The Wrist
| The wrist of the rod
hand plays a somewhat limited, yet highly critical role in flycasting.
In conjunction with the forearm, the wrist/forearm action and
timing is what "makes or breaks" a cast.
Perfecting the subtle relationship between the wrist and the forearm, and the timing with which they apply energy to the 2 “power strokes” in the casting cycle, is the key to effective flycasting. Getting this coordination down is one of the beginning caster’s biggest challenges. Many beginning casters tend to use too much wrist. And they are prone to employing it too early during each casting stroke. The wrist needs to “act last” as it powers the tip of the fly rod to an abrupt stop at the conclusion of each stroke. This transfers the load in the rod into the fly line, pushing it in the direction of the rod tip. |
Note in this video clip:
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the relatively narrow range of motion of the wrist . . . it does not fully “break”
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the straight-line "plane" of the wrist/forearm unit: they act nearly as one piece as they rotate on the elbow
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compact, range-of-motion . . . the entire arm is roughly 90°; the wrist much less
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the absence of the use of the wrist until at the end of the Backcast and the end of the Forward Cast; the wrist should not used elsewhere during the cast
The wrist is responsible for bringing the rod
tip to an abrupt stop at the
end of both the Rear
Power Stroke and the Forward Power Stroke
Every
caster has different flexing characteristics in their wrists.
Most have too much. Some too little. In order
to compensate for a restricted range of motion disallowing a
strictly "upright" movement, many casters might need to have some
"wrist rotation" to gain enough cocking action. This
is normal and may be needed during the backcast.
Note this caster has such a rotation. It is a subtle "rolling motion" of the back of the hand to the outside of the cast.
Previous / Next, let's review the role of the elbow
in the fly cast 