There are many different styles of casting which can be broadly separated into two groups: the Pullers and the Pushers. The Pushers tend to drive the rod out on the forward cast by leading with the hand. They often talk about 'punching' the rod. Pullers on the other hand lead with the elbow and follow through with the hand. These guys talk about 'throwing' the rod.

Amongst the 'pushing' establishment - which I have to say is a very British way of teaching casting (and pretty international way of doing it) - there are further variations: some casters really emphasise the forward stop with an abrupt snap of the wrist, others use less wrist and refer to this movement as 'a turning over of the thumb', which is a very interesting description of a wrist-snap, yet others insist on strapping the rod to their forearm in order to eliminate any wrist movement. Although many casting instructors who use this method start the forward stroke from the ear, you can also find casters who cast from behind them - generally using the open-stance, for this cast to work well emphasis must be made on forcing the rod to travel through in a vertically straight line, preferably with the line directly above the tip of the rod.

Amongst the 'pullers' - which is basically the rest of the world outside UK - there are many different variations: some cast a very similar movement to throwing a dart, others cast like the butt of the rod was a stone (the dart movement is closer to the head - and feels completely different to the other), then there are the guys who tighten their loops up by sidecasting, others pull directly downwards (perhaps imagining they are forcing the butt of the rod downwards), yet others actually lift the elbow on the forward stroke (back to pushing again). All groups can then be divided amongst those who snap the wrist, and those who don't. And also you find variations in how far back some casters start the fore-stroke.

Whichever style of casting, and whether or not the caster has reached out behind, and even if the caster has stopped the back cast in the 90-90 position (spear chucking position), all the great casters I have seen emphasise making the forward cast with the elbow in line between the shoulder and the target. Or in other words, make sure your elbow is directly in line with your right knee (if you are right-handed) when you make your forward cast. This is a great tip.

It is very unfortunate that many casting instructors fail to realise that all the above casting variations are acceptable. Often this is how it works: your casting instructor finds a style of casting which works for him - perhaps others comment on it and tell him how wonderful a caster he is - whatever, at some point he says to himself: "There, cracked it, this is the casting technique for me". Which would be OK - not great you understand, but acceptable - however the next thing he may say is this: "If this technique is best for me then it follows that this technique is best for everyone else too". And then "My technique is right, all the other stuff sucks". Its gets worse: for your instructor then discovers faults which only apply to his technique. To be specific there are some styles of casting where any wrist movement is a catastrophe, however there are plenty of styles where some wrist movement is essential! At this point may I make my apologies for emphasising this wrist thing - in the UK it causes much confusion.

Personally I throw the rod, normally with a wrist snap on the backcast and with a cocked wrist on the forward cast. However I have taught people who cannot throw the rod - the most natural movement for them is to punch. Doesn't make any sense to me, but there you go.

The 2001 update

This is an area which has generated quite a large amount of interest. And confusion (well naturally). Look, pushers cast by extending their elbows. Pullers, by rotating the shoulder. If you extend your elbow while making the forward cast you are a pusher. Having experimented with these different styles I have come to the conclusion that pulling is more effective. It allows a deeper flex in the rod, a more relaxed syle and is bio-mechanically more efficient.

However if you have a broomstick you are going to have to push the rod in order to make it go further. With a broomstick you can only ever cast in a narrow arc and so you will have to grow longer arms for distance casting.