Lots of practice. I am better than when I started last summer and it was every day (sometimes twice a day) going out and practicing. This year I need to continue and start practicing flipping and pitching. One of the mistakes I always used to make is keep your eye on the target.

One question I have, which I don't see answered, is: no matter the bait being used, is it good practice to hold the bait right above the reel?

Meaning, let it hang down to about just above the reel, and pitch it from there?

About even with reel is about right but...pitching is a rapid-fire water-covering method. In real use, the bait will touch your hand for about a half-second before being released toward another target, and so will end up being in lots of different locations....all within about 4-6", either way, of the reel. The idea is to keep the lure in the strike zone for as long as need be....quickly pick it up and fire it again. Minimize the time it's out of the water/strike zone.

Edit: the idea is to be eyeing your next target as you are, rapidly, reeling in...hope that make sense. Good luck.

I'm no expert by no means, but my Dad, all he did was fish.
When I was younger, like 6-8 yrs old, I would ask to go with him.
He made a deal with me, he tied a 3/8 nut on my line an set a coffee can out in the yard.
Told me when I can hit that can over an over, he would carry me. But didn't want to
Spend all day getting me out of the trees.
Sure he would bring us crappie fishing an running lines, but bass fishing was it.!!
An man I chunked at that can for weeks, but I figured it out, he was impressed, an
The rest is history.
Practice
Practice
Practice

great advise above, pitching practice...I just practice pitching it under my truck between the wheels, try to hit the far back tire.

I've taught a lot of kids who typically want to just throw anything as far as possible, so ease up and pick a target every cast even if its just a reflection on the water, a single weed.

Seems like a common thing with newer anglers is to try and throw everything overhand. Side arm/roll casting is the way to go on targets outside of pitching range as far as accuracy. Rod tip and lure stay parallel to the water opposed to overhand where the lure is traveling in an arc overhead if that makes sense. Provides softer entry/less splash too.

Baitcaster is a must in my opinion for real surgical work, need to be able to control that lure speed and stop it in the exact spot it needs to be stopped.

Watch this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6QMjqQ9sh4

Accuracy in casting is everything. If you can't cast into the right places in cover you are severely limiting your ability to catch fish. Bass love cover and you have to get in there with them if you want to get bit. Practice, practice, practice.

Yep...practice, practice, practice. The majority of guys I see pitching really aren't worth a flip (sorry, I couldn't resist). They practice enough to become mediocre and become satisfied with it. You have to get yourself/your boat, first...and your bait, second into the places where the fish are. If you're afraid of backlashes or fiberglass scratches....I don't know...there's always golf

Quick Tip, most of today's reels have excellent magnetic and friction controls on the reels, use them, place your lure weight or dummy plug on your line and set your friction control on the right hand side of your reel so that the object barely drops with no back lashing, set your magnetic brake to 5 or half way. This will take your mind and effort off having to thumb your line to prevent bird nest. I also believe using a heavy weight 1/2 or bigger is much easier to learn with. Then cast away, focusing on your mechanics, overhead is a wrist and rod timing thing, focus on using your rod's flex instead off a stiff throwing action ( picture a catapult flexing back from the weight of the lure and inertia off your wrist flinging it back to load your rod ), your move backwards with the wrist and then release will determine distance and the flight path, once released your thumb can then focus on accuracy , high early release, low late release. Go for distance first, this will make you use the rod and give you a feel for the action, pick a medium light or medium rod flex. Once you get a little accuracy back off the friction control a little at a time till you start to back lash. I use o friction on both but truth be told I should use these device my self many pros do especially in the wind.

I pitch and side casting 98 % off the time. Try learning to pitch with a spinning reel first, this will allow all your focus to be on your wrist motion lift the rod and your lure release.

Side casting can be achieved by lowering your over head cast a little at a time, till you are almost casting below your feet if u desire.

Roll casting to me is the best type off casting, but I would master the over head, side and pitching before trying this technic.

Good luck, God Bless,

Rudy

There is no substitute for practice, both on and off the water. I think one mistake most make when practicing casting in the pool or on the ground is that they do not get elevated. Remember, in the boat you aree a couple of feet off the water. That makes all the difference in the world.

ditto on the Thomas Jefferson quote