french or pistol grip??

[glowstix]

which do you guys prefer and why. french or pistol?? which type of pistol grip??

as far as i'm concerned, i could go either way. for now i'm using a french grip but i have another foil that has a russian grip, and an epee with an italian grip.

[thyme_daniels]

i like pistol because i feel as if i have more control. i use a visconti grip. the down side is that my hand hurts occasionally, but that can be anyone's problem.

[R. Exnicios]

I actually use a French gripfor foil and pistol for epee. Yes that seems backwards. But I never recomend fench grip. In the modern game speed and strength are too important. All of my students use pistol. (or as the hungarians call it, the revolver grip)

As for what pistol depends on the persons hand size, thumb length and hand strength. Once they find one they like I have them get enough so that all of their weapons are the same. It's actually a good idea to match other parts as well.

Cheers

[DHCJr]

Since, everyone who has seen me fence would swear on a stack of Bibles that what I do could never be construde as fencing, I couldn't say I have a preference.

But I do want to post you a question. Epee with an Italian Handle? In almost thirty years, I'm not sure I have seen anyone using Italian for Epee. For Foil, yes.

I wonder if you mean Visconte? I have seen people on this forum use the term Italian Visconte. Do you mean Visconte (similar, but not quite like a German) or do you mean Italian with the cross-bar?

[a517dogg]

Use french for epee. gives you more options. but french is useless for foil, except you should use french grip for both weapons for your first year or so regardless.

[jeff]

I train with French grip in lessons (both foil and epee) because I like the finer control and "feeling", and bout with pistol for the stronger grip. There's really no problem for me going back and forth, except I tape my fingers for pistol grip to avoid blisters.

I also recommend you use French in the beginning: I see too many fencers that start with pistol and develop poor habits in how they hold and use the weapon. There are exceptions of course, but there's plenty of time to switch to pistol later on. If you find you're getting disarmed a lot while using the French, or holding it in a death grip to prevent that, then it's time to move to a pistol!

[glowstix]

DHCJr:

i meant italian visconte (medium). i was not aware that there was another type of italian grip.

[ShaggyShaw]

he's thinking a classic italian, french grip with two little finger-rings at the bellguard

[Queen of Hearts]

I started with french grip and I am now slowly moving on to the pistol grip. I like it better, I feel as if I DO have more controll and power and I don't have to worry about holding it wrong- well most of the time... The only advantage I can think of for the French grip is to get a longer reach, but if someone does a strong beat attack or parry it could fall out of your hand which is a big
no-no. BTW: If fence epee if that makes a differance.

[a517dogg]

a french grip allows you to hold it at the bell, or to "post", which means you hold it at the end. this means that you can change the distance game immediately without moving your feet. you also gain advantages with angle and flicking when you post. angle because of the reach thing, and flicking because of leverage.

[Pho]

Switching back to the french grip after a long period of time experimenting with various pistol grips in foil, I have a weak wrist and I find that fencing foil with a french grip alleviates a lot of the strain (especially with the fast circular parries). I like to use the pbt aluminium grip since it doesn't flex at all. Also, I find that an epee pommel is much more appropiate since it shifts the balance of the foil back for easier manipulation and a stronger hold.