Where To Get Wasters

[leam hall]

Next question. I may have a second person joining to play and that seems like a useful excuse to get another waster.

My WW is not bad but I made the mistake of asking for the disk pommel. It really gets in the way of my wrist though it does seem to be useful if your tired and forget to hold on tight. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Since I currently practice in a mirrored room, are there any suggestions on wrist straps or something to help prevent the "flying waster" syndrome? Are there down sides to the other pommel designs?

[Casper Bradak]

You could finger the hilt, though that might be difficult on a waster. You could just tie a lanyard to your wrist. Men at arms would sometimes "dummy cord" their weapons to their body armour.

[Webmaster]

Try shifting your grip down to where your hand is wrapped around the top of the pommel and the bottom of the handle. This works better with a scent stopper pommel, which is specifically designed for that, but I've tried it with disk pommels without being terribly uncomfortable. This also spreads your hands farther apart, giving you more lateral control, and still allows you to throw a good one-handed spring.

[James_Knowles]

Is it just me, or is the HE web site not available?

[Craig Peters]

I recently received my second of three wasters from Wooden Weapons. This particular waster has a ball pommel. When I make forceful strikes with the weapon, I find that the pommel rubs against the palm of my hand in such a way that it will eventually cause a blister. Any ideas how to prevent this?

[Casper Bradak]

Glove or callus. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Craig Peters]

Glove or callus

It's not actually a callus that is forming; rather, there is reddish mark, the sort that often accompanies a blister. Besides wearing gloves, would sanding the pommel help, or would that affect the way the sword handled too much?

Gloves are a reasonable solution, until one starts fighting for extended periods of time in temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees F).

[Casper Bradak]

I don't know if it's the same thing, but anytime I forcefully cut with an arming sword, the pommels sort of bites the heel of my hand. This happens especially with wasters that have such wide pommels. I haven't found a way around it.

[Craig Peters]

I don't know if it's the same thing, but anytime I forcefully cut with an arming sword, the pommels sort of bites the heel of my hand. This happens especially with wasters that have such wide pommels. I haven't found a way around it.

This sounds pretty much exactly what is happening with me. It's only the lower right portion of my left hand that is affected. I will try gloves then, or perhaps grip the waster higher up with my left hand.

[Jamie Fellrath]

I'd go with the gloves. As Stacy said in an earlier post, you're going to have much better control over your blade if you grasp it with your dominant hand up at the hiltguard and your weaker hand down by the pommel. Any attempts to try to hold the blade higher with your weaker hand could result in poor control of the weapon and poor technique.

[leam hall]

"Gloves are a reasonable solution, until one starts fighting for extended periods of time in temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees F)."

I started wearing gloves per a suggestion from Gary G. I must admit to liking them. My hand gets sweaty (indoor training area, not too hot) but the grip stays good. I have lightweight leather gloves so there's some room inside for air flow.

[Joachim Nilsson]

Train more. And harder. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" />

Seriously though, I used to have the same problem, but it eventually disappeared as my hands got more accustomed to the hilt of my waster. And accustomed they got by handling the waster as often as possible.

Regards,

[John_Clements]

I recommend training enough that your hands aren't easily blistered.

[Craig Peters]

Sounds good. Right now, my hands are going to spend some time getting "acquainted" with my waster.