I recently asked why it was called “Fulcrum Spey Casting” and the reply was that the top hand acted as the fulcrum of the cast. This really surprised me!

I was invited to read the excellent websites of Robert Gillespie and Andrew Toft {two superb casters and qualified instructors} both proponents of the Fulcrum casting ‘style’.

And sure enough they both emphasise this point:

“In Double-Handed Casting keeping the top hand as the fulcrum at all times (with the exception of the initial draw when overhead casting, and some initial line placing moves) is another fundamental of the style.” Robert Gillespie


“A two handed rod works by ‘Fulcrum & Leverage’, the upper hand being the point round which the rod will be levered and rotated.” Andrew Toft

++++++

Now, call me an old fuddy duddy (no don’t) but - as far as I see it - the only way the top hand COULD be a fulcrum would be if it did not move at all in the forward cast. And of course it does move – towards the target.

In every style of Spey casting that I have ever seen – even underhand - it moves toward target while the lower hand moves away from target. Usually, the hands move in opposite directions about the same distance varying from a few inches to a foot or more.

The fulcrum (or pivot point) is invariably somewhere between the two and normally pretty central. It is this combined speed that rotates the rod tip so effectively of course. If the fulcrum was at the top hand (like being claimed) then you would rely totally on the speed of the bottom hand only.

Take a look at these videos and see for yourself where the fulcrum is. (i.e. the point on the rod where all above moves forwards and all below moves backwards.)

Traditional Spey


Competition Spey


Fulcrum Spey


Scandinavian


Underhand



It seems to me that in all above the fulcrum or pivot point is between the hands.

Am I seeing things? or have I miss-understood? Or perhaps we shouldn't believe everything we read!



cb

looks to me the point they are making is " the lower hand is the dominant hand"

If you look at the top hand as being the steering wheel and lower hnad being the accelerator, does that help?

The top hand will always move but, moving from the traditional top hand does everything approach to what you see with Robert, Henrik and Goran is a huge change, you need to try it.

Go out with a DH rod and make a jump roll cast using predominantly top hand for the power and anchor placement, then make the same cast keeping the top hand pretty still and using it as a pivot, IE, the top hand does very little and the lower hand pushes out and steers the rod, then as the anchor forms the lower hand provides the power to make the delivery cast.

We could get into mountain bike terminology and call the top hand one piece of the jigsaw in creating a Virtual Pivot point!!!

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You're right about that. They even allude to it in the videos - the traditional spey is described as 60% upper and 40% lower hand.

Henrik describes the Scandinavian style as 30% upper and 70% lower. So it is a change of emphasis between one and the other. Of course superb casts can be made with either style but the "lower hand dominant" style generates a lot of power very easily.

I've watched Andrew Toft cast many times and he certainly applies some pressure with both hands - if he didn't the upper hand wouldn't be able to move forward and I can assure you it does.

I wonder what would be shown if pressure measuring pads were put of the upper and lower handles...

Fulcrum , pivot or whatever , they're all bonny casters in their own right.

I particularly like Robert Gillespie's apparently effortless style although , for some strange reason , my far better other half prefers to watch Mr Mortensen.
Can't quite figure out why !

As Malcolm says , Andrew Toft is another class caster.
Here's a wee video of him.
Best viewed in full screen.

In this other clip by Andrew Toft, the opening sequence is the best example of stopping the rod tip to form a loop you will ever see


Also at the end is an summary of Fulcrum casting

The principles of Fulcrum fly casting style are to create the most efficient leverage and also to use the rod's own inherent unloading properties to our fullest advantage. The top hand still moves while remaining as the Fulcrum to provide necessary stroke length, rod tip path and elevation but absolutely not to apply excessive power or in particular any tugging the line into position.

The top hand can still remain as the Fulcrum while moving as the bottom hand is moving further and faster.

Most of the energy created in fly casting is due to efficient leverage and using the top hand as the Fulcrum combined with controlled body movement. This is the most efficient form of leverage we can create using minimal effort which results in superior rod loading and efficiency throughout the range of movements. If we pulled or tugged with our top hand or used it as our primary source of power then the majority of the leverage is lost.

First class leverage (where there is a pivotal point placed along a lever and not at the end)

If there were ten people sat round a table looking at a two handed carbon salmon rod for the first time and discussing it's advantages and how it would be used efficiently, I don’t think anyone would put up their hand and say “I would use the top hand push, that should work well.”

Both hands are very important but in this particular style of casting, as mentioned before, the bottom hand in co-ordination with the upper hand provides the most effective lever for the majority of the given movements as it is further from the tip. This also makes it much easier to change the angle of the rod during the casting movements and angular change in the rod against the taught line results in rod loading. Another very important aspect is the stopping of the rod. It is impossible to stop the rod efficiently with one hand and very often the bottom hand is neglected. Controlling and stopping the butt of the rod in time with the upper hand ensures very effective tip speed. If the bottom hand is not controlled and stopped properly then energy is allowed to escape from the bottom of the rod when it should be concentrated at the tip. I often practise casting 60/70ft holding the rod only with my finger tips. This is only possible because the rod is doing the work and it is efficient.

While teaching I always watch a student’s hands very closely as this is the source of many problems. It is possible to see what is immediately going to happen as the movements they so much want to achieve simply cannot be manufactured by using the top hand with the bottom following around aimlessly. There are also a great number of casting methods which inherit the term 'different style'. There is a big difference between style and bad casting mechanics.
It is important to mention the explanations I have covered are specific to this particular style of fly casting and that we also make adjustments in fly casting all the time due varying conditions: bank side vegitation, tackle etc... the main emphasis is that we have the choice and ability to adapt to varying conditions with efficiency through understanding correct rod loading and unloading.
There are many more subtle details that would take too long to cover but they are based on the same theme with economy of effort is always being the overriding principle.
Andrew.

Andrew, is it really a 'style' or just a more efficient way of levering the rod?

Very interesting discussion.

I use the term "fulcrum casting" with beginning spey casters. The term helps those anglers new to the double-handed rod to understand the importance of the lower or bottom hand for power application.

Using the essential principle of leverage, if power is applied directly above the fulcrum (as in the middle of a see-saw), not much happens. If power is applied at the end of the lever (either end of a see-saw), a mechanical advantage is exerted.

I see the term "fulcrum casting" as an analogy. All analogies are imperfect and break down over time. There is no doubt that the fulcrum (top hand) moves during the casting stroke with a double-handed rod.

Once the speycaster has reached an advanced level of proficiency, I shy away from the term "fulcrum casting" in an effort to keep things simple and avoid confusion. By that time, the advanced speycaster is using the correct distribution between the two hands and modifying his or her technique with respect to the length of line beyond the tip of the rod.

Robert writes about fulcrum as a style on his website, just over here, decide for your self.

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