I believe the pressure requirements were increased to combat the prevalence of this move. Watching Olympic fencing you don't see that many flicks anymore.
Not just the pressure requirements, but the blade stiffness too. While I was fencing it became almost overnight MUCH harder to flick. You needed a pre-stressed (near breaking) weapon or just huge amounts of force (prep).
I was a sabreist but my friends did foil and spent a lot of time bitching about the change. (Some people looooove their flicks)
I was a sabreist but my friends did foil and spent a lot of time bitching about the change. (Some people looooove their flicks)