Simbirski & Group.....
Ally Gowans has pointed out that the term, "GRIP" may not be the best.
I agree that this term implies a firm hold on the handle of a fly rod. Of course, one of our teaching problems is that of the student who does just that and gains a, "death grip" on the cork in some cases leading to the detriment of the cast and wrist/hand pain.
The, "Moser" grasp which was yesterday's topic goes a long way to correct that. Once the student realizes just how much can be accomplished with this minimalist approach, the need for a tight hold dissolves.
In the past, we've discussed Joan Wulff's way of teaching the use of only enough tightness of grip to perform the mechanics of the cast......using momentary tightness of grip during periods of maximum acceleration to the stop. She has a half-moon shaped piece of dampened sponge placed between the student's hand and the cork. Water should only be squeezed out during what she calls, "the power snap".
Let's try to answer these questions:
1.) Name and describe 4 different, "grips".
2.) Which one would you choose for maximum distance casting with a 5 wt. outfit ?
3.) Which one would you choose for maximum distance with a 12 wt. outfit and a large tarpon fly ?
4.) You are fishing a 2 wt. outfit for brookies in a windless situation requiring deadly accuracy. Which grip might you choose ?
5.) Go to the fly casting literature and provide a reference with picture of each of the, "grips" you chose in question 1.)
6.) What is your, "default grip" ?
7.) Why did you chose that one ?
8.) What grip do you choose for your beginning students ?
9.) Where is Roberto Pragliola's TLT grip described ?
10.) When might you consider having your student change his/her grip ?
11.) Can you come up with a better term than GRIP ???
Gordy