In 1990's left-handle bait-casting reels have started to spread in JP after the best tournament angler IMAE KATSUTAK’s proposal, which anglers should choose the handle up to what kind of lure anglers use.
And then left-handle had gradually spread widely and now some anglers including professional are using left-handle in any situation.
Their insist is like this, left-handle is more effective and quicker because do not need to change the grip from right to left after casting.
Maybe almost all of Vietnamese anglers who is using left-handle also think like this way.
But MURATA HAJIME who is SHIMANO instructor and well known as the specialist of casting in JP, is warning about this way of thinking.
Now we have to start from thinking about the way of holding the grip of bait-casting rod.
Usually there are 3 ways of holding grip, 1 finger grip, 2 fingers grip and 3 fingers grip.
It is very easy to identify for these 3. The difference is how many fingers you put on the trigger of grip.
Along the basic skill of using bait-casting rod, 1 finger grip is used when we cast the lure by one hand. because we can use the wrist widely and softly so a long casting and a controlled casting becomes easier.
And we use 3 fingers grip when we retrieve the lure. We can hold the side-cup of reel firmly、so the retrieving becomes stable, and we can make a strong hooking when fishes bite the lure.
If we are using left-handle reel and want to change from 1 finger grip to 3 finger grip after casting
We have to pass the grip to left hand one time. It means we need 2 steps before starting retrieving.
But if we are using right-handle, we can start to retrieve just after passing the grip to left hand.
But it is true that most of anglers who use left-handle does not follow this basic.
Most of them cast by 1 finger grip and retrieve by 1 finger grip.
Or sometimes cast by 2 finger grip and retrieve by 2 finger grip,
Or sometimes cast by 3 finger grip and retrieve by 3 finger grip.
Mr.MURATA calls these as "lazy grip” and he thinks it is incorrect way of using tackles.
Also he points out the badness of balance on left handle reel.
On this reel, the heaviest points of reel stays on the left edge of reel. When the anglers cast with left handled reel by right hand, the reel is apt to lean to the inside (left) side because our right arm can only twist inside.
He says this unbalance effects badly when we need sensitive casting.
Of course Mr.MURATA is talking about professional level fishing. If we just enjoy fishing by any ways, we do not need to be seized by this kind of logic. But sometimes it might be meaningful that we learn logic from top level anglers.
（ 1 finger grip ）
（ 2 fingers grip ）
（ 3 fingers grip ）
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N0kOJuLGuk
Toshi
