Make sure to balance rod, reel, line and lure. Mismatched equipment doesn't cast well. Heavy and medium-heavy action rods handle heavy to medium weight line and heavier lures. Light or medium light equipment handles lighter lines and smaller lures. Trying to cast small light weight lures on a heavy action rod and reel and heavy line is asking for a backlash, just as casting heavy lures on light action equipment.
Balance is the key.
Use your thumb as a brake even on spools with built in brakes. Once you see your lure approaching the water's surface, slowly begin to apply pressure to the rotating reel spool to slow it down manually so it will stop just as the lure enters the water. Avoid casting directly into a brisk wind. Instead, keep the wind to your side or back. If casting toward the wind is a must, a twist of the wrist positioning the underside of reel to face the wind helps prevent backlashes.