"soft" rods

 

Walter & Group....

 

From Ken Cole on, "soft" rods:-

 

(Hint: First step: Define a “Soft Rod” in a few words)>>

 A soft rod is a rod that bends more.

The student casting this rod would benefit from a longer stroke and a wider arc.

Stroke and power application would need to be very smooth.

In more depth...

The more the rod bends, the trickier it is to hold SLP. The more the rod bends, the more the tip is dragged below the SLP. Space has to be given the rod tip by widening the arc and lengthening the stroke. Any jerkiness in stroke or power application will further deflect the tip downward in the middle of the stroke causing a tailing loop.

Ken Cole

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Ken....

Yes.  Bends more easily with the same load.

Might also consider a statement about the difference in TIMING between casts made with the, "soft" rod vs. a, "fast" or, "stiff" rod.

One could use a teaching scenario to make the point, by asking which rod would be best for teaching a beginning student ?

The answer has a lot to do with timing:  

1.) With the fast (stiff ) rod, everything happens so fast that it's hard for the student to see what is happening.

2.)  Using the, "soft" (slow) rod, it's hard for him/her to time the stroke to avoid a spike of power which can result in a tailing loop.

3.)  That brings us to consider the use of a, "medium" action or, "mid-flex" rod for these students.

Gordy