Comment on What is the optimal handle to chain length for a flail?
sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 23 hours agoUnfortunately in some medieval combat sports, the “speed flail,” a foam ball tethered to a handle, is an easy non-historic way to bypass a shield – swing at the top of the shield, and the ball wraps around to hit the opponent’s shield or sword arm.
angrystego@lemmy.world 20 hours ago
So could a real flail work against a shield that way too?
sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 20 hours ago
A real flail is a lot heavier, which is and harder to use, which is the main problem that me and my friends had with it being allowed in the sport.
You would have to ask a qualified historian to know if these weapons were ever used in this way. I would be curious to know too.
My guess is that spear/polearm beats shield at a much lower cost and with less risk, but I don’t really know I’m not an expert.