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Walter & Group...
[GH] For those who wish to archive certain individual messages, I'm resending this s a separate one.
Comments on the topic of Flycasting Physics :
Peter Lami writes this as he ponders fly casting physics :
Gordy,
Bill Gammel's 4th Essential Rule states, "The application of power must occur in the proper amount at the proper place in the stroke." For decades, fly casting instructors have tried to teach this to students by employing hands-on demonstrations and clever descriptions. For example, Joan Wulff describes this action as a "power snap" and Lefty Kreh famously says, "speed up and stop." However, new teaching methods are moving to the forefront and are solidly backed by engineering studies.
The seminal work by Grunde Løvoll Ph.D, has taught us "the stop", as a whole, does not happen at a single moment in the casting stroke. The stopping sequence, or rod unload, begins between Peak Load (maximum bend in the rod) and Rod Straight Position (RSP). He further stated, "I agree 100% with [Server] Sadik Ph.D that continued rotation during rod unload is essential to good fly casting."
I submit to the Master Study Group that we should re-write Gammel's 4th Essential Rule. Here's the new rule. "The proper application of power is a constant acceleration with a delayed rotation during the "stopping sequence" (between Peak Load and Rod Straight Position), or rod unload."
I have been teaching this new "Essential Rule" to CCI and MCCI candidates for the last two years. The results have been astounding, particularly when teaching the Roll Cast and Distance Casting. Ironically, the teaching methods of our most notable instructors in the past were right on target, but our new "rules" are more instructive and technically correct.
Cheers!
Peter Lami
FFF Master
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[GH] Counterpoint :-
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>From Jim Bass,
Gordy, I understand what Server is saying and have no complaint with his paper with the exception that if I started a beginner's class with this information I would never get the information over to them. This make good material for study to help understand what happens but it does not help me understand how to teach. I know that space travel is possible but I don't have a need to know how to do it in this much detail. I would like for you on the BOG to work on a good continuing education program centered on instruction and not so much on extreme detail for the edification of our engineering friends.
This is my personal opinion: I do not have time to think of each of the things that must take place according to this Paper. How can it be of as much benefit to a student as the (wrong as it may be) phrase "Hard Stop". Most of the time, the simple will get the job better than the complex. I would like for us to put our students first before being totally correct.
Gordy I will get off my soap box and tell you that this may not buy any points for me but I want to have more people fly fishing using any method I can to reach them.
My Best to You.
Jim
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[GH] Jim,
First : Let me say that this information has no place when teaching new casters ..... or, more correctly, I wouldn't know how to use it.
Second: I know we'll never be "totally correct".
Many of our members have expressed thoughts in line with yours. Too many to print out, here.... so I understand.
Sometimes I think we should have a separate group who love to delve deeply into casting mechanics and physics. Perforce, it would be small. They could revel in controversy to their hearts content and love every minute of it. Some truths would emerge from the mire.
Others feel that this is "ivory tower stuff" which belongs in centers of higher learning; not in casting classes or even instructor discussions. On the other hand, there is no doubt that we have improved our methods of teaching fly casting as the practical result of the advances made in the field of fly casting mechanics. I guess the question should be, "How far should we instructors take this ?"
As members of a Master study group, I do think we need to be aware of what is going on at the highest levels even if not fully conversant with all the theories. In the end only the scientists will be able to separate the wheat from the chaff.
My wife, Priscilla, reminded me of a book I read last year, the name and author unremembered. The author intellectually and factually deconstructed a package food item known as a "Twinkie". He did it to the extent of examining each and every ingredient .... and then the ingredients within each compound material and, finally, each and every chemical within each ingredient. Fortunately, he stopped short of dissecting the atomic structure of each chemical.
Will that information be of practical use to anyone ? ...... I don't know.
I have concern. That is the dilemma which these esoteric cutting edge discussions may yield for you budding and blossoming Master candidates. On this Group forum, I see my first duty to you.
My advice to candidates :
# When taking an MCI oral exam, it is doubtful you will be asked questions on material such as this, some of which is very controversial. Keep what you have read about this material as background.....not gospel.
# Stick to answers which make sense to you .... derived from conventional fly casting wisdom as well as from your actual teaching experiences.
# Do not disparage the fly casting information of the past. This is the substrate foundation upon which the practical information we now have was built.
# Be aware that new "cutting edge" information is out there and being developed. Some is "proven" by some methods and standards; some is not. Some of the methods used to derive these proofs are being challenged. Several of our International experts who have studied fly casting physics are not in agreement with one another.
# Try as we may, there may never be consensus on all issues, though we do seem to be getting a little closer on some of them.
# If asked for definitions for seemingly simple things like the STOP you might consider how you have used terms like this successfully in your teaching as well as how common sense tells you they work. Answer confidently with these experiences as your guide.
# Avoid quoting fly casting "Gurus" and physics / engineering experts unless specifically asked if you know their accomplishments, methods, styles or opinions. If you don't know, simply be frank and say so. (Floyd Franke once said to Master candidates, "If you quote Joan Wulff, you had better be right !")
Last -
# Do not be intimidated by our scientists nor allow their complicated presentations to undermine your confidence. They do their thing and we do ours. Some of them are competent instructors and great casters. Some are not. YOU ARE.
Gordy
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