Last updated: 6 August 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Makin, FA Level 2 Football Coach
What is right-of-way?
How right-of-way is established
- The attacker — the fencer who extends their arm and threatens the opponent's target area first generally has right-of-way.
- Defence beats attack — if the defender parries (blocks) the attack, right-of-way transfers to them, and their immediate counter-attack (the "riposte") now has priority.
- Renewed attack — if the original attacker's arm bends or they pause, they can lose right-of-way, and the defender's counter-attack can take priority even without a parry.
Weapon comparison
| Weapon | Right-of-way? | Simultaneous hits |
|---|---|---|
| Foil | Yes | Referee awards the touch to whoever had priority; no priority = no score for either |
| Sabre | Yes | Same principle as foil — priority decides the touch |
| Épée | No | Both fencers score if they hit within the same ~40ms window (a "double touch") |
Top picks compared
| Pick | Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Foil (Electric, Complete) | Practice right-of-way exchanges with proper electric scoring. | Check price → |
| Option | Fencing Referee Whistle/Signal Set | For club-level referee practice and priority calls. | Check price → |
| Option | Fencing Rulebook (FIE, Official) | Full official rules reference including right-of-way conventions. | Check price → |
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Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't épée use right-of-way?
Épée's full-body target area and historical roots in duelling mean the weapon was designed around the idea that a hit is a hit regardless of who attacked first — simultaneity is resolved by simply awarding both fencers a point (a double touch), rather than requiring a referee judgment on priority.
How does a referee decide who had right-of-way?
Referees watch for the sequence of actions — who extended their arm and threatened the target first, whether a parry occurred, and whether the original attack was still 'live' (arm extending, blade threatening target) when the hit landed. This is subjective and takes real experience to call accurately, which is part of why right-of-way is considered fencing's most difficult rule to learn as a spectator or new fencer.