My reels are all Daiwa's mag brake. For "normal fishing" (casting baits around 1/2oz and less) I usually don't use the tension knob at all. Set it all loose without touching the spool and only use the mag. brake dial to control the spool. With a gentle overhead or sidearm cast, the lures fly.
Recently I spend more time into powerful casting. Casting 1/2oz up to get maximum distance. I really need to make powerful overhead cast to give the lure enough speed and energy. But as the initial spool speed is very fast, it gets backlash easily. I need to pay close attention to thumb the spool.
Later, I try to use the tension knob. Set it tighter so when free spool the lure slowly falling onto the ground. I then make a powerful cast. This prevent the initial backlash which I don't have to thumb the spool, yet it casts as far as setting tension knob loose and using thumb.
I find the reel settings for "normal casting" and "powerful casting" are a bit different. Before that, I always believe that if someone's casting skill is good, he could set the tension knob loose to achieve maximum distance. The tension knob is only for newbie to prevent backlash. But now in powerful casting, it seems that the tension knob is really useful.
Any thoughts? How do you set your reel for "normal casting" and "powerful casting"?
And if there is any other way or tips to achieve even further casting distance? I always read people claiming casting a 3/8oz plug 60m, or a 1/2oz vib 80m. Don't know if it's actual measured distance or sight distance though. Myself can't. Casting a 1/2oz vib is about 50m for me.
in Mexico we call them "huevos" , so powerful cast means you should cast with huevos, the more the better. 
