I was watching Kevin Van Dam teach the "flipping technique" on "The Bass Pros" tv show on Versus the other day....

He was using a baitcaster, and when I watched him do this, I couldnt tell if he ever dis-engaged the spool to cast. 

When I first started watching, I saw these short flipping casts and couldnt figure out how he was hitting his spot with no hard casting and NO BACKLASH.  So I got to thinking that maybe he was only flipping what line he had out and never engaged the spool. 

which is it?  casting softly or swinging your lure to your spot since there wasnt a lot of room to do a full out cast?

well i wouldnt know but..... i suck at flipping with a baitcaster

This should clear things up 

ha, thank you for that.  that summed it up........i didnt think i ever saw the spool dis-engaged.....

makes sense

Yea I saw this same show and it takes ALOT of practice to be able to pitch that soft but Ican almost do it, YEA!!! Haha but yes he did engage the spool

Ahh you guys will get it. Jimzee and PitchnKid had me flipping in only a few minutes at our road trip a few years ago. Now it's my preferred method of casting period. Anytime I'm not trying to bomb a lure I'm pitching it. It doesn't matter if it's a cranlbait,spinnerbait, or frog. I can be accurate and quiet even from a fairly far distance by pitching it.

Denny Brauer: Flipping and pitching

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/fishingtips/bmu/live

Denny Brauer: Flipping and pitching

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/fishingtips/bmu/live

Thanks Catt. Great video!