially once you add in the more expensive regional and national competitions. Especially if you're paying your coach to be there too.

Summer camps, or winter vacation camps, or long weekend camps are not cheap, especially if you're not local.

Going to college somewhere where you can get better at fencing, have the best possible academic experience, and ALSO enjoy yourself probably won't be cheap. But it *might* not be more expensive than just going to college without thinking about fencing.

I've known people who didn't worry about money when they looked at fencing expenditures. They were not middle class. Either you are not middle class, or you do not understand that your parents will eventually either say "no" or go bankrupt because of you.

There are some reasonable reasons to get a visor mask. Cheating your opponent out of touches is NOT one of them. Have you ever worn one? Some people actually enjoy wearing them, some hate it. And it's a big enough purchase so that you should at least try to try one on first if it's not required you wear one.

[foibles]

im already getting private lessons 3 times a week, and it isn't for lack of money that i dont live with my coaches or whatever. my family is middle-class, so were not exactly poor or anything, lol.

Well. Ok. Buy this then. It's an exceptional mask.

[chase]

Buying good gear isn't cheap-- that includes FIE everything, and replacing it when it breaks/wears out/you outgrow it.

Buying lessons isn't cheap. But at least it's currently budgeted for.

Transportation and fees for competition aren't cheap-- especially once you add in the more expensive regional and national competitions. Especially if you're paying your coach to be there too.

Summer camps, or winter vacation camps, or long weekend camps are not cheap, especially if you're not local.

Going to college somewhere where you can get better at fencing, have the best possible academic experience, and ALSO enjoy yourself probably won't be cheap. But it *might* not be more expensive than just going to college without thinking about fencing.

I've known people who didn't worry about money when they looked at fencing expenditures. They were not middle class. Either you are not middle class, or you do not understand that your parents will eventually either say "no" or go bankrupt because of you.

There are some reasonable reasons to get a visor mask. Cheating your opponent out of touches is NOT one of them. Have you ever worn one? Some people actually enjoy wearing them, some hate it. And it's a big enough purchase so that you should at least try to try one on first if it's not required you wear one.

lol the mask is only like $450 and good colleges are more like $45000. not going to make a difference though maybe it will soon... obama hasnt taxed us to death just yet!