French grip and Epee

[Miguelito]

I'm hoping to solicit feedback from folks who fence Epee and typically pommel a French grip.

I haven't used a French since my first days of foil a few years back. Recently, however, I've noticed a number of fencers who use a French grip held by the pommel very effectively. In addition, I've heard that a fair number of world class epeeists prefer a French grip.
At 6'3'' I've learned to maximize on my height and arm length and have developed an effective style, often using stop hits, fleches, maintaining a very short extension when on guard to draw my opponent in. I'm just wondering if pommeling a French grip may complement my style and make it even more effective by gaining the extra several inches.

Has anyone out there switched from a pistol to French grip for the reasons I've mentioned? Anyone used a French since they started? If so, any feedback on your experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Miguel

[a517dogg]

i was the last of my teammates to switch from french to pistol. i wish ihadn't. french grip gives you just as much if not more strength on the blade when beating, and gives you many more options with distance. you can choke up on it, or post with it, changing the distance game at will without even moving your feet. i would go french grip if i was you.

[Sildar]

I've gone back to french grip mainly because I personally like the way they feel; having a pommel to balance the blade makes it handle better IMO. There's also the ability to hold the grip several ways, and I find that it's a little easier to angulate without exposing as much of the arm. And perhaps the biggest advantage for epee is the extra few inches you can gain.

I also find the French grip increases my appreciation of fine wines, and makes me less inclined to invade Iraq.

[AndrewH]

Originally posted by Sildar
I also find the French grip increases my appreciation of fine wines, and makes me less inclined to invade Iraq.

And just how would fine wines be related to anything French?

[pkt]

Miguelito

I thought you haven't read and therfore haven't learned from Aoife's "Phrase help needed by hopeless newbie!" thread ...



PK

[Alazius]

Originally posted by Sildar
I also find the French grip increases my appreciation of fine wines, and makes me less inclined to invade Iraq.

So what you're telling me is that the French grip illegally sells weapons it buys from America to Iraq, jeez, I'm sticking with my Fascist... err I mean Italian grip

[veeco]

Originally posted by Miguelito
I'm hoping to solicit feedback from folks who fence Epee and typically pommel a French grip.

I haven't used a French since my first days of foil a few years back. Recently, however, I've noticed a number of fencers who use a French grip held by the pommel very effectively. In addition, I've heard that a fair number of world class epeeists prefer a French grip.
At 6'3'' I've learned to maximize on my height and arm length and have developed an effective style, often using stop hits, fleches, maintaining a very short extension when on guard to draw my opponent in. I'm just wondering if pommeling a French grip may complement my style and make it even more effective by gaining the extra several inches.

Has anyone out there switched from a pistol to French grip for the reasons I've mentioned? Anyone used a French since they started? If so, any feedback on your experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Miguel

Miguel,

See this thread:

http://www.fencing101.com/vb/showthr...ht=french+grip

[135711]

I love the French Grip! I also miss not fencing with it. but, I reserve a few for practice. It does wonders for technique, IMO. The beat attack with the French Grip is great! however, I switched! who knows what promts these little outbursts of grip switching. I went to visconti. Perhaps the Italian in me was becoming more dominent. The visconti is a nice grip, but you got to get the right one, and it has to be the right size, if too big, problem. Pommelling is supposed to be a no-no. I was having a chat with a fencing friend who mentioned that to me. I find the whole thing a distraction from the actual play of fencing, although, in a "Hail Mary" of fencing, while you're lunging and there's 1/4" inch to go.....pommell away I say [is it against the rules? I think someone told me not to pommel, but I did] Alas! It seems to stem from the fair-play thing. The weapon's length being such and such in length - giving us all the same advantage; pommelling would increase your advantage on the side of the weapon, not the fencer, so, pommelling was dissallowed. [veeco, do I have it right so far!....]. After two years of french grip, I made a decision to change to the Visconti, to avoid the controversy, and to avoid hold the thing like a saber. Well, it's nice being back on the board...

Best regards,

[PisteOff]

I had the same decision to make last week, and decided on a visconti grip for my new epee. True I can't pommel, but that's what my remise is for.

-=PisteOff=-

[D'Artagnan1673]

While I procrastinate on fixing my two French Epees, I have borrowed a clubmate's German grip. Its not bad, and my point control hasn't been degraded any. However, I miss the feel so I think I'll get off of my rear and find a good box to ship my epees to an armourer friend in Kingswood, near Houston. Yes, I am too lazy to work on my own weapons. I do enough repair and troubleshooting at my job that its about the last thing I'd ever want to do on my time off.

Mango, I don't think that you can pommel a orthopedic grip. I can't directly sitate the rule, but it basicly says that if your grip has any type of prong (such as an orthopedic) then your thumb and index finger have to be within 2 centemeters of the guard, or something to that effect.

I've pommeled a bit, but not a great deal. I've found that in spite of no coach, I can obtain a limited amount of success fencing a French grip without pommeling. However, against certain opponents at my club, I find pommeling to be a great advantage.

[pammie003]

Pomelling?

Can someone 'splain? I think I understand, but I'm not quite sure...

[D'Artagnan1673]

Pommeling is where you hold a French grip near to the base of the weapon. You loose a lot of strength, but you gain a little extra length. That length can be highly beneficial in epee, although its not as important in foil.

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

You should be asking this question to your coach. All epee fencers on this board think they are the epee gurus who deserve an Olympic gold medal.

[D'Artagnan1673]

I've hardly claimed to be a guru at epee. I have opinions, and I speak them. As for this question, its common knowledge around experienced, although not gura epeeists, that pommeling is holding the french weapon furthur back to gain aditional reach.

[Sildar]

Originally posted by D'Artagnan1673
Pommeling is where you hold a French grip near to the base of the weapon. You loose a lot of strength, but you gain a little extra length. That length can be highly beneficial in epee, although its not as important in foil.

Actually, pommeling is when, during infighting, you punch your opponent in the face using the pommel. All the best international competitors do it, because once the opponent is punchdrunk you enjoy a major advantage over them. This strategy also works well against your director when he starts making bad calls; they pay more attention after a good pommel punch!

That's the biggest strategic benefit of the French grip.

[damianip]

Originally posted by three_hundred_fifty_five
You should be asking this question to your coach. All epee fencers on this board think they are the epee gurus who deserve an Olympic gold medal.

I think this should read:

"Three_hundred_fifty_five seems to think that all epee fencers on this board think they are the epee gurus who deserve an Olympic gold medal."

Actually, it's always been frequently stated that there is a quite a range of épée fencers on this, me being at the old duffer weekend competitor end of things and others, such as veeco, fairly experienced fencers with notable results at the national level and just about everything in between.

C'mon 355, lighten up...

Paolo

[LKS_Blade]

I dont think anyone here is claiming to be a guru. These boards are discussion boards, and so thats what we do, we discuss things relating to fencing. We are all at different levels, have had different experiances and have our own opinions. Here we have a chance to discuss these without fear of being 'pommeled'