Don't tell me what not to do
A casting tip
Set this scene in your mind. You need to make a challenging cast to a tight spot near the stream bank. There are plenty of hazards surrounding that spot, like tree limbs, roots and grass. But if you do it right, you’ll put your fly in the sweet spot.
What goes through your mind? If it’s “don’t hit that, limb, root or grass” I’ll bet you dollars to donuts you are more likely to hit the limb, root or grass, than the sweet spot. Am I wrong?
Your brain focuses on what you tell it to. In this case, the limb, root, grass or what have you. If you’re telling yourself “don’t," your fly goes right where you wanted to avoid.
Try this next time. Pick the sweet spot in the sweet spot, really focus on it. Tell yourself hit that. Ignore the obstacles, focus on the target.
More often than not, you will make the cast.
The funniest thing is when you do get snagged on something (a branch on the far bank, the willows, or a precarious rock) and you walk over to retrieve your fly... you realize you're not the first person to make that mistake. You can sometimes find another angler's failed attempts still clinging to the branches. A funny reminder, and a pleasant addition to the fly box.
So glad to hear that others have this issue. I was never good at sports where I had to aim a ball.