I just started pinning at the beginning of the year and it took me a few days in a field to get my cast right. I use the side cast, I found it much easier than the wallis or whatever its called. I started and have stayed with using 1/2oz of weight. I was only able to cast about 15-20ft at first but by the end of those few days casting in the field, I got up to about 50 or so. The trick for me was knowing when to let go of the spool during the cast. If directly in front of you is 12 oclock and behind you is 6 oclock, I let the spool go at about 3, let the rod load at about 5 oclock and then forward. I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone but me, but thats what went thru my head when I first started casting a pin.
As the line is flying thru the air, keep your pinky or ring finger ever so lightly on the rim of the spool, then just before the line hits the water, stop the spool. Easy peasy! GL!