Video analysis / Acceleration

RE: The oft quoted rule “the line follows the rod tip” is true for most casts but in extreme cases like this clearly it does not occur throughout the movement. It does however apply up to the time that the line is still being pulled in the direction of its momentum by the rod tip (during the “SLP” of the line). After the rod tip velocity changes out of the straight line path (in this case the angular change is about 90 degrees), lack of loading on the rod tip probably means that its speed increases whilst its velocity in the direction of SLP decreases due to lack of loading (it is no longer pulling all the line). Meanwhile the line now fully energised has continued in the in the direction of the SLP due to its own momentum. The effective “launch point” is in line with the line projection direction (RSP is later). The mass and direction of the oncoming line has a lot to do with the “launch point” of the cast since relatively short rod tip movements cannot change the line direction except for short casts, hence presentation casts that are easy at short distances are not so easy with lots of line!

The fundamental rule with more accurate wording: “The line follows the tip but travels to the direction of the momentum”.

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The most important item to be taken from "170 Cast," is confirmation of video as the single most useful, widely applicable, reliable, detail revealing, judgement guiding, multi-viewpoint enabling, models of experience expanding, strength and weakness displaying, style selecting, broadening medium of inquiry any casting instructor can use. That said, why aren't we all suggesting strongly, urging pointedly, insisting to those we prep, test, and teach that video provides the most powerful learning tool available, and for a third the cost of high end fly rod. I think that asking a candidate to analyze some video clips of casters with conspicuous faults and provide remedies would be more instructive and telling than the ceremonial discussions augmented with kabuki hand gestures now so commonplace. For evidence, consider the quality of responses that 170 Cast stimulated.

Gordy:

One late comment on the 170 degree cast?

We used to call that a square cast, as in right angle, because you'd

tuck the rod butt against the forearm and lift the rod parallel to the

ground as though it were a rifle, with my stripping hand holding the

line fully under the first stripping guide. Then you'd pull the rod

straight backward till you ran out of arm.

I was taught to stand fully sideways with the feet closer together, then

a step back with the casting side foot during the stroke, timed with the

rotation. You'd pull through the stroke with a very late rotation and a

nearly 5 foot haul. I always gave back the haul, but I notice Chase

holds constant, until a slide load on the forward cast.

On the forward stroke, step forward with the non-dom foot (again times

with the acceleration of the cast) and run the gamut of your arm,

delaying rotation until the last quarter of the stroke, possibly later.

I was doing this in Salt Lake City a the National Conclave ('97 or 98')

when Tom White stepped up to show me his (better) slant on the cast.

He hadn't moved to Florida yet, I believe.

Did he still throw this cast or similar when you worked with him?

David

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David... Nice, clear description. Answer: Yes. Tom kept "tweaking it" with minor adjustments, but still basically the same cast. G.

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From Jim Valle:

Gordy and Group,

Although I am sure Chase is the Master of his own cast! … I suggest we meet on the Casting Field on the first day of the Casting Rendezvous at 8am Thursday Jul 30, 2009 … everyone in the Group is invited and we will have the opportunity to seek and find the RSP position on the backcast, I’ll bring Gordy and if nothing else we will have some casting fun…. And anyone who hasn’t met Gordy will have the opportunity.

Molly usually arranges a coffee get together for Gordy’s Group in Livingston, maybe this will work for Loveland… we can bring our own coffee… Unless Molly has already made arrangements.

Conclave…. There’s nothing like it anywhere… I am so…ooo Looking forward to it already!

All the Best

Jim

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One of the five essentials is a smooth and gradual acceleration of the tip of the rod. The two classic examples are an accelerating car starting at zero and accelerating smoothly and gradually to the maximum speed before the abrupt stop. When I explain to my students I say the acceleration should be smoothly like 0-10-20-30-40-50 then squeeze for an abrupt stop. The other classic example is the tree falling where it starts at zero and it accelerates until there is the abrupt stop at the ground.

A constant rate of acceleration will result in the tightest loop because the tip of the rod travels in the straightest path because the load is smoothly and gradually applied to the rod. Those blessed with extraordinary acceleratory strength will be able to accelerate their rod the most in the available stroke distance, achieve the most line speed, and result in the longest distance cast from that variable. Those of us NOT blessed or willing to train as much must rely on the other variables in which the elite casters excelled.

Les Rosenthal

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Les .... I'm convinced that smooth CONSTANT acceleration works because it is the easiest way to ensure a proper match between rod bend (load) and rod arc. Deviation from this makes it harder if not impossible to maintain an almost straight line path of the rod tip with unloading a short distance below (away from) the oncoming line. Ingredients needed for a tight loop.

Kiss principle: You need an almost straight line path of your rod for a tight loop. Smooth application of power helps to achieve this.

Your analogy of the tree falling is fine.... up to the point of impact with the ground. This is a true "hard stop" or "brick-wall-stop".

While the concept of a "hard stop" gets into students brains, in truth, mere mortal man can't really achieve that. If he could, this would set up all sorts of rapid rod vibrations and ruin the cast.

Kiss principle: We should continue to teach our students to make as sudden a stop as they can; but we should realize that it is really a whole lot more complicated than that.

Soon we'll have some well informed presentations by one of our physicists and follow up comments by other scientists as we try to do this in an easily understandable way.

What I don't know, is what would really happen if the caster could have constantly increasing acceleration up to the point of ceasing to accelerate. This was one of Mark Milkovitch's questions. I have bounced that to Bruce Richards to gain his perspective.... we may also need help from our scientific members.

As for strength and application of lots of force: That works fine for achieving great distance....BUT ONLY WHEN PERFECT TIMEING AND FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE HAS FIRST BEEN ACHIEVED !!!!!

Kiss Principle: Get it right first. Only then increase the power.

Gordy

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