casting mechanics

[riverbasser]

I was reading the latest issue of bassmaster, in one of the articles they were talking about a guy with tendonitis or fishing elbow and the guy was talking about how he adjusted his casting which puts less strain on his arms. mainly casting with 2 hands and when overhead casting he uses his non casting hand to grab the bottom of the rod and use it like a lever pulling it backwards. Then I just happen to be watching Timmy Hortons show and got to see him doing exactly this.

 

Does anyone do this? or am I the only one not lol? my overhand cast ends with more of a snapping action and if im heaving all day it can get pretty sore. I think I will be changing how I cast from now on, seems I learn something new all the time. Never knew I had an issue with casting

[J Francho]

I've switched to pretty much all two handed casting due to shoulder and elbow strain.  Sometimes, it's a little as just touching the butt grip with my left hand while do a little bait twirl to launch a bait a short distance.  pitching and flipping is still a one hand on the rod affair.  I've gotten pretty efficient with the process, and my palm hand is back on the reel before the bait hits the water.

[Chance_Taker4]

I do the two handed "lever" cast. Growing up playing hockey muscle memory has given me a wicked sidearm cast. I struggle a little with an overhand but I mostly cast sidearm or underhand. I have never experienced elbow pain through my motion.

[MNGeorge]

I have used the two handed cast for several years due to wrist issues and have found it to be far less fatiguing as well as easier on the wrists. The reel never leaves my palming hand unless I'm flipping or pitching.

[scaleface]

I have tendinitis in the casting elbow . The overhand cast doesnt bother me to  much , its the under-hand pitches that are agonizing .  

[WRB]

You can get away with a one hand snap cast using spinning rods, baitcasting that motion is a problem for a few reasons. I would venture to state most weekend bass anglers use poor casting mechanics and wouldn't be happy watching themselves on vedio casting. 

Baitcasting reel should have the handles at 12 o'clock during the casting motion, with the old pistol grip rods that was the natural way to cast. With today's longer handle (trigger stick) rods the casting motion has morphed into awkward reel handle rotated 90 degrees or 3 o'clock / 9 o' clock position that strains tendons. Using the butt end of the rod 2 handed should also position the reel handles at 12 o'clock for good casting mechanics.

Tom

[riverbasser]

I agree @WRB I probably don't look good casting. I mean I've never really had issues with pain or casting distance for the most part but without reading this I would have been none the wiser. Besides being taught as a kid how to cast a zebco I've never thought there could be a wrong way to cast. 

 

This overhand lever cast looks so smooth and effortless though, I've probably seen it a thousand times and never even noticed

[MassYak85]

Other than pitching I pretty much always use my other hand to grab the butt of the reel and cast with both hands. I'm not sure if I'm doing exactly what you describe though. The only time I use a "lever" action I guess, is making really low casts, usually skipping something. 

[Catt]

I've noticed over the years most anglers try to "force" their cast instead of letting the rod do the casting. It takes less energy & puts less strain on your joints once come to the realization that your rod cast better than arm strength.

 

Carpal tunnel, Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), &  Rotator cuff tendinitis are not always a result of poor mechanics but usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm.

[Wildbillb]

Aaron Marten has a video out there somewhere of simple stretches to do that will help with the elbow a lot.  

Found it.

https://www.bassmaster.com/tips/video/aaron-martens-stretching-and-fishing

[Pro Logcatcher]

I have always used two hands when casting with a baitcaster except when I'm pitching or flipping.

[riverbasser]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

 

I've noticed over the years most anglers try to "force" their cast instead of letting the rod do the casting.

 

Reminds me of what the coaches used to teach us in baseball swinging the bat

[islandbass]

I do this and I did this before tennis elbow. As much as a rod with a “long” butt gets in the way of one handed casts, it’s a blessing when needing  to make two handed casts. 

 

I do this to reduce fatigue on my casting arm and that second hand on the butt really aids in that. 

[J Francho]

Good to see I'm not the only one.  I'm really the only person I fish with that does it.

