Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Linnion · 03-12-2003, 06:17 PM

I've noticed that nearly all fencer in foil and epee tend to be using pistol grips. i fact, only myself and one other use french grips. what do you guys use? if you use a french grip how many fence extended/long pommel

jusplainfencing · 03-12-2003, 06:27 PM

i use a french.... pistol jacks me up i feel like i cant control the point...ive tried to use pistol but i always end up going back i went to a tournament this weekend and only saw one person using french i guess people just like using the newer thing ......

a517dogg · 03-12-2003, 07:05 PM

pistol gives strength to flick in foil, tahts why no competitive foil fencers use french grip.

if you feel like you can't control the point, you're holding the grip wrong. you need to hold it only with the pointer finger and thumb.

epeefencer74 · 03-12-2003, 07:23 PM

Actually there are a lot of epee fencers that use the french grip. It's all a matter of getting use to it and building the strength for it, Veeco can attest to that he's a french grip epeeist.

For my self although I started out using the french grip, after over ten years of using pistol grips, I find it very hard to switch back to a french. By my own estimates, it will take a year's worth of hard trainning to switch grips. Don't have that kind of energy or time so I'm sticking with pistol for now. Although I must say that I'm the new tennis grips look very interesting.

Gav · 03-12-2003, 07:39 PM

They seem to have become more popular however I hate 'em. There is no 'finger play' to them. They are too bulky by far for my liking. I've seen a few Epeeists basically use them like a Sabre grip so I imagine - like the French grip - that it's just a matter of adapting to the style.

Linnion · 03-12-2003, 10:51 PM

Has anyone tried fencing extended/long pommel. The difference, for those who don't know, is that instead of hold the french grip up at the guard you hold it with the pommel in the palm of you hand, the pointer finger along the side the grip and the finger rapped around the grip as normal. I find it great for point control because you point with the finger and you get at least an extra 2 inches distance. The only problems are you don't have quite as firm a grip on the weapon but you can work your way around that.

damianip · 03-12-2003, 11:42 PM

Hmmmmmm...

French vs. pistol...

Posting in épée...

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please, please, please!!!!!!!!!!!

No more!!!!!!!!!!!

I use a French in épée, and I post, and I never want to see a thread about this again. Can't we create a "French grip posting FAQ" somewhere?

Paolo

Gav · 03-13-2003, 01:19 AM

Ha ha ha - I agree - why not write it damianip?

edew · 03-13-2003, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Linnion
Has anyone tried fencing extended/long pommel. The difference, for those who don't know, is that instead of hold the french grip up at the guard you hold it with the pommel in the palm of you hand, the pointer finger along the side the grip and the finger rapped around the grip as normal. I find it great for point control because you point with the finger and you get at least an extra 2 inches distance. The only problems are you don't have quite as firm a grip on the weapon but you can work your way around that.

What a novel idea! Gee, who would have thought of this? Maybe you shouldn't have told the world about this and kept it a secret. Might make you an Olympic champion someday.

earlie · 03-13-2003, 01:16 PM

Well, yeah the pistol grips it is the strongest grips, only see how they all in the tournaments use it , to good effect. Sword match. There is a good flick and strengthcontrol. Degage and disengage, no problem. Use it in a foil and epee, not so for the saber, not so.

Methix · 03-13-2003, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by edew
What a novel idea! Gee, who would have thought of this? Maybe you shouldn't have told the world about this and kept it a secret. Might make you an Olympic champion someday.

Just because some os us know what posting is, doesn't mean everyone does. Just because you've been around a while doesn't justify the smart a** replies you often leave. Keep in mind that this is a member who just joined according to the line above their avatar.

edew · 03-13-2003, 05:07 PM

He's just joined the fencing.net forum. It's not clear that he just started fencing.

Lastly, reinventing the wheel in an open forum deserves whatever flame that arises from others.

veeco · 03-13-2003, 06:54 PM

They're not called French grips, they're called "freedom grips" ;-)

damianip · 03-13-2003, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by veeco
They're not called French grips, they're called "freedom grips" ;-)

Well said, my "freedom friend"!!!

Paolo

edew · 03-14-2003, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by veeco
They're not called French grips, they're called "freedom grips" ;-)

Damned, I was just going to post that.

