How to cast a pointed loop?

[Paul Arden]

I had a question yesterday from a HT purchaser about how to cast a pointed loop?

How would you answer that?

Thanks,
Paul

[Lasse Karlsson]

Cheating or true?

Cheers
Lasse

[Rickard]

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For someone not casting pointy loops I would say rotate later and haul later than you currently do. And get out on the lawn.

[James9118]

Generate a high line speed.

[VGB]

^^^^^^^what James said but I would ask for what purpose first.

[Lasse Karlsson]

Generate a high line speed.

Are you saying one can't make a slow pointed loop?

Cheers
Lasse

[James9118]

Generate a high line speed.

Are you saying one can't make a slow pointed loop?

Cheers
Lasse

No, I'm saying I can't make a slow pointed loop

Cheers, James

[Graeme H]

Cast a side loop and only show people a view from the side. Simples.

[Paul Arden]

Ok this was my answer, of which I am not 100% by the way

Hi Steven,

So this is an interesting question to answer. Firstly do you understand how loops shape? The shape of the fly leg is determined partly by the path the rod tip follows, but also in relation to how the remaining line that is not pulled through this pathway is shaped too.

Ideally for a straight fly leg the tip should travel fairly straight and the backcast should be straight and aligned to the forward trajectory target.

And then we have the rod leg, which is formed by the rod tip as it slows to maximum counterflex (the full downward position if achieves after the stroke) and back to rod straight position and anything else we do to it manually, during and after this.

While it’s possible to shape a loop into a point immediately as we form the loop, the most common way it happens is that the loop starts round and then turns (morphs) into a point. It’s believed this is down to both tension and aerodynamics.

Ok so what can we do?
1) we can try to get the straightest fly leg. Usually this is by accelerating late in the stroke and delaying rotation until the end.
2) we need high line speed, but the more we can generate this speed from the haul the more likely we are able to create loops that point.

A good exercise is to play around with carry, slowing the stroke, relax the rod hand, but accelerate the haul and apply the haul at the end of the stroke. I need to see you cast!!

Once you have started throwing pointed loops it’s then difficult to throw rounds ones. One way I cast round ones is to increase the pressure of my hand to the rod grip. So conversely, try relaxing your rod hand (but maintain a fast haul!).

Great question! Incidentally the factors affecting loop morph are not fully understood as of yet. But it does seem that a loop does “want” to morph into a point. So that’s on our side

Cheers, Paul

Ps here is an extreme example. This loop started round!

Cheers, Paul

[Lasse Karlsson]

Cast a side loop and only show people a view from the side. Simples.

Thats the cheat version

Cheers
Lasse