Apparently if you are pendulum you need to do the opposite to what you might think! You need to lengthen your drop rather than shortening it. I dont cast the pendulum, yet, but from reading the books and watching the DVD's etc that's what they all promote.
I'll get around to it yet but I'm happy with my OTG for the moment until I can actually get to see someone doing the pendulum properly so as I can get a few pointers.
Buy the way. what size is you back garden?? If I was to practice my swing in my back garden the only thing I would hit would be the washing line and then it would be my ear that would be getting clipped by the boss
have your drop just above your right hand or even level with it, and as lee said when you turn intothe cast keep everything out away from your body with left hand about eye level..
I'll mill in with the experts so chose to ignore. I've had this issue alot in my back garden casting in darkness and it can be a number of things. Its mainly down to lack of force on the inswing and when it occurs you tend to get more timid in the swing and the issue compounds itself. If your try a bend the tip using the swing this issue doesn't occur. Other things that can cause this:
1. Moving the right hand instead of the left for the in swing.
2. Watching the leads full flight on the in swing.
3. I find increasing the angle of the out swing helps.
4. Tensing up shoulders and arms.
no 3! hit it on the head Donagh! the 2 good casts were made when i did this.
a lot of talk about pulling back with top hand grip on inswing. i have always done this and found it works?! yesterday i cast to my backing knot doing this- the line is 5mm down from top of spool. reel tuned for casting big bait into headwind. have come close when fishing 1 hook clip downs. it cant be that bad!!
i listen to what everyone has to say as regards casting, have a good think about and even try it out but at end of day its about what feels right for me. confidence being important to me as to whether the lead will sail or not!
rushing the cast by that i mean not letting the lead climb away from you so that you try and cast before the lead turns over means you will pull the lead out of its arc and hit he ground. slow the cast down let the lead climb turn slow and then wait somemore its called timing you will learn if you try not to hit it early hope this helps
I was doing the same thing as mb3. I was trying a full pendulum cast. hitting about 160 or so yards with a plain lead when it worked but nearly braking my back(turning into Fresh air with no weight in touch when it hit the ground) when I got it wrong....so something wrong. slowed everything down including the back swing (well mostly the back swing) ended up with more of a flat back swing where I'm always in touch with the lead. The result of this was I put more power and timing into the swing.I'm not hitting record distance but I'm able to out cast most at a comp.(if needed)
rather than shortening it. I dont cast the pendulum, 
but from reading the books and watching the DVD's etc that's what they all promote.