Mulligan · 03-14-2003, 02:35 PM

Edew...I have chosen to believe in past threads that your rude posts were unintentional, that you simply have a terse way of putting things. But now I see that you are just a jerk.

I thought it was fairly clear that Linnion is fairly new at fencing. But even if he isn't, I don't think it is reasonable to flame him because he doesn't know what posting is. Especially since "posting" may not be the common term for it on the other side of the planet. I have been fencing for a few years...this thread is the first time that I have ever seen the term.

Go ahead, flame me you arrogant prick. I am clearly too ignorant to be allowed voice my opinion here.

Linnion, personally, I think that if the french grip works well for you, use it. It makes no sense to base your decision on what the top world class athletes are doing, you are not one of them.

Might I suggest that you try a cetrulo (aka. spanish offset) grip. The feel is similar to a french with the control of a pistol grip.

angriff · 03-15-2003, 08:08 AM

I'd like to cut through all these flaming here to ask a few questions regarding fencing technique when fencing with a french grip, especially when pommelling:

1. When pommelling, you don't get a lot of power on the blade.. so what are the alternatives to executing beats? And how do you counter a particularly strong beat, aimed at sending your blade out of your hand?

2. Are opposition parries effective while pommelling? If not, do you try to disengage and attempt the stop-hit to the wrist?

3. Is flicking possible when you hold your french grip by the pommel?

Thanks in advance for the advice.. and I do think that really is enough flaming for the time being.. pardon my impudence and help out this relative novice who's considering switching from pistol to french grip. Thanks again

damianip · 03-15-2003, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by angriff
I'd like to cut through all these flaming here to ask a few questions regarding fencing technique when fencing with a french grip, especially when pommelling:

1. When pommelling, you don't get a lot of power on the blade.. so what are the alternatives to executing beats? And how do you counter a particularly strong beat, aimed at sending your blade out of your hand?

2. Are opposition parries effective while pommelling? If not, do you try to disengage and attempt the stop-hit to the wrist?

3. Is flicking possible when you hold your french grip by the pommel?

Thanks in advance for the advice.. and I do think that really is enough flaming for the time being.. pardon my impudence and help out this relative novice who's considering switching from pistol to french grip. Thanks again

1. Not true. Depends on who's doing the beating. I've disarmed plenty of pistol opponents with a quick, sharp beat.

It's a matter of technique. Strong beats are easier than strong binds which require more precision and better technique than when executed with a pistol. Or rather, there is less room for error with a French. Blade actions should always be executed precisely.

2. Yes, but as with binds, they must be executed correctly. Disengages work also, just be ready to consider the extra reach when performing the disengage.

3. Yes, one can flick when posting a freedom grip.

As an aside, yes, Eric Dew doesn't suffer fools gladly, but, looking at the big picture, he has been a great fencing info resource for me and many others for many years, both here and in RSF. Let us also not forget his annual gargantuan effort (with Peter G.) to get WCh/Olympic tapes out to the NA fencing community who otherwise be left in the dark.

He can seem edgy, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Eric, you P.I.T.A , "don't go changin' to try and please us" (not that he ever would).

Paolo

angriff · 03-18-2003, 09:26 PM

Sorry to resurrect this thread.. but after going through a lesson with my coach last evening, I realised I need a lot more finger strength to use a french epee properly.. Does anyone have suggestions? Please help. Thanks again

veeco · 03-18-2003, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by angriff
Sorry to resurrect this thread.. but after going through a lesson with my coach last evening, I realised I need a lot more finger strength to use a french epee properly.. Does anyone have suggestions? Please help. Thanks again

Keep trying at it, and your hand strength will improve. Don't hold the grip too hard. If you are starting up with the French, it might be good to choke up on it everyonce in a while to sort of relax your fingers, esp. in long bouts.

Make sure you find a grip that is comfortable for you, both in terms of what kind of equipment you're using, i.e. glove, pommel and handle, they all play a part. Also make sure that you will find a hand position on the grip that makes you feel comfortable while not being too tense. I personally kind of cradle the pommel in my palm and use the fingers for point control, but you may find that another position is more comfortable.

Finally, make sure you have a cant on the blade. If the blade is straight in there usually it doesn't help.