This year one of my goals is to improve my casting. I think human nature, at least in my opinion, is to grip it right in the middle. That seems the safe place to be and not out on the edges.

From what I am experiencing, a nice place to grip a tenkara rod is right on the bottom end closest to the screw off caps. Still have your hand fully around the handle but butted right up towards the end. By doing this, I have been able to cast further and it might be because I am getting more "flick of the wrist" by gripping at the end of the rod.

By having your hand gripping in the middle like I used to do, and even though I still have good mobility of my wrist, you still get a little locking of hand against handle with some cork laying behind your hand.

But instead, by gripping the very end, the backside of your hand has no place to lock on the handle as you flick the wrist so it seems to me I get better action. This lessens the more I choke up on the rod.

I think it is a good idea to try new things and gripping all areas of the handle and see how your cast changes.

For now I think I am going to try gripping at the end of the handle most the time and see what happens.

So, where are you gripping your handle?

tj

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Tenkara USA, Director of Customer Service

Tenkara Junkie - Tenkarajankī
Now sporting all of the Tenkara USA Rods!

Interesting question TJ. I guess for the most part, I grip the rod in the middle out of habit and because I thought it was the "sweet spot" on most rods. However, moving the grip down doesn't really make the rod any tip heavier or anything. I can see what you're saying about freeing up the wrist but I don't really feel gripping the rod in the middle is restricting my movement in any way and it seems to be comfortable for me. I notice Daniel and some other masters tend to grip the rod toward the bottom though. I'd be curious to see what others have to say.

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My blog: Tenkara Talk
Tenkara USA Rods: Amago, Ayu, Ayu Series II, Ebisu, Ito, Iwana 11', Iwana 12', Yamame
Other Tenkara USA Gear: Tamo, Strap Pack, 3.5 & 4.5 Level Line, 10.5 ft. & 13 ft. Traditional Line, Line Spools

I am finding I am casting better holding more towards the bottom.

At lunch again today I keep going out for a few minutes and casting my various rods. Today I did my Iwana 11' using (which is really a 10.5' <grin>) driving 10.5' Level Line and 4' Tippet and right away was making nice casts and further than I normally was before holding mid handle.

Maybe tomorrow is Ito casting day with a 13' Level Line and 4' Tippet.

I almost always see Tenkara no Oni holding his rods towards the bottom so I figured I would give it a whirl and keep at it.

tj

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Tenkara USA, Director of Customer Service

Tenkara Junkie - Tenkarajankī
Now sporting all of the Tenkara USA Rods!

I hold the rod at the top of the handle with tip of my index finger on the rod right behind the EZ Keeper. I feel like I have better control of the rod from there and I am more accurate.
Tom

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Wilderness Tarpon 120
and a Tenkara USA Amago
Good Combo!!!

It depends on the shape and thickness of the handle, in my case.

I prefer to grip the bottom end, and I hold some rods at the bottom end, and some rods near the middle-upper part.

Eddie

Eddie makes a good point about the shape of the rod handle. To me, rods with a slight bulge at the end (like the new Iwana and Amago) are more comfortable to grip at the bottom than say straight gripped rods. I have a tenkara rod from Japan that has a very thin and completely straight handle which is not comfortable at all to grip on the bottom.

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My blog: Tenkara Talk
Tenkara USA Rods: Amago, Ayu, Ayu Series II, Ebisu, Ito, Iwana 11', Iwana 12', Yamame
Other Tenkara USA Gear: Tamo, Strap Pack, 3.5 & 4.5 Level Line, 10.5 ft. & 13 ft. Traditional Line, Line Spools

I bought a rod last year, and its handle is a bit too thin at the bottom end at which I wanted to grip.

I wrapped a cork tape around the handle so that I could grip the bottom end comfortably.

Eddie