Walter & Group...
I can't begin to send all of the responses.....but this is a good one from Steve Hollensed :-
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Gordy,
Short answer - faster.
(I assume that this question deals with the speed of the "pull" or "tug"
segment of the haul, we are not including the return portion in the
discussion.)
I would say that the instantaneous speed of the line hand varies greatly
during the hall, but the average speed (that is throughout the duration
of the haul) must be faster that the average speed of the rod hand,
especially on the forward cast.
If this were not true, then separation of the line hand and rod hand on
the forward cast would be a result of just changing the plane in which
both are moving. That is, the line hand would not move ahead of the rod
hand, only to the side. It seems to me that a line hand moving forward
at just the speed of the rod hand is just functioning as an anchor.
Considering just the forward cast, if they were to start and stop at the
same time, and travel the same distance, in the same plane, they would
have to have the same speed - but I don't think this is the case.
The backcast might be a different story though, since the direction of
motion is in opposite directions. In this case, it is best to think of
the motion in terms of velocity, that is speed in a given direction. And
in this case since the motion is in opposite directions, the net result
is additive. That is the rod tip is functioning as a pulley and changing
the direction of the force by the line hand on the line. In this case,
any line hand speed adds to the line speed attributable to the rod hand.
My answer has some implications in that the haul during forward casts
and back casts may be inherently different with regards to relative
speed of the hands. That is on the forward cast, the line hand must
physically match and exceed the speed of the rod hand, where on the
backcast the rod tip converts any line hand speed to line speed.
Great question and I need to consider this some more- these are my first
thoughts.
Steve
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