Damon...
Good info. I'll pass this on.
A couple of caveats:
Remember: Having the forward cast and the back cast bemirror images of one another is only true when false casting with the same amount of line out on each stroke. It changes when you slip or shoot line.
Mirror imaging these casts is not usually a good idea when casting into or before the wind, either.
Gordy
From: "Damon Newpher " <dnewpher@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: <dnewpher@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Gordon Hill" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: FW: Back casting
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 11:47:51 -0500
Hi
I've found with my casting and helping others with back casts and mirroring them with the front.
I always start my practice sessions with a horizontal cast letting my back land and then into my front. If I can't accomplish good loop control with whatever amount of line I have out of the rod tip I'll use a casting form like in Joan Wulffs book and DVD. Yarn rods are also fun with the big, bright yarn and slow unrolling loop, it really helps see everything in slow motion.
After the good horizontal loops are forming I'll start working my casts from horizontal to vertical and then over my opposite shoulder than back through vertical to the original horizontal start. If I cast a incorrect loop, or one that doesn't match the other I go back to the start.
After this excercise I will run through it again casting medium loops and then again with open loops always trying to keep the front and back loops equal. I'm always concentrating on the timing of my power snaps, the lenghth of the snap and hand tension.
Damon