French Grip or Pistol Grip?

[erooMynohtnA]

Imagine how good they would be using one type.

[Palisadeur]

...if your new (1-4 months) than just stick with the french grip until you get more experience and your technique gains dexterity, agileness, speed, and good momentum. Just do what your instructors say and work hard at it. Make sure to do tournaments! They give you alot of experience.

I agree thoroughly. Starting with a french grip promotes a more 'thoughtful' handling of the weapon, particularly with regards to supination and pronation.

In the long run, you will have weaker beats/parries than your competition, have a much less stable grip on your weapon, and not be able to flick.

Also true. The orthopedic grips give a stronger (read; more confident) hold, and enable flicking.

But the real issue here is the level of the OP's experience; straight/disengage hits should be mastered before bothering with the flick hits.
Also, the hand is like the tang of the weapon itself - in that pistol grips can be adjusted to from french much easier than the other way around.

This is, of course, merely my opinion.

[Gav]

There's no reason not to take a horse to work, but I'm going to take a car there anyway because it's faster, easier, and gets the job done better in just about every possible way.

The horse will get you there, and if you like horses, I'm not gonna stop you from riding one. But when someone asks me how to get to work, I'm going to recommend a car.

I was going to stay out of this exchange but.. I can't resist any longer. I have seen a veteran fencer, using a french grip in Foil, make regular quarter finals (and I think at least one final) here in the UK where Mens Foil is what you might call ... strong. And we're not talking about him having an easy run to the finals every time either. Didn't know what to make of that when I saw it.