Coaches Round Table

How do fencing coaches choose a sword for you?

I am soon going to pick up fencing and I am wondering how do coaches pick a sword for you during training. Obviously, there are only three swords to choose from, but how do they pick for you? Is it by speed, reflexes, or something? Thanks in advance for the answers.

Public Comments

1. You choose which style of fencing you want to do, foil, epee, or sabre, and then the choice is made. If, after a few lessons, your maestro sees that you are more suited for a different weapon/style than the one you initially chose, then he will guide you into that one. If not, then you are in your style until YOU decide to change it. In PSAL H.S. fencing, the only weapon competed in is foil; tournaments offer all three. [Not sure about collegiate-level fencing.)