How do you hold your weapon (when pommeling)?

[peterlista]

I have yet to find a thread on this, so, if you know of one (or where one popped up in another thread) tell me.

I am now fencing epee and would like to start pommeling (hence some of my recent posts). Anyways, I was wondering how those of you who pommel hold your grip?

Personally, I am experimenting with wrapping my middle finger around the base of the pommel (where I can rest it against the grip tape on my pommel) and then wrapping my last two fingers around the pommel. I hold the grip about an inch from the pommel with my pointer finger and thumb (thumb on top).

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Conversation I once had:

me: "My epees are messed up, and I'm losing precious club time during the college season trying to fix them. This sucks!"

him: "Use mine while I go fix yours instead."

me: "... Yours are all french grip. I fundamentally don't understand how to hold something with a french grip."

him: "... hold it like you hold a sabre."

me: " Really?"

him: " yes."

And surely enough, he had spent enough work taping and setting that I really could just hold it (roughly) like a sabre. Now, I still don't understand any other person's description on how to hold a french grip, including whatever you've said, so maybe my problem is still the sabre poisoning, but it was also comfortable in a way that nothing else french grippy that I've picked up has been before or since, so.... yeah. Not that I pick up many french gripped things.

[piste off]

peterlista,

Your description sounds right. But then again so does MyrddinsPrecint's.

Bottom line, do what feels comfortable and what is effective. When I pommel I switch between your's, her's and a few others. Whatever works.

BTW - why are you switching? What is it about pommeling that you find appealing, and are you sure your style of fencing suits it?

R-

[peterlista]

BTW - why are you switching? What is it about pommeling that you find appealing, and are you sure your style of fencing suits it?

Why am I switching to epee? Well, I can't stand foil and can't follow sabre but I love fencing... and I love fencing epee! I thought that was as good a reason as any.

As for pommeling, I am a very defensive fencer who prefers counterattacks and it seems to fit nicely with my game (or what of it I've developed so far).

[telkanuru]

There was a thread a while back where I (the 'him' in MP's post) had some pictures of the way I hold my epees. Damned if I can find it, though.

[peterlista]

There was a thread a while back where I (the 'him' in MP's post) had some pictures of the way I hold my epees. Damned if I can find it, though.

I thought I would find a decent amount on the subject, but when I searched... I got nothing. I was quite surprised.

[KD5MDK]

What did your coach advise?

[peterlista]

What did your coach advise?

Nothing at the moment, I am absent of an epee coach for the time being.

Either way, I am more interested in what others do (as opposed to looking for advice as to what I ought to be doing).

[Thierry]

I hold it thumb on top, index finger extended on the right side(pointed slightly downwards), rest of my fingers wrapped
around on the left, at the end that is. I don't use a pommel as I use the LP carbon grip lol. I prefer gripping with my index finger extended as it makes mr feel more comfortable and it's easier for me to control
using my fingers.

[parrythis]

I hold mine about 1.5-2 inches back from the bell guard in a semi-pommel. I'd like to say that it is a strategic decision that balances the additional reach with maintaining control of the grip, but in reality it's just how I started and it works for me so I stick with it.

[JacoKierkegaard]

I'm not a regular French gripper, but when I do use one I hold it similarly to the way I hold a pistol grip: thumb on top parallel to the grip (pointing toward the bell), middle finger wrapped around, forefinger extended and crooked underneath, and the ring and pinky fingers curled around as they fall on the grip. The last two fingers don't go off the end of the pommel, they use the bulb of the pommel as a resting place like you'd use the bottom prong of a pistol grip.

[T H U G]

When ya pommel tha guy,
I ain't gunna lie,
he prolly won't die
unless he small fry,
but it'll probably hurt.

Step 1:
Just fo fun
parry 4
parry 6
parry 2 3 5
block his blade so you stay alive

step 2:
walk up to
right on through
if he be a foo
he'll just look at you

Step 3:
listen ta me
fast as a bee
not slow as a tree
bring your pommel to his head
hard as some lead
just keep on hittin till he drop over dead

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!?!?!" da judge will may say
especially if da otha guy criez like baybay.
Dis will prolly happen
ain't no maybay!

Just go:
"I got Mad Pommel Strike skillz
goin fo thrillz
given da ladies chillz
REPRESENT"

[peterlista]

Step 1:
Just fo fun
parry 4
parry 6
parry 2 3 5
block his blade so you stay alive

I always find it better to use Absence of Blade tactics when pommeling, it just makes more sense then parrying.

YEAH! That's how we REPRESENT!