Turns out I've been doing it wrong the whole time

[oc1]

Pistol grip rods are great for target casting where wrist action is important.  For most of us, they are not so good for distance casting though.  However, there was a guy doing distance casting demonstrations with short one-handed rods.  He would run and spin as he wound up to cast across a stadium.  Wish I could find the videos again.

That's an interesting mix of reels in the photo Dave.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Thank you for that update Dave. Interesting food for thought. I've thought about making a pistol grip rod. Maybe I will one day.

[Cor]

All rods that I have built for myself during the past 20 odd years have a pistol grip. They are all in the region of 10 to 12 ft and all are designed for casting with two hands.   When someone recently said to me that pistol grip reel seat are going out of vogue, I got quite a shock.

I like the additional support you get while casting and it gives a stronger grip/hold on the rod & reel during the cast.   I have seen a rod and reel go flying out of someone's hands during a bad cast and have experienced a few occasions myself where I felt I nearly lost my tackle.    This happened when a fish take the lure at your feet going full speed, without you first seeing it and it's aggravated by using braid.

I have three smaller rods that resemble baitcasters, but I can't cast them

[steelfish]

.....And I can't tell you the last time I sat in front of a screen to watch someone else fish. Like I literally cannot  think of a single instance I've ever done it,

I really enjoy seeing someone else fishing, not everybody or every random fishing video on the web, I enjoy seeing videos of guys I know (in person or internet), as seeing videos uploaded by our Boss Alan tani, by Gary the buttman, etc, videos of friends of mine on our local inshore waters from fishing trips I couldnt went to.

[MisterStinky]

Palming the reel also allows you to run the fishing line through your fingers. Alot quicker to feel the bite if fish hit a jig on the fall and essential if fishing in the dark and you cannot see the line.