OK, ya'll are making me think. So, I went out today and did some casting.

For the Thumb on Top grip, my thumb lies closer to 11 o'clock that it does at 12 o'clock. I'm still not sure that the exact position makes a difference.

Here are top and side views:

Another tip to help you relax your grip if you find that you are tensing up and squeezing the rod is to stick out your pinkie finger.

With your pinkie finger sticking out, it is very difficult to have a "death grip" on the rod. Doing this will help force your hand and grip to relax. This a Lefty Kreh tip. Once your hand has relaxed and you get a better feel for how little pressure is actually necessary to hold the rod, you can put the finger back where it belongs for better rod control.

Here's what I'm talking about (I know, it looks goofy, but it works):

J-Moe, I don't think I can answer this one without seeing you cast. I would just be guessing.

Here's my version of the V-grip or sometimes called the thumb on side grip:

Great information Rex. Thanks for sharing. I'll give that tip with the pinkie a try for sure. I know I grip the rod too tight. Relaxing will probably go a long way toward improving my casting stroke and reducing the muscle pain in my arm.

Rex,

After diving more and more into fly fishing it makes a golf swing look simple.

Thanks for the invite to Fisheries, I hope to make it this year.

On a side note - After spending some time on the local park last few days, I realize the more thought I put into my cast the worse it gets. LOL. If I just do what I have done (pretty much self taught b/c when I started there wasn't a You Tube) all these years it comes out much better. When I try to get "this" and "that" my cast seems to not feel as smooth, more energy is used and it just looks like doo doo.

I can say one thing for sure after golfing so many years, I do the same thing every time. Very little thought goes into the swing, I think more about the wind, incline, and how my ball is lying. Same set up and same style swing...I never think about it. I always get a kick out of the guys who read the latest thing in the magazine, latest thing on the Golf Channel last weekend, ect....they always end up over thinking their swing. And it will change from week to week.

I am sort of getting the feel that fly fishing is the same. Thoughts?

Late to the grip party, but being a golfer, I use a V-grip for almost every cast. The baseball pitcher in me pronates my forearm and wrist too. I'm a mess, but I sure am having fun! My carpal tunnel is more from a mouse, a 10-key, and a keyboard and signing tax documents. My brain needs fly fishing much more than my body does!

Maybe us golfers don't know any other way?!

One of my favorite Lefty Kreh quotes may answer your question. It goes something along the lines of "There is more BS in fly fishing than a Kansas City feedlot."

My vote is to keep it as simple as possible. After all, we're just fishing.

I once learned something from a Boy Scout leader "KISS" Keep It Simple Stupid. I saw a video of Lefty casting by just turning his body, it me that was pretty simple.

I have in the past used the fore finger on top grip because I was having trouble with my cast but then saw Lefty Krey's video in which he gives insruction on various aspects of the cast where he points out that the rod tip action relates to your hand movement. My problem was that I twist my hand outward on the back cast causing a sideways loop on the forward cast. The fore finger on top stopped that but the thumb on top gives you a stronger punch on the forward cast, again this is a Lefty K observation.

BBT - so what kind of grip is she using?

http://www.si.com/swimsuit/2015/models/hannah-davis/photos/15

Answer: it doesn't matter.... or.... what grip?