Dim question about right/lefthanded foils

[Louweasel]

Hello all,
Sorry to sound thick but I’ve just started fencing again after a 5-year gap (and I only fenced for a year then) so I’ve forgotten a lot.
I gratefully borrow my equipment from my new club but the problem is when I go to get a foil I have trouble telling which ones are right-handed and which ones are left-handed. I’m talking about the basic plain-pommel ones that clubs usually have for people to borrow, not the fancy pommels with stick-y out bits that you get when you buy your own.
So is there an easy way to tell which is which, as although I can see a slight difference I always have to ask a passing fencer which one I need (I’m a righthander) and it’s embarrassing…

Thanks!

[DHCJr]

First you have to find top from bottom. If they are properly balanced, they will 'Roll' to upright when balancing on the finger. Then the side that has and indention nearest to the pommel is what hand it is.

The curve of a French handle is slightly higher at the front, so a small indention on the bottom. So from the side, with the end closest to the guard the handle should look like this symbol ~, but not as pronounced. This wil be the approximately the same shape when looking from the top for a right handed handle.

[Wizardly]

Don't worry. The best way to find an answer to a question is often to just ask. If fencing was meant to be so easily understood someone could just pick up a weapon and go <witholds comments about rulebook and directors>.

Here are some WILDLY exagerated models.

Step 1: which way is up?
generally, the top of the grip should contour upward from pommel to guard. the bottom may do the same as well.

side view:

___guard)------------------------------------o
pommel__/


Step 2: left or right?
generally, the side of the grip will contour towards the hand from pommel to grip. This is almost always true of the side of the grip touching the palm of the hand, and may also be true of the other side.

top view



guard guard
| |
\ /
| |
pommel pommel


the one on the left is left handed grip, the one on the right is a right handed grip.


Right hand french grip: from pommel to guard curves up and right.
Left hand french grip: from pommel to guard curves up and left.

If it's perfectly straight, get your money back. The supplier drilled a hole in a rectangular stick and sold it to you as a french grip.

[Louweasel]

That makes sense - I think I've more or less got which is which now, though I might print this page out... It's a start anyway, even if the rest of my fencing leaves a lot to be desired (to quote the coach last night "counter 6! No, counter 6! No, counter 6!") Both instructions were helpful - especially the pictures Wizardly!

[mifencer]

Can't you just ask a person at the club?

It sounds like you may benefit taking a beginners fencing class. (I'm not trying to sound condescending)

[Wizardly]

wow, that so didn't work out quite right...and I spent all that time putting the spaces in there to make it look juuuuust right. Hope you get the idea.

[Louweasel]

Originally posted by mifencer
Can't you just ask a person at the club?

It sounds like you may benefit taking a beginners fencing class. (I'm not trying to sound condescending)

I'm sure you weren't trying, but you succeeded anyway.

Well, I am taking beginner's classes, from which I hope to benefit (and indeed I am so far, I like to think, if slowly). And yes I can ask. But I just thought it would be useful to know myself, down to the simple fact that the place where the equipment is stored at my club is tucked away on a different floor to the gym where classes are and there isn't always someone around. I can't keep running down to the class, pestering someone, running back up again if I've got it wrong, all the while becoming later for my class.

The answer to practically any question I could post here could be "ask someone at your club" so by that rational what would be the point of me asking anything at all? Should I just not bother?

There comes a point when you want to know something yourself - even beginners have some pride! I've got to learn sometime and I thought with all the experienced and knowledgeable fencers on this board it would be a good place to ask for help.

Which it was, thanks to Wizardly and DHCJr. Thanks to both of you and your instructions I chose the right foil first time! And for being so friendly.

[mep350]

I never had to wonder which weapons are for right-handers and which are for left. Why, do you ask? My club has them conveniently taped on the bottom edges of the pommels of all the foils. Hence, when I needed to get a left-handed weapon (which I needed, because I'm a lefty) I would simply find a weapon with black tape. But, since I started my Epee experimentation, there are no left handed Epees, and I am now forced to use an ambidextrous weapon. Did I forget to mention that I have to fence dry because there are no left-handed electric Epees? Do you see how fate favors me!?

~Mep~

[Mergs]

Do you see how fate favors me!?

Ahh, but there is no such thing as fate or coincidence. Someone is trying to lead you away from the Dark Side. But having been given free will, you are able to make the choice of which path you will follow. Choose wisely.

[Gav]

Catlady - Why not buy your own?

[mifencer]

Originally posted by Louweasel
I'm sure you weren't trying, but you succeeded anyway.

Well, I am taking beginner's classes, from which I hope to benefit (and indeed I am so far, I like to think, if slowly). And yes I can ask. But I just thought it would be useful to know myself, down to the simple fact that the place where the equipment is stored at my club is tucked away on a different floor to the gym where classes are and there isn't always someone around. I can't keep running down to the class, pestering someone, running back up again if I've got it wrong, all the while becoming later for my class.

The answer to practically any question I could post here could be "ask someone at your club" so by that rational what would be the point of me asking anything at all? Should I just not bother?

There comes a point when you want to know something yourself - even beginners have some pride! I've got to learn sometime and I thought with all the experienced and knowledgeable fencers on this board it would be a good place to ask for help.

Which it was, thanks to Wizardly and DHCJr. Thanks to both of you and your instructions I chose the right foil first time! And for being so friendly.

Louweasel,
I didn't mean to offend, but obviously I did. Thus, I apologize. From your original message, you didn't mention that you are taking a class -- I wish you luck and hapiness with it. A question that I'm asking myself is that, "why didn't your instructor show you which handle is right-handed and which handle is left-handed?" I've taught a few beginner classes and that is the first thing I would show them when it is time to pass out the foils.

[MikeHarm]

I'm surprised people don't just make ambidexterous french grips for their clubs, I've seen some folks carve them before and I think they'd solve a lot of problems.

[DHCJr]

The problem is not just the handle. How do you balance for ambidextrous? You can't! I have seen clubs, switch handles at a competitons because they don't have enough of the correct handles.

Try this! Take a weapon that is properly balanced for your off-hand and put on a handle for your fencing side and move the connectors and then try using it.

You will find it does not feel right. There have been suggestion to use sabre handles as they are ambidextrous, but the balance is still critical.

[Louweasel]

Originally posted by mifencer
Louweasel,
I didn't mean to offend, but obviously I did. Thus, I apologize. From your original message, you didn't mention that you are taking a class -- I wish you luck and hapiness with it. A question that I'm asking myself is that, "why didn't your instructor show you which handle is right-handed and which handle is left-handed?" I've taught a few beginner classes and that is the first thing I would show them when it is time to pass out the foils.

That's ok - I suppose I was being a bit touchy! I was shown, but, in the opposite way to most normal people, I often understand better when I'm told than when I'm shown - I remember the theory behind things better. So I retain instructions, descriptions and supporting reasoning better than I retain a mental image! Odd but there you go. That's why this thread has helped.