How to make a tennis ball fencing target

Use	1.	Hang the ball-target in a doorway. It should hang to about target level. Find a good doorway without too much traffic. You're using a doorway because [1] it's easier to reach the frame than the ceiling, and [2] the ball can swing in every direction.
	2.	Get en garde in front of the target. Really. If you don't sit in the garde, you're standing. If you're standing, your extensions will be downwards, which makes your shoulder tight. This is what causes the blade to bend down when you hit an opponent. It's bad.
	3. .	Start hitting the target. The ball will fly away from you and swing back. Hit it as it comes back. Think boing boing boing boing. You are improving 4 things: Extensions — When you extend, extend from the elbow. You can also envision that someone is pulling on the tip of your blade. Point control — Make sure you don't "break your wrist" when hitting the ball. Keep the pommel against your forearm, and use fast, clean extensions to bring your point to the target. Dexterity — Dexterity is a non-thinking muscle skill. You get better by doing a lot of it. Muscles — You are building a grip which is firm, but can make precise adjustments to hit a small moving target.
	4.	Variations Parries — Try hitting with a riposte, after taking a 4, 6, 7 or 8 parry. Beats — Try hitting after pretending to beat an opponent's blade. Lunges — Hit with lunges. It's easier to hit with lunges because you have more time to correct your aim. Disengages — Let the ball hang still, and practice disengages around it. Get as close as you can without moving the ball. Derobements — Swing the ball back and forth like a pendulum. Practice derobements by pretending the ball is an opponent trying to engage your blade. You must evade the blade. Coupés — Let the ball hang still. Coupé back and forth, to each side of the string, as if the string is the opponent's blade.
		Phase I: Construction

		Comments and ideas from Nicholas Roussous: I ... tried the golf ball on a string from your website. I made a few changes though. Instead of having one ball, I used two. That way I can have the first one swinging back and forth and disengage around it to hit the second one. I also made them unhookable at the top. So, I can take them down if I want to have just one ball up. I hung them up tonight and managed about 60% accuracy. Obviously, I have room to work. (Thanks Rolls!! — wf) Idea from ______ (we lost his name!) _______ also hangs two tennis balls, however he hangs them one on top of the other, connected by string. When you hit one, they start with a nice, naturalistic oscillation.