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jjefferies · 11-18-2009, 02:26 PM

I would like to just get a quick poll of the fencing community as to which is more important to a fencer, a full length strip or having runoff room at each end of the strip. My club is expanding and part of that expansion is redoing the strips. Physical constraint is a total length of fifty (50) feet. The alternatives that I would pose are:
1. full length strip with short runoff: 46 foot strip with 2 feet of runoff
2. short length strip with regulation runoff: 40 foot strip with 5 feet of runoff at each end.

eac · 11-18-2009, 02:33 PM

It bugs me when you can't actually run off the end of the strip. Strips vary in length. That part isn't that big a deal.

Goldgar · 11-18-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjefferies

I would like to just get a quick poll of the fencing community as to which is more important to a fencer, a full length strip or having runoff room at each end of the strip. My club is expanding and part of that expansion is redoing the strips. Physical constraint is a total length of fifty (50) feet. The alternatives that I would pose are:
1. full length strip with short runoff: 46 foot strip with 2 feet of runoff
2. short length strip with regulation runoff: 40 foot strip with 5 feet of runoff at each end.

I'd rather have some runoff room with a shorter strip, so that it's possible for a fencer to go off the end with both feet. However, I think I'd rather compromise with a 42-foot strip and 4 feet of runoff.

Stormbringer · 11-18-2009, 02:43 PM

Perhaps it is merely bias-due-to-experience on my part, but I personally prefer to have a maximized strip length, regardless of run-off (or lack thereof... even is it's only just enough to squeeze the reel past the end of the strip).

Even having it be narrow (1.5 vs 2 meters) is ok (and preferable, in order to reduce crowding of strips), but I'd say being full in length is quite important. But, again, that's just me...

telkanuru · 11-18-2009, 03:17 PM

I would much prefer a full length strip. Helps you set how far back you go.

dberke · 11-18-2009, 03:30 PM

Perhaps a compromise would be to paint two sets of lines (endlines + warning lines) in different colors. One set would be the "short strip with runoff" set, and the other set the "full length no runoff" set. That way you can use whichever set is more appropriate for the situation, as long as you let the fencers know which set is in use.

I personally would prefer full-length strips. Consider this - how often does someone get pushed off the end of the strip? Compare that to how often fencing occurs in the last 2 meters. Maximize the one that is more common.

Dan

noodle · 11-18-2009, 03:59 PM

i'm certain i've lost touches because someone i was fencing was unable to run off the back of a strip.

i'm not certain i've ever lost touches because a strip was a little short.

Goldgar · 11-18-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dberke

Consider this - how often does someone get pushed off the end of the strip? Compare that to how often fencing occurs in the last 2 meters. Maximize the one that is more common.

Ah, but the "last 2 meters" will always exist, no matter how long the strip is (as long as it's more than 2 meters.

). I'd suggest that a better question is how often the points are scored in the last meter or so *before* the warning zone, compared to points in the warning zone or from going off the end. It seems to me that, strategically speaking, it's the 3 meters outside the "box" and before the warning zone, that are truncated on a short strip.

I can see it both ways. In the full-length-no-runoff case, you have more room to fence before coming to the end, but you can't be driven off the strip, which reduces the strategic pressure of that "deadline". In the short-strip-full-runoff case, the end line would play its usual strategic role, but you wouldn't have as much room to work with.

When I was a novice, our club had short strips, and everybody got used to it fairly quickly. That is probably coloring my preference.

Wetmelon · 11-18-2009, 04:17 PM

I prefer the full length strip:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuesday night practice

Felix: How long is a strip
Team: ???
Felix: omg. 14 metres.
Team: 14 metres.
Felix: Know that number, use it to your advantage.

In other words, practice how you fence... with a full 14 meter strip. Put a matress on the wall so people don't kill themselves/the wall.

TBean · 11-18-2009, 04:28 PM

Full-length. I learned to fence on short strips - to this day I still don't easily make use of the full-strip. I tend to stop at the two-meter line, which was how long our shortened strips were, even though I still have room to retreat. That is where I instinctively stop because the lizard part of my brain is telling my body there is a wall behind you now - cannot go any further. It continues to be a hard habit to break.

jjefferies · 11-18-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormbringer

Even having it be narrow (1.5 vs 2 meters) is ok (and preferable, in order to reduce crowding of strips), but I'd say being full in length is quite important. But, again, that's just me...

Ah well, width is an entirely different thing and one of the first requirements to be violated. Many clubs try to make do with 3 feet wide strips(I've even seen less). Regulations call for 1.5-2.0 meters (5-6.56 feet) in width. You rarely see that except at national events. This club uses 4 foot wide strips with 2 feet between.

It's an old conundrum. One of the main determinants of club expenses is the amount of square footage that the club is willing to afford. And to some degree how much space can you find and in what location. But each square foot costs $X dollars. Fencers, your clientele, have widely/wildly varying tolerance for expenses. Bottom line is strip width is the first thing to be sacrificed, now which part of length can likewise be compromised?

seven6ty · 11-18-2009, 05:19 PM

If you're going to have competitions there, full length. If just to use for club practices, shorter strips.

adada · 11-18-2009, 05:25 PM

J
I'd probably end up splitting the difference and giving up a bit of length to get more runoff (call it 3" on each end") 5" in the space we are talking about seems like a bit much.

jjefferies · 11-18-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seven6ty

If you're going to have competitions there, full length. If just to use for club practices, shorter strips.

Actually many of the arguments posed have this reversed. For tournament play have the strips short and full runoff. For club play have regulation strips with short runoff.

HMMmmmmm! Thought why not do just that? Not all the strips will be available for tournament play. You have to have room for the ever important directors. The strips where the directors work from would be regulation length and 2 ft of runoff. Tournament strips where the strategy of backing your opponent into the end is possible would be short with runoff sufficient for fleching.