What's the best way to make a practice target for foil and epee? Any suggestions?
What's the best way to make a practice target?
What's the best way to make a practice target for foil and epee? Any suggestions?
“This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.”
Ive been using an old punchbag with yellow sticky notes on it
Épée-n in the leg.
Old carpet on a wall? Pillow on wall?
"It is not enough to succeed, others must fail."Foilist
String, tennis ball and something to hang it from away from a wall...
Risk a lot and wear glasses
I do similar but with golf balls, quick pilot hole with a drill the attach a screw in loop like the ones you get for net curtains and attach with string.Originally Posted by BigPappaBear
Also I have a couple of cheap Ikea plastic chopping board covered with a foam type material and stick on shapes.
I like the sounds of the golf balls. Is this best done with a steam foil or will an electric tip survive the (occasional) collision?
“This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.”
That's clever. I'll see if I can find one on ebay.
“This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.”
Very good idea.
“This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.”
Being an epee type, can't say I have ever tried with foils but the balls move as you hit them so you are unlikely to even press the button.
The button will depress if you hit with accuracy, correct hand position and a solid extension, which is why the exercise is good, as this is how you should hit in a fight. As the ball starts to move you just have to change the line you are hitting in so that you meet it in the air.
If you want a practice dummy, go to the American forum and search (good luck!) for them. IIRC there were a few designs linked to on a thread or two fairly recently. If you just want a target to hit, LP used to have some on their site a year or so ago at fairly reasonable prices.
If you really want to make one, I'd suggest working out what shape and size you want to make them, then go to your local DIY store and get some MFD or plywood, cut to size. Then you'd need some sort of padding ( old sheets or duvet covers would probably do) and then a tough cover - some sort of softish leather would probably suffice for now. Your general craft store will probably do this in large enough quantity for your needs. Pull the cover as taught as you can over the padding, and staple it onto the MDF/plywood and you should be good to go.
You could try lightswitches, too. Or does that only work for epeeists?
Épée-n in the leg.
Grand. Thanks. Then hang it on the wall like a picture. Maybe there's a gap in the market, here!
“This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.”
I'll try it with a foil and let you know. Providing I don't fuse myself to the national grid, that is.
“This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.”
Bear in mind that my suggestion would only be a very quick and temporary solution at best. You'd still be better going and buying one if you had the cash IMO.
Agreed. They are so expensive, though. I'll wait for the lottery cheque. Or until I fall off the wagon in Spring and order one at two in the morning on Amazon
“This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.”
The answer appeared in "The Sword" magazine last year. Go down to your wine cellar and practise using the corks.
Roman
A jacket (though preferably a coaching jacket) pulled over the back upright section of a computer chair works really well.
Been using it for a while now and gives something fairly similar to the pressure needed in reality whilst also not putting too much pressure on the tip (and most fencers have the stuff already so cheap/free!).
Other chairs may also work but computer ones tend to be taller/be adjustable which is an advantage.
I assume Honey Badger meant the pull string ones you get in bathrooms with the small plastic toggle on the end. Be sure to buy a few spare toggles as once you get good at it they can split.
How do you do that?
“This place has become impossible. Nothing to eat, freezing cold and now a madman on the prowl outside with eels.”
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