Walter:
Yes. In Joan Wulff's course for instructors, she was very good at covering the pros and cons of various grips. As you know, she prefers the thumb on top grip for most casting. She uses the, "screen door handle" analogy.......and even had a rod handle to which had been affixed one of these handles.
One of her tricks for teaching when to grip tight and when to relax, is the use of a kitchen sponge trimmed to a half moon shap, and wet. This is placed between the caster's hand and the cork. If the caster grips too tight at any points other than those of maximum load, the water squishes out and makes it obvious.
Last year, we had a candidate ready for testing in the afternoon. All morning he'd practiced with a death grip on his cork handle. By the time he was to be tested, his hand hurt so badly he simply couldn't do it !
Gordy
From: WALTER/SUE SIMBIRSKI <simbirsw@xxxxxxx>
To: Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Back to the subject of grips
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 11:13:33 -0600
Gordy - The quiz on grips was excellent. I had a student this summer who had broken their right index finger at a younger age and the finger had a noticeable bend at the second knuckle. Due to wristing issues the thumb on top grip wasn't working for this person and, due to the bend in the finger, the finger on top and three point grips couldn't be used. I was at a loss to help this student. In retrospect the V grip probably would have worked very well - the bend at the knuckle would probably even have enhanced the grip.
Personally, I think the grip is one area that is not presented well to beginning casters. It is also the cause of, and cure for, many basic style problems.
Many instructors want to move on to the "fun" stuff and have never used a grip other than the thumb on top. The more experienced instructors always spend time explaining grip options and making sure the grip is properly applied once the student has rod in hand. A few (the even more experienced?) also explain the sequence of when to apply pressure and when to relax.
Cheers
Walter
From: Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
To: flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx, sobbobfish@xxxxxxx, rtab@xxxxxxx, CAPTPERMIT@xxxxxxx, creangler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, dwright@xxxxxxxxxxxx, daver@xxxxxxxxxx, dennisg@xxxxxxxxxxxx, captdoug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, dsprague01@xxxxxxxxxxx, ephemera@xxxxxxx, brushycreekfc@xxxxxxxxx, keysjake@xxxxxxx, barefootj@xxxxxxx, bradyir@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, flyfishar@xxxxxxxxxxx, ken.cole@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, captkirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, glbaggett@xxxxxxxxx, mkreider1@xxxxxxx, martyt@xxxxxxxxxx, niallogan@xxxxxxxxxx, pminnick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, bigfly@xxxxxxxxx, whorwood@xxxxxxxxx, flycasts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, sheila@xxxxxxxxxx, scjacobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx, tharper@xxxxxxxxxxx, tomwhite@xxxxxxxxxxxx
CC: mildbill@xxxxxxxxxxxx, caddis@xxxxxxx, Brydnlnims@xxxxxxxxxxx, cezannealexander@xxxxxxxxxxx, crazycharlie@xxxxxxx, croberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, blacksalmon@xxxxxxxxxxx, DermSox@xxxxxxx, gladesflybum@xxxxxxxxx, gavin@xxxxxxxxxxx, hillshead@xxxxxxx, iverson@xxxxxxxxx, jfs523@xxxxxxxxxxx, jerry_puckett2001@xxxxxxxxx, kathleen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, thedamselfly@xxxxxxxxxxx, plami@xxxxxxxxxxx, ray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, kerrrc@xxxxxxxxx, simbirsw@xxxxxxx, bobbeanblossom@xxxxxxx, hillcathy@xxxxxxx, donjack@xxxxxxxxxxx, douglas.swift@xxxxxxxxxxxx, erniemaynard@xxxxxxxxxxx, flyfsfrank@xxxxxxx, gregrahe@xxxxxxxxxxx, ianmuirhead@xxxxxxx, jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, t.maltese@xxxxxxxxx, skifishvail@xxxxxxxx, jfv@xxxxxxxxxxxx, trallag@xxxxxxx, mollysemenik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, fraudflies@xxxxxxx, shane@xxxxxxxxx, snowmonkey29@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: FW: FW: Tennis elbow/"casters' arm"
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:07:58 -0400
ol Al...
This is just what I was talking about as one of the causes of this elbow problem.
Gordy
From: "Allen Crise" <flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Gordon Hill" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: FW: FW: Tennis elbow/"casters' arm"
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:58:25 -0500
Howdy GordyHere is what Dave said about his elbow and the casting;--------------------------------------------------------------Al I think doc has some very valid points.Here is something I noticed and when I was analyzing my cast after first noticing the pain.
I typically cast in my side yard, there is zoysia which tends to catch the yarn fly when the grass gets just a little long. I have had many instances when the fly just gets stuck on the back cast I will either force it free by adding some power, or give it some quick snaps backwards to try to free it. This was the case at the ranch too this past weekend.
Do you think this is the cause, I am pretty good about pointing the tip to the ground after the stroke, and I am not known for trying to carry much over 50ft of line at any given time.
I am going to go over my casting after the conclave and see if I can pin point the problem. I know I will be VERY alert as to my tip position from here on out too!
--------------------------------------------------------------------ol Al