Walter & Group :
Bruce...
This is clear.
The depiction of what happens after RSP/Loop formation is exactly what I figured. The counterflex of the rod tip widens the loop by moving the rod leg down (or, in other rod planes)away from the fly leg.)
Intuitively, I feel that if you made the same study with rods of differing flexibility, you would see a greater effect with the soft action ones. That, I think, translates into one reason that it is more difficult to gain really tight loops with those rods.
Gordy