Why use a small handle on Free spool reel?

[Warren Platt]

I notice ebay auction # 7197662141 is a Meek #3 (Horton) free spool distance tournament reel with a small tournament handle on it. My question is: What is the advantage this handle gives a distance caster over the normal larger handle? I have seen this sometimes before and always think a collector has changed it, thinking a tournament reel should have the small tournament handle. I am thinking that someone in the past has given me a good reason, but I sure can't remember it.
Warren

[Len Sawisch]

. . . I understand that a small handle makes it easier to slowly and carefully re-wind the reel and use your other hand to lay the line even more precisely than a level wind mechanism. As I was once told, the line can not possibly come off the spool any smoother than it was wound onto the spool.

Try this experiment: Hold a make-believe reel in your left hand and crank the tiny little handle with your right. Now with the same make-believe reel and a larger handle, do the same. See how much more torque the large handle places on the reel? So much easier to control the whole deal with the small handle.

In conclusion, the small handle is not about the casting out per se; the small handle is about the reeling in. Or at least that is how I have come to understand it.

Len

[Warren Platt]

Len,
Thanks, that makes sense. One problem that I have is that I've never tried casting a true small spool distance casting reel, thus no idea as to what takes place during the cast or the retrieve. I do know that good spooling makes for good casting, as you say. I have been told that as the caster reels in the "angel hair" line that it's often still floating in the air. The caster must walk to the casting weight as he reels in the line to show the judge that the line hasn't been broken. The small handle very well might make this task much easier.
Gosh,I didn't know that Wild Bill had any smart friends!
Warren

[Len Sawisch]

. . . if Bill counts you or me as friends, then I guess the jury is still out!

Your comment about making sure the line was still intact makes a lot of sense as well, by the way - some of my best distance casts have been aided by a broken line!

Len