THE GRIP

There are many ways to grip the rod. I prefer the Free Wrist Grip or thumb on the side method, (The key grip or extended finger grip are other names). With this grip, I have full range of motion in my wrist when I need it. This becomes very useful as you become more advanced in your casting. Especially in curve casting and line mending. I believe the free wrist grip, used by many top casters, is a good habit to develop from the start. It's like a handshake or like you would grip a tennis racket or the bottom hand in golf. There should be a "V" between the thumb and forefinger on top of the rod. The thumb is on the side. The index finger should be slightly ahead of the thumb on the underside of the rod.

The oldest writing I have found on the free wrist grip was published in 1942. So, this method was well established long ago and to this day, top casters have found it to be superior. It's a surprise to me that it hasn't been adopted by everyone.

I know that many teach the thumb on top or finger on top method. These methods are good for short accurate casts but not good for moderate to long distances.

There are many good reasons why the free wrist grip is superior. Often, casters have problems with controlling the fly in the air. They may be hitting themselves in the back of the head with the fly or the fly may be hitting the rod. When met with this problem, The first question to ask is, "Where is the thumb?" In most cases, the answer is, "On top".

Placing the thumb on top is OK in a short cast, (10 - 30 ft) because the hand will not usually pass the head on the back cast. As distance is increased beyond 50 feet, the hand must pass behind the head to achieve enough tip travel to reach the distance. In a good distance cast or a good accuracy cast , the rod tip should travel in a straight plane. As distance is increased, if the thumb is on top, it is virtually impossible to prevent the tip from rotating to the left shoulder, (for right handed casters). This will cause the tip travel to curve as you make the back cast. The further behind your head your hand, (with thumb on top) travels, the more the tip will point to the left shoulder. So that on the forward cast, there is a greater possibility of hitting yourself or your rod with the fly.

The thumb on top grip is not the only cause of getting hit by the fly or having the fly hit your rod. But, it is one of the most common causes. As you pull the rod forward. It's going to go from the left side of the body to the right side of your body , creating a curve. Possibly hitting you. If you put a little shock in the rod and cause a tailing loop it could be worse, you may smite yourself about the face.

Any time the path of the rod tip curves in any way the efficiency of the cast is diminished. Both accuracy and distance are decreased. The only way to make a moderate to long distance cast, with the thumb on top, is to rotate the palm upward to keep the tip in a straighter path. If you think that's difficult, you are right. It also causes the reel to flop to the right, making it 90 degrees to the direction of your cast. This puts a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on all three joints. shoulder, elbow, and wrist This adjustment (to straighten out the path of the rod tip when the thumb is on top) is an unnatural movement.

With the free wrist grip, the thumb is to the side. Allowing the wrist to work naturally. The reel will stay more in line with the cast. You can move from 9:00 in the front to 3;00 in the back cast and the rod tip can travel in a straighter plane utilizing natural biomechanics.

The whole point of this is to make it easy and not to fight the body. So if you are having trouble making the tip of the rod travel in a straight path, or if you are hitting either the rod or the back of your head with the fly, check your grip. Have a friend watch you cast, or better yet, video yourself. It's impossible to be objective about your own casting because you cannot see the whole picture. If you can learn to read your loop, like reading water, it will tell all. And sometimes a simple adjustment of the grip can make a world of difference.

Please feel free to e-mail me with questions or contact me at the ponds for help. Remember, I will be honest with you about what you need to do to improve your casting. You've got a good grip on the rod now. Next month, The Stance and The Cant.

Tight Loops!
Floyd Dean