Hand velocity

Walter & Group.........

From Walter Simberski :

Gordy - I heard a few interesting points during the conclave regarding the speed of the rod hand prior to rotation and the speed of the line hand during

the haul. Figures of 3 - 5 meters per second were noted for each. If this is the case then there is a potential for major increase with respect to distance

casting. In the case of peak speed of the rod hand the caster that was being discussed was Rick Hartman - not an "average" caster. We know that

top athletes such as baseball pitchers are able to throw an object at about 45 meters per second without being able to capitalize on significant

rotational motion. Jai alai players can throw a ball at speeds of 84 meters per second by using a cesta of about 28 inches in length so that they

can add a rotational element to the throw. Even if we combine the speed of the line and rod hands we are currently peaking at about 10 meters per second.

 

Seems to me if we could start the rotation of the rod hand with the rod tip already travelling at 45 meters per second rather than 5 meters per second

there should be a significant increase in casting distance.

 

Walter

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Walter,

  Intuitively, I think you are correct.

Once piece of evidence is that when the speed of the haul was dramatically magnified with the use of a stick several inches long held in the haul (line) hand and grooved to engage the fly line during but not after the haul that casting distances became much greater.  (I can't remember the name given to this device.)

Further witness to the efficiency of this mechanism is the fact that this device was long ago outlawed for competition distance casting.

I can't think of a way of increasing rod hand speed except with atheletic ability.  We have tried to study Rick Hartman's long translational phase of the stroke which many term as, "drag".  Bill Gammel has pointed out after going over the video renditions that he feels that this does exactly what you are describing ..... starting rotation with the rod already travelling faster than it does with most other casters and other casting styles.  Of course, with no rotation at all, the rod tip cannot be moving faster than the hand which leaves the advantage of this technique strictly the province of the linear velocity of the hand itself. 

While this has been hotly debated, the truth is that to my knowledge his hand velocity has not actually been measured.

Gordy