Try to vary the gripping pressure during the cast, take advantage of the power transferred with a firm grip and the damping effect of a loose grip. Start with a loose grip when you start the casting stroke, start to increase the griping pressure as you accelerate gripping the rod hardest when you stop the rod, releasing the gripping pressure directly after the crisp stop, this will dampen all vibrations in the rod thus eliminating the shock waves in the line which can be seen if we keep a constant pressure on the grip through out the casting stroke. Varying the pressure that we have on the grip will also lead to less fatigue through out a days fishing.

Brian OKeefe www.brianOkeefe.com

The Wrist

Try to keep a firm wrist while casting, a firm wrist transfer's energy from the body to the rod more efficiently.

a. With a firm wrist and a progressive acceleration to a crisp stop, a perfect loop will be formed on the back cast.

Kevin Hill www.penandink.ch

Good wrist backcast



Good backcast

b. If we open the wrist on the back cast, a downward travelling open loop will result.

Bad hand backcast



Open loop backcast

To keep your loops travelling efficiently towards the target, make sure that throughout the back cast and front cast that the reel remains pointed directly towards the target. It is absolutely critical to keep you thumb on top at all times, while casting forehand it should be possible for the caster to look into his or her palm throughout the casting stroke.

a. Correct wrist position. Keep the reel pointed towards the target.

Correct wrist position

b. Incorrect wrist position. If your wrist rotates out wards during the cast, this will be exaggerated by the tip of the rod. The line will then follow the arcing path made by the rod tip and will swing the loop behind you into an ineffective and dangerous position for the forward cast.
 

Incorrect wrist