Some really good advise here. One of the best reasons to use a low rod with a slow controlled pick up which accelerates thru the back cast is to avoid "ripping the line off the water" which invariably puts fish down. As many posters have indicated, once the slack is gone, the back cast can be easily executed with a short controlled power stroke that stops just past vertical keeping the back cast high and crisp.

However there are times such as "picking pockets" in fast water where the casts are often short and quick with a high rod tip to keep line off the water. In this case, a sharp, brisk stroke right from the start of the back cast is the tool of choice for me.

Tight Loops forever!

Guy