Foil

• Foil fencing is the most common style taught to beginning fencers, as the light blade makes it the easiest to wield for an individual that is not experienced with a sword. Women also commonly use the foil due to the lighter weight. In foil fencing an individual must strike an opponent in the body with the tip of the blade in order to score a point, with any strikes on the head or limbs not registering a point. The blade of a foil sword is extremely flexible.
  
  

Epee

• The epee is a heavier blade than the foil and competitions include a larger scoring area. Although the blade is similar in shape to a foil blade, the overall length is shorter than a foil despite the heavier weight. Because the entire body is a legal scoring area in an epee competition, an epee fencer does not wear a protective vest with sensors like a foil fencer would. The blade is also held more erect for a more dynamic attack and defense.
  
  

Saber

• The saber is the most flexible blade in fencing and also contains a unique guard style which bends around to protect the hand from slashing strikes. Scoring in saber competitions requires a strike anywhere on the body from the hips to the top of the head. Limb strikes do not register a point. Unlike in epee and foil competitions a fencer does not need to use the tip of the blade to score a point, as slashing strikes are legal. The flexible blade and slashing strokes provide unique defense difficulties as a bending blade can elude a defensive parry attempt.
  
  

Modern Swords

• All styles of fencing swords are available in both traditional and electronic forms. Traditional styles replicate the fencing swords used before digital scoring was introduced to the sport. As traditional blades are less expensive, they are ideal for practice or for those engaging in recreational fencing. Electronic blades connect to a digital scoreboard and, in styles with selective scoring regions, register with the protective gear to note legal strikes and assign a point to the successful fencer.