Walter & Group........
I asked Joan Wulff to send us more on slide loading. This is her response:
Gordy,
"There are two different things going on in "slide loading".
One is
line being shot on the backcast and the other is the rod
hand is executing a
backcast stroke and a forward cast stroke
in normal
time.
The forward cast begins while the line is still
being shot on
the backcast. The rod hand is moving the rod
forward and
therefore "sliding" down the line that is still
shooting
backward. The line is being shot backward until the Power
Snap
begins - which shocks the tip into a bend, giving you a
headstart on
the deepest loading action.
Interesting: I've never described it
this way before - thank
you for asking. Please let me know what you
think, and that
brings up something else. Last year I wanted to come to
one of
your workshops for certification (with Tom White). I'd
love to try to get there again, if you have something scheduled and I'd be happy
to go over the slide loading
technique so that you would understand it in
case my paragraph
doesn't do it."
Joan
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COMMENT: As I study her note and then go back and study the photo sequence, it appears to me that she DOES start her rod hand forward while the back cast is being shot back and its loop finishing its unrolling. That would mean that she could be considered as, "creeping" by the earlier definition we used of creep being forward movement of the rod in the direction opposite that of an unrolling loop.
Most of us have changed out thinking about Creep, however, and are now embracing the concept that Creep is movement between casting strokes that decreases potential stroke length and/or casting arc. That glossary definition has not yet been approved by the entire CBOG, so I cannot say that it is, "written in stone on the mount" .... but is is our latest thinking on the subject.
In watching Joan do this, I note that her forward motion of the rod is almost all translation. Rotation with true distinct acceleration as it provides casting arc is not involved as she "slides". This means, to me, that she is not providing any deterioration of the cast by shortening her available effective stroke length nor diminishing her potential casting arc.
By the new definition of Creep, she is not doing it, as I see it.
In her second paragraph she describes a form of, "shock" at the beginning of deep loading. My own distance casting style uses this shooting back of the back cast loop and, "catching it" just as the loop unrolls to gain what I have called, PRELOAD. I must admit, however, that I don't think I, "slide". To this, "preload", it appears to me that she has a short but true loading move before her power snap, even though she didn't mention this with her new written description. I can't be certain about that, however.
I have found that many short folks who are not heavily muscled do well with this technique.
These are fine points.... real brain teasers. They do plunge us, however, to the heart of casting mechanics.
Gordy
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From Michael Jones:
Gordy:
In contemplating translation and rotation, I am playing with something
that I am curious if you have either tried yourself, or seen applied
in casting. During the cast, begin translation and add an early
abrupt and full rotation (like a reverse creep), and push the rod tip
through a SLP (be careful!). So far, I have succeeded at having
every-other cast fire a very small/accurate and accelerated loop,
while the next results in a small T.L. pile up. I am trying to wrap
my brain around what I am seeing during a successful execution of this
cast, and the theory suggests that: by pushing the rod tip forward
with a 'joust' or 'stab', the rod's modulus is increased by pushing
forward through the axis of the rod, rather than flicking a cast in
normal fashion off the tip. With a fast action rod, I find this to be
a relatively achievable goal, while mid flex rods don't know what to
do, and subsequently 'fold under pressure'.
I have found that if you start the translation, add an early rotation,
and raise the hand to achieve the SLP during the stab, a very tight
loop with tremendously high line speed can be achieved. If I had a
gun to my head, I would call this a Thrust Cast or Stab Cast.
Back to the original question: has any analysis of this been
discussed, or video proof of its' validity/inadequacy as a casting
approach?
Michael Jones
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Michael...
Early, abrupt rotation can result in disaster. This is one perfect way to form a tailing loop. Slightly earlier rotation at the end of the stroke can be benificial if it embodies the principle of smooth, constant acceleration.
This idea of the thrust is an old one. Probably first described by Charles Ritz as his, "STORM CAST" ...a modification of his well known, HS/HL technique.
It is demonstrated in a video done years ago by Gary Borger and Lefty Kreh: CASTING WITH LEFTY KREH. It was called the, "Lefty Kreh Wind Cast"
You will find it described as the, "Thrust Cast" by Gary Borger in his book: PRESENTATION, pp.175, 239, 285 & 292.
Also note a description of it in, THE NATURE OF FLY CASTING by Jason Borger, p. 235 .
CAVEAT: BEST NOT TO TRY TO TEACH THIS TO ANY BUT ADVANCED STUDENTS. IF THE CASTER HAS NOT DEVELOPED REALLY GOOD CONTROL, INJURY TO THE ELBOW CAN RESULT !
Gordy
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