Terms like, Translation and Push / Pull

This is one of the better comments I have heard. I have heard reference to "pull" versus "push" and none of it has made much sense -- what in the world could the difference be (?). I have been trying to come up with an explanation of why this terminology might be favored by its proponents. I guess I see a possible explanation now. First of all let me say that in explaining casting physics to fly casters interested in a somewhat greater depth of understanding I discuss casting in terms of three dominant phases (when all things and all performance enhancing approaches are considered you can add more minor phases). These are preload, dominant (spelled "wrist") rod loading, and rod unloading during continued wrist rotation and hand translation. Other things happen but these are the biggies. The preload phase is one where you seek to get some load in the rod before using the real ammunition (other things liking removing slack, ... can also be accomplished in phase 1 but you want to grade yourself by how much rod load exists at the end of phase 1). Phase 1 is highlighted (!!) by the fact that you mustn't use any wrist rotation. This is guess is where the push -- pull terminology can come in. At least that's what Gordy's comment sounds like. It is a very confusing terminology and doesn't speak to any cause-effect let along the correct cause-effect. In the lexicon of 'push-pull", pull can mean performing phase 1 with shoulder and arm rotations and hand translation. Why someone would call this "pull" I don't know, although if I were going to pull something I wouldn't be trying to use my wrist to do it (however the same thing is true with "pushing", pretty much). You won't find me using this terminology because its such a stretch to give it context. It would be better to say what you mean -- don't rotate your wrist until the right time -- that is at the end of phase 1. (Gordy - consider using the term "translation" rather than "linear" in describing hand kinematics. Translation means movement without rotation and linear means straight. In the mathematical development of rigid body kinematics, general motion is decomposed into translation plus rotation. You can translate without moving in a straight-line which I do in some demonstration casting.)

So my clear message is do not rotate your wrist until its appropriate to do so. Try to maximize the rod loading at the end of phase 1. (Not at the beginning of phase 1, but at the end of phase 1.) This provides you with two big benefits. First with enough preload it will not be possible to "kick-back" the rod tip when the wrist motion is initiated. (Recall the I stated in an earlier line of messages that rod kickback is the biggest problem facing experienced casters. Now you may have some first hand experience observing it.) Second it provides the caster the opportunity to generate the largest transfer of energy to the rod-line system. The energy transferred during phases 2 and 3 is dominated by the integral (calculus speak -- you can think of multiplying two number together) of wrist torque and total rotation occurring during this time frame. By starting the torque at a number significantly above zero the integral (product) of torque and angle can be significantly increased which is your goal. In phase 3 where the torque and rod loading loading decrease (while the rod tip is continually increasing its speed) the energy//work are also increased.