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Old Jun-11-2008, 01:22 AM   #7 (permalink)
Moleculo
Registered User
 
Name: Tim
Age: 36
Vessel: None
Location: Monrovia, CA
Job:IT Director
While I'm sure this technique works just fine, I have a few differences of opinion. I'm not a competition distance caster, but I do pretty good and have learned a few things from other similar applications that might be helpful. A lot of this tutorial is really good, and I don't want to detract from that, but I'll offer up a few ammendments.

I'll start with the feet. Maximum power from any kind of overhead, downward motion whether it is casting, chopping firewood, using a sword, or pitching a baseball comes from planting your back foot and pushing off it from the heel and ball of your foot, through the hips and all the way out your hands. In the first picture, he has his body into the cast, but has lifted his back foot way too early for maximum power. If he plants it, pushes off, turns his hip and then gets his back into the cast by arching and "snapping" his back like a bow through his arms, I bet he would be surprised at the difference. It takes a little practice and "body training" but it works.

I like the left elbow and arm. Keeping the elbow in but forward optimizes the power of the upper torso. A lot of people make the bad mistake of sticking your elbows out like chicken wings which literaly kills your power.

Following the rod with with your body: If you plant your back foot and push off of it through your rotating hips, your upper body should stay roughly in line with the rod tip. In picture number four, the body is way out in front of the angle of the rod. This isn't good as you're again losing maximum casting power. In this case, the end result is that your arms are doing most of the work, instead of your legs, hips, and back. This will make for an exhausting day with your arms.

Arms: The arm motion at the end of the cast needs to be smooth but strong. If you can find any video of Japanese sword tutorial or competition, review it and apply it to casting. The bottom hand needs to cut down hard as the top hand pushes. It's a push/pull type of action, keeping the elbows in. The top hand power follows through the tip of the rod. You have to imagine that you're trying to swat a fly with the tip of your rod, or better yet with your jig, but it needs to be smooth. Extend your arms and body out through the rod, leaning over the rail if you need to. At this point your back foot probably will come up as your whole body turns and twists. If you have agility and ability, your back will arch as the rod goes over head and then snap forward like a baseball pitcher as you execute the cutting motion with your arms. I don't agree that the butt of the rod is the fulcrum. The fulcrum is somewhere between your top and bottom hand because after your arms are finished going forward, your bottom hand will pull somewhat toward your body while your top hand continues to push through. It's a subtle difference, but makes a big difference at the rod tip with speed.

Follow through: Here's where I completely disagree. I think the follow through can be of utmost importance, especially if you have a reel with an incredible free spool. Track your body, arms, hands and rod tip with the jig. As the jig flies through the air, your top hand points at the jig, thus causing the rod tip to point at it also. Track it through the air, just like you're pointing at it with the rod. Your top hand that is on the reel should make a natural turning motion over as it goes forward and downward. When the jig hits the water, your reel should be almost upside down and your rod should be almost parallel with the water. This helps the line come off the reel with minimum friction and can greatly help reduce backlash and even increase distance.

I know this all sounds like a lot of work and a bit technical, but it really does work. It makes the bulk of the casting work be done with your legs and hips and helps keep your arms from getting worn out so quickly. Also, if you do it this way, you don't need to start the jig with so much line out and worry so much about all that pendulum action because you will be using your body and rod to it's maximum capabilities.

Thoughts?
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