Caution: Shimano Zodias Balance

[TorqueConverter]

My 7'2'' M Zodias arrived today and I paried to an Alphas SV that I have had waiting for it and..... to my surprize it is pretty tip heavy. Very tip heavy actually.  While the rod is amazingly light weight the balance on the 7'2'' medium, at least, is poor.  I have $100 rods that are very well balanced and I am shocked at the tip heaviness of this rod when paired to even a 6.2 oz reel.  It is as if weight reduction was placed at a higher priority than blance.  I would like to add a bit of weight to back of the rod to balance it out so if anyone could point me in the right direction of some slide on butt thing or a way of removing the rear butt section to insert weight into the blank, then that would be great. 

 

Others consider the balance of these rods to be very good so perhaps this is just an issue with the 7'2'' M.   

[5fishlimit]

Tape quarters, or washers, to the end.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I have these in 1-1/8" & 1"

http://www.lowes.com/pd_37824-255-4440795N_1z0ykb6__?productId=3032995&pl=1

Waxman 4-Pack 1.125-in Black Rubber Tips

ROD BUTT CAP 1-1/8"                   39.82grams            1.4046oz

ROD BUTT CAP 1"                       26.73grams            0.94295oz

 

what 1-1/8" looks like on cumara rod

 

[Hogsticker]

How long is the handle? I know these rods have super thin grips that weigh next to nothing, and about 400 coats of clear coat on the blank. I wonder how much weight the x wrap tape adds to the blank. Sounds like the SV103 may be a better match when it becomes available.

[clh121787]

I thought my nrx was tip heavy too. Don't let it bother you just start fishing and you'll probably forget about it

[cottny27]

Yeah, the furniture end caps with some quarters work well and don't hurt a thing.  

[Steveo-1969]

Yeah, the furniture end caps with some quarters work well and don't hurt a thing.  

 

X2.  I put a black chair leg end cap on mine and kept adding nickels until I liked the balance.  Total cost was 50 cents for the end cap and 20 cents in nickels.  I think it looks great and more importantly it doesn't feel tip heavy anymore.

[Preytorien]

I have a 6'10" Zodias paired with a Curado I and its dead on. It seems tip heavy out of the tube but balanced with the reel.

I seem to have balance issues over 7ft though. It's just harder to do. You're gaining more forward material, either the manufacturer has to add material at the butt or make the butt section longer. Then you add to the overall weight. It's a fine line to walk for rod makers.

[cottny27]

Yes, anything 7' and MH action on up always seems to get tip heavy.  

I balanced a Quantum Smoke last night.  I'll try to remember to post a pic tonight.  It can almost pass for a custom job.

[JGBassinAL]

My 7'2'' M Zodias arrived today and I paried to an Alphas SV that I have had waiting for it and..... to my surprize it is pretty tip heavy. Very tip heavy actually.  While the rod is amazingly light weight the balance on the 7'2'' medium, at least, is poor.  I have $100 rods that are very well balanced and I am shocked at the tip heaviness of this rod when paired to even a 6.2 oz reel.  It is as if weight reduction was placed at a higher priority than blance.  I would like to add a bit of weight to back of the rod to balance it out so if anyone could point me in the right direction of some slide on butt thing or a way of removing the rear butt section to insert weight into the blank, then that would be great. 

 

Others consider the balance of these rods to be very good so perhaps this is just an issue with the 7'2'' M.   

 

I think the issue is that you put a Daiwa reel on a Shimano rod...easiest diagnosis ever.

[cottny27]

The Zodias is an expensive rod correct??  I'd do quarters and a furniture end cap so it won't damage anything.  I personally drill a small hole in the butt and drive in a Tungsten flipping weight.  Its not very noticeable and doesn't add length to the butt.  Of course, my rods aren't $300-500 and I don't plan on returning them.  

[smalljaw67]

What are you using the rod for?  Balanced rods are great for lift and drop presentations but most everything else is tip down for me and I prefer a rod with a little bit more in the tip, not much but a little tip heaviness works well on reaction type presentations.

[new2BC4bass]

I put a 5.7 oz. reel on a 7' MF Techna AV and noticed right away it was tip heavy.  Once on the water I didn't notice a thing.  Yup.  I'm clueless.    Only thing I paid attention to was my casting and reeling.

 

[Preytorien]

16 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I put a 5.7 oz. reel on a 7' MF Techna AV and noticed right away it was tip heavy.  Once on the water I didn't notice a thing.  Yup.  I'm clueless.    Only thing I paid attention to was my casting and reeling.

 

I haven't ever understood the point of a perfectly balanced rod/reel. Once I'm on the water I'm like you, I cast and retrieve, and despite being on the water all day, I don't notice any fatigue, especially none that would be caused by an unbalanced setup. My outfits are somewhat balanced, but all seem to be a bit heavy at the tip. If anything I could see a tip being a bit heavier as an advantage when you're casting, much like adding weight to the end of a baseball bat. I'm sure I'll find out soon enough the pros/cons of a balanced outfit, but I haven't yet seen the light for myself.

[cottny27]

The benefit is in the casting.  It makes it seem effortless..a flick of the wrist.  Also, draggin a t-rig you are actually dragging the weight of the lure and not the weight of the rod too.  On jerkbaits, flicking the wrist is much easier with a neutral balanced setup.  Try it, you'll see the light.  Take a balanced setup and unbalanced setup fishing.  Its very noticeable.  

[bmlum415]

i have 2 zodias 172MH and the balance is perfect with the shimano core and metanium. I can't speak for the 172m though.

 

[cottny27]

bmlum, where does it balance at?  If a 7'2"M doesn't balance then a 7'2"MH is going to be even worse off.  Where is the balance point on the rod?  Rippin Lips posted a pic of a Powell(I believe) that balanced right above the reel nut which is impressive for not being custom.  Where do you guys hold your rods on the blank?