Free Wrist Grip
This grip was promoted as a very relaxing, easy-to-use way to hold the rod. It is used for wrist casting or arm-assisted wrist casting. One merely grasps the fly rod like a suitcase handle. The fingers and thumb wrap around the rod in the most comfortable position for the caster.
While this really is a comfortable way to hold the rod it is also mechanically the least effective for any type of casting. Wrist casting and arm assisted wrist casting are both “flick,” “flick” casting. That is, the rod is not waved back and forth. The wrist snaps the rod rearward, flicking the line into the backcast. Likewise, it snaps forward, flicking the line into the forward cast. These snaps/flicks require a very positive connection between the hand and rod handle, and the Free Wrist Grip creates the least positive connection of any of the grips.
The Free Wrist Grip–comfortable, but that’s about it.