[Paul Roberts]

Never really thought about it but, yes. Mostly I two-handed "lever" cast. My tendonitis issues never came about due to casting, but to fighting fish -my Doc's first case of "bass elbow". I've had to go lefty, on and off, over the past decade or so to give my right elbow a break.

[38 Super Fan]

Pretty much all two handed casts for me, just feels more natural. I must be fairly sound mechanically, I've had virtually no arm or shoulder issues in years of fishing.

[Steveo-1969]

I always cast 2-handed with both casting and spinning rods.  If I try to cast one-handed it feels as awkward as my one-handed casting buddy looks... 

[RPreeb]

22 hours ago, riverbasser said:

I was reading the latest issue of bassmaster, in one of the articles they were talking about a guy with tendonitis or fishing elbow and the guy was talking about how he adjusted his casting which puts less strain on his arms. mainly casting with 2 hands and when overhead casting he uses his non casting hand to grab the bottom of the rod and use it like a lever pulling it backwards. Then I just happen to be watching Timmy Hortons show and got to see him doing exactly this.

 

Does anyone do this? or am I the only one not lol? my overhand cast ends with more of a snapping action and if im heaving all day it can get pretty sore. I think I will be changing how I cast from now on, seems I learn something new all the time. Never knew I had an issue with casting

Watch any of Glenn May's videos and you'll see him casting two handed overhand.  Watching him, it looks like an easy, no stress motion that's silky smooth.  I think that some of it is properly matching the weight of the bait to the rod too.  Watch this short video of Glenn casting light lures:  Casting Light Lures

[DSTN]

My casting improved a ton when I actually listened to the advice I had seen on this site and given in the various videos I watched on casting (Glenn's included).  I used to really force the casts like Catt described.  I started using the 2-hand lever casting with an emphasis on trying to be smoother and making sure I'm loading the rod instead of just trying to wing the lure as hard as I could.  The difference in casting distance and precision was night and day. 

[IndianaFinesse]

I always use 2 hand to cast, and I don't even have any elbow or shoulder issues.  Just feels more natural, gets better distance (for me), and keeps the rod more secure from the possibility of an embarrassing mistake of casting my rod into the water...

[Catt]

5 hours ago, riverbasser said:

Reminds me of what the coaches used to teach us in baseball swinging the bat

LSU is known for "Gorilla Ball"...it aint about arm strength ?

[A-Jay]

I've been a two hand caster forever.

Spawned from years Surf Casting.  Heaving 9, 10, 11 & 12 foot surf rods and a 3 ounce bucktail into a 25 mph wind all night - is work.  If you've not done it - give it a try, let me know how it goes . . . 

Few years of that, handling even the stoutest bass gear feels like a toy.

Still, I love to chunk & wind and being efficient is the name of the game - learning to cast from either side helps as well.  This is what it looks like for me. ~

Here I'm throwing a 3/4 oz spinnerbait with a 7'4" composite stick - that loads nicely I might add. 

A-Jay

 

 

[ratherbfishin1]

I’ve gone 2 handed since the beginning and I can’t remember a time I was sore after a day of fishing

[ClackerBuzz]

also focus on keeping ur elbows close to ur body while casting.  it tremendously helps mechanics and cuts down on injuries.  not allowed to post the vid but google: KVD’s Secrets to Power Fishing Spinnerbaits.  he casts 3-4 times in the video and his elbows are always tight to his body.  Most guys try to use their arms/shoulders/elbows/wrists too much instead of allowing the rod to do its job.

[LOTR88]

I am dealing with a sore elbow right now, started for me back in November when I fished for two weeks straight. During the 2nd week my elbow really started bothering me, I have since had to adjust my cast to a two handed side cast and I mostly use my left arm now while trying to let my right elbow heal. I have been icing it and doing stretching that has helped but it has been over a month and it still bothers me. I may need to take some time off from fishing to let it fully heal but living on a lake in South Florida I just can't stay away from the water. :-)