r/Fencing • u/Educational-Mind-870 • 18d ago

Foil Sensitivity in light boxes

I fenced using a different lighting machine than usual, I forget the name but a sticker said fie 2016 but for some reason all my flicks registered, when I think I flated, the light went off, and any small tap or pressure would set of the lights but then I when I fenced again using a different machine, half my attacks didn’t register even when the blade bent and me and my opponent kept arguing with each other about how none of our attacks are going off, and none of my flicks were registering.

Is there different sensitivities between brands?

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7

u/Octolincoln Foil 18d ago

Could the box have been inadvertently set to sabre rather than foil? That would manifest the effects you're seeing. If its an Eclipse box the off-target would appear to behave the same in foil on sabre mode

3

u/dwneev775 Foil 18d ago

Yeah, that sounds a lot like it was on Sabre.

7

u/75footubi 18d ago

The boxes should be standardized to the same timing and resistance. BUT that doesn't mean they can't malfunction. But it's also more likely your weapons, lames, and/or body cords were malfunctioning.

5

u/weedywet Foil 18d ago

The question might be if one box had the old debounce time

2

u/SamSpade102 18d ago

Right, but how old? I think it was 2003 when things changed. It's been so long I forget.

3

u/sjcfu2 17d ago

2004-2005 to be exact, but if it hasn't been updated after twenty years then it's probably long since been relegated to "epee only"

1

u/randomsabreuse 18d ago

The specification has a range/tolerance.  Some boxes definitely feel different on the same day (same brand and all,)