David Siskind | Sunday, 6 September 2026
I took a lesson on Zoom with Paul on Friday. As usual it was grand! We worked on my carry. It needs longer (as they say in Pittsburgh). To get there other stuff needs fixed. What they are has led to an epiphany and since it arose from my teachers advice (I have it on film) it might endure.
Paul noticed that my haul needs to be better aligned with the rod at the stroke’s stopping point and should be smoother. Also pointing my elbow along that line as well to encourage efficient, natural straightening of the arm to maximum effect. It works but somehow I found something a little less efficient and repeatable to become my second nature. Too long between lessons.
There was a similar flaw in my 170 backcast - an acute angle between forearm and upper arm - very un-frisbee - and an inefficient inconsistent flop to a straight. He suggested backhand target practice at a distance starting at horizontal and moving to vertical. We’d been here before but this is a new student standing on the rubble of passing delusions.
The unifying concept here - the kernel of my epiphany - is that to move along the kinetic chain, from the ground to the rod tip, forming a proper loop, an efficient final flop is required. It will be in the plane defined by the upper arm and forearm. The job of the caster is to point the elbow so that the flop-plain includes the target. For great tracking it should also include the fly-leg. Anything out of alignment or out of plane imposes extra loads, stealing power, applying unwanted torque and generally making things unpleasant. This flop plane seems to hold generally for most throwing movements. I’ve been watching some YouTube videos on baseball throwing mechanics. There are a lot of similarities. Power drawn from a blocked weight shift and hip rotation transfers momentum upward to the final flop which is aimed by the elbow. Of course it works this way with my precious heavy clubs as well.
So I kept this in mind while performing my carry-curriculum and my backcast accuracy drills. It seems to work. I’ll keep exploring. There are storms coming so the beach won’t be great. I’ll probably chase some carp next week but am returning to NY mid month and I’ve got a big do-list, obligations. I’ll probably do most all of my casting in the park.
I’m going to be in and out of town and country and there’s people and things I want to vote for this year. I’m concerned about my ballot. Even though constrained by the courts, mostly, Trump is asserting new USPS delivery rules via Executive Order adding uncertainty to my ability to get my ballot delivered in time. While the Executive has no constitutional role running elections they can certainly fuck them up in a variety of ways. I will have an opportunity to vote early and in person before traveling in the event that my ballot does not arrive. It should be counted as a regular vote and counted as such as long as I don’t return the mailed ballot. Still worried.
Also went to see Paw Patrol yesterday. Wasn't great.
Chins up, Happy Birthday Joe
David Siskind