Stop / "RODNEY"

Walter & Group:

 

More on the STOP:

 

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Hi Gordy,

a friend of mine built a crude casting machine a few years ago (called

Rodney). It resembled something you would attack castles with.

A harder stop you couldn't create. The butt would hit a block, and instead

of the rod unbending it would violently bounce in three places and the

loop would tail every time. We fixed the problem by putting a bit of cushioning

(my jumper actually) between the butt and the stop bock.

 

I think Bruce has done something similar.

 

Cheers,

Paul Arden

 

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Paul...

 

I just got back from Bozeman....and don't recall whether or not I answered you previously.

 

Sounds to me as though this helps demo the idea that we really, as mere mortals, don't ever come to a true complete, "brick wall stop" as we cast.

 

Dean Floyd demonstrated this very concept during his lawn demo at the Conclave a few days ago.  He stopped his rod abruptly using his opposite forearm.  The same thing happened as with RODNEY.

 

It remains, however, that as we ATTEMPT to come to as definite a stop as we can, that our distance casts improve.  In Al Kyte and Gary Moran's article comparing, "good" casters with, "elite" ones, we note that those who came to a more abrupt stop had more efficient distance casts.

 

When asked the secret of distance competition casting, Steve Rajeff once replied, "STOP THE ROD".

 

Many of us find that the CONCEPT of coming to a definite stop has value as a, "word picture" in teaching casting students the principles involved in development of a basic casting stroke.  In the event that we used a more exact term such as......."an almost stop", a, "nearly complete stop" or something like that, I'm convinced we'd confuse them.

 

I think that the words, "smooth acceleration to a stop" reflect the essence of efficient straight line overhead casting from a teaching standpoint.

 

It's obvious that there are some casts in which a STOP is not necessary. One example is the decelerating curve cast.  A softer stop is used for some other presentations as well, as we all know.

 

Gordy