Last updated: 6 August 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Makin, FA Level 2 Football Coach
The electric scoring chain
Equipment by weapon
| Item | Foil | Épée | Sabre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamé (conductive vest) | Required — marks valid torso target | Not used — whole body is valid target | Required — marks valid upper-body target |
| Body cord | Required | Required | Required |
| Weapon tip | Spring-loaded, low-pressure trigger | Spring-loaded, slightly higher-pressure trigger | No tip mechanism — sabre scores on contact, not pressure |
| Mask cord (lamé connection) | Required — mask is valid target, wired to lamé | Not required — mask isn't a scoring target | Required — mask is valid target |
What is "dry" fencing?
Dry fencing (no electric equipment, relying on a referee's visual judgment to call touches) is how fencing was scored for most of its history and is still commonly used at beginner and club level. Electric scoring became standard for foil in the 1950s-60s, sabre later, and remains the standard for all competitive fencing today because it removes the ambiguity of relying purely on a referee's eyes.
Top picks compared
| Pick | Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Body Cord (Foil/Sabre, 2-Prong) | Essential connector cable between weapon and reel. | Check price → |
| Option | Lamé Vest (Foil, Conductive) | Required conductive target vest for electric foil scoring. | Check price → |
| Option | Fencing Reel Cable (10m) | Connects your body cord to the scoring box across the strip. | Check price → |
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Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't épée use a lamé?
Épée's entire body is a valid target, so there's no need for a garment that marks a specific scoring zone the way foil and sabre lamés do — épée scoring relies purely on the weapon tip completing a circuit anywhere it lands on a valid opponent contact, without needing to distinguish target from non-target.
What's the difference between foil and épée weapon tips?
Both use a spring-loaded tip that needs a minimum pressure to register a touch, but épée's trigger threshold is generally set slightly higher than foil's, partly because épée doesn't have the right-of-way system to filter out incidental, low-intent contacts the way foil does.