One hand or two hands for casting a bait caster? Tried two hands for about a half hour and I can't find a reason to continue doing it. It felt alright but it didn't improve or hurt my casting any. You see so many pros using two hands and so many using one hand. I'm sure it's a matter of preference but do some believe that two handed really works best and if so then why? If it will help improve my casting accuracy then I'm willing to try it some more!

The only time I ever used two hands was the first time I went surf fishing in Marco Island Florida many years ago with some of the locals.The rods and reels were big and heavy and you needed two hands for control. That's not a problem for the rod and reels I use today. Mike

Two handed casting is like playing golf.  The golf ball goes farther if the club head is speeded up during impact.  The club head is speeded up by increasing the hand speed at impact.

Long distance casting follows the same principle.  As you make your cast you can speed up which ever hand is on the bottom of the rod handle.  You will actually be pulling it back toward you.   This will increase the speed of the handle in its arc.  That will have a geometric effect on the rod tip and greatly speed it up which can give you quite a bit more distance with the cast.

It can also be a killer for accuracy.  I only do it for increased distance in open water.

I cast with two hands using both spinning and baitcasting equipment.

In addition to distance and accuracy, a two handed casting technique

is less fatiguing over the course of a day on the water.

8-)

depends on the rod   long handle=2 handed casting    shorter handle= one handed casting for roll casting and skipping  

Two handed casting is like playing golf. The golf ball goes farther if the club head is speeded up during impact. The club head is speeded up by increasing the hand speed at impact.

Long distance casting follows the same principle. As you make your cast you can speed up which ever hand is on the bottom of the rod handle. You will actually be pulling it back toward you. This will increase the speed of the handle in its arc. That will have a geometric effect on the rod tip and greatly speed it up which can give you quite a bit more distance with the cast.

It can also be a killer for accuracy. I only do it for increased distance in open water.

Good explanation and it really makes sense. Thanks, Mike

WOW, You guys have me fired up to give two handed casting a little more time and practice to see how it goes.Thanks , Mike

One more question. When you cast two handed do you still turn the rod and reel so the reel handle is up in the air or do you keep it level with the ground? I'm so oriented to casting with the reel handles up and when I tried it two handed I still had to hold it that way. Does it matter? Thanks, Mike

I use a two-handed cast most of the time, except when pitching, backhanded casting, or skipping.  The only time I use my entire hand on the bottom of the rod is for long distance casting.  Most of the time I just use my index and middle finger, or thumb to control the bottom, which I guess would ultimately control the tip.  Works well for accuracy and roll casting for me.  

The handle isn't up on my cast except at the very tail end of the cast just before I switch hands, I think, depending on how I cast.  It's hard to say.  After a while, it's like driving a standard.  Certain steps just become second nature.  It's a good rule of thumb to help control the cast, but do what seems the most comfortable for you to create a fluid, contolled cast. If your cast goes exactly where you want it to go, backlash free, consistently, and your handle isn't up, don't try and change your cast to accomodate that detail.

I would think that handle-up through a two handed cast would put your lead hand in a weird position to thumb the spool. That would be really uncomfortable for me on a long day.  Like RW said, two handed casting should relieve stress on your wrist on a long day.

One more question. When you cast two handed do you still turn the rod and reel so the reel handle is up in the air or do you keep it level with the ground? I'm so oriented to casting with the reel handles up and when I tried it two handed I still had to hold it that way. Does it matter? Thanks, Mike

The way I learned was to slant the baitcaster at an angle when casting.

x2 on the angle, thats how I do it most of the time.  I have heard that when you angle the reel on the cast it is supposed to slow your spool down a little making the cast easier to control or something like that, when the reel is not slanted it can spin faster (cast further).  Don't know how this would work in slowing the spool by just turning the rod and reel 45 degrees or whatever.  Anyone else ever hear this?

2 hands!

I use 2 hands nowadays because I'm afraid I will throw my rod in the water with one hand. LOL

Ronnie

Carolina Rigs or Drop Shots I'll us 2 hands for every thing else I'll us 1 hand  

I only use two handed cast when iam going for distance or throwing muskie plugs. Other then that I side arm or roll cast one handed.

haha...my fishing partner uses one hand and i always wonder how he casts.

i gennerally make very long casts...and every time i whip it just about as hard as i can. I always use two!!

Only time I cast with both arms is when I fish with swimbaits, try casting them 2-5 oz or more puppies with one arm and you won 't last 30 min.

I use two hands whenever I can.  Distance and accuracy are the benefits.

haha...my fishing partner uses one hand and i always wonder how he casts.

i gennerally make very long casts...and every time i whip it just about as hard as i can. I always use two!!

If I whip my casting reel as hard as I can I will have a birds nest big enough to make an Eagle happy! I like to whip it just a little and follow trough the same each time. That way I'm consistent and my distance and cast is really smooth. Mike

I am nearly unable to cast with just one hand - it feels so weird.

Cast with your forearm(s) only!

Use the rod length to create leverage.

Your cast will be smooth, as long

as you like and requires much

less effort, reducing fatigue. "Extra"

effort is not required.

8-)

depends on the rod long handle=2 handed casting shorter handle= one handed casting for roll casting and skipping

X2 In addition it also depends on the type of cast you are trying to make.

Here's a quick scheme of how I usually cast.

Pitching : obviously two hands

Flipping : obviously two hands too

sidearm : usually one hand, two when I need more accuracy

overhead (spinning) : two hands

backhand (spinning) : one hand

skipping (spinning) : two hands

backhand skipping (spinning) : one hand

sidearm (baitcasting) : one hand for short distance in

overhead (baitcasting) : two hands

backhand (baitcasting) : one hand

skipping (baitcasting) : two hands

backhand skipping (baitcasting) : two hands (the two hands are very close to each other on the grip (much like you would hold a golfclub) I find it better for control and accuracy.... I just can't skip with just one hand backhand.

Of course, all this may change with the rod (based on the grip, the lenght) and with what I'm trying to achieve too.

Like Saladmander mentioned, I use two hands on most of my casts to be able to control the bottom of the rod. For accuracy and control.

Not only all of that, but if you continue casting with only one hand, that hand will fatigue more quickly without the support of the other hand.

I'm a one-handed caster. I've tried two handed casting, but it feels totally unnatural and actually hurts my wrists.

Although I've broken both of my wrists over the past 8 years while skateboarding, so that might have something to do with it.  BTW - don't skateboard past the age of 30.  Them bones tend to lose their flexibility.

:-/