This is a real thing, and not just with fishing rods. It's not the equipment, it's the user, and is caused by a couple or both real, perceived, and imagined factors. Sadly, I was recently separated from 21 (or 22) of my favorite fresh water rod/reel combos, nothing high end or extreme for the most part, just what I selected through the years that works (worked) for me, now I find with even very similar rods, I'm feeling like I'm just not in synch and automatic as with my old sticks.