Winn Grips or Cork? What do you prefer?

[newyorktoiowa57]

1 minute ago, DogBone_384 said:

Kistler Mg2...

true.  And i think cashion. 

[Jigfishn10]

I guess I'm old school, cork.

[Hulkster]

me too. love Cork

[Catt]

Like cork but growing fond of Winn grips ?

[Jigfishn10]

I gotta try fishing with them I guess. More stuff to buy. ?

[Djohn]

I've always spent extra to get good cork handles. Recently I was given a couple of nice rods with Winn grips and I find myself using them more often the not.

[Mobasser]

I like cork

[LionHeart]

7 hours ago, MAN said:

Just remember that polyurethane grips dampen vibration so there will be some sensitivity lost. You can help compensate that with an open blank reel seat. Its all personal preference.  I am a fan of cork myself but have many Winn Grip and Chinese PU gripped rods because its the in thing right now. I do think these grips have peaked though in my personal opinion.    

I have often pondered this.  Then again, how much of your hand actually touches the handle when you fish?  I'd submit nearly none for most guys/gals.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

To me grips are more aesthetic than functional. I’m either palming the reel or holding the seat and stem with very little contact with the grip. 

[Bassin_Harrison]

I think I am going to go with cork for now, full handle, because if it starts to deteriorate I can always order winn grips (not the wraps) and watch a Youtube video on how to install it. Or just send the rod in. Either way I can replace the cork easy enough later on. 

 

What exactly do you request to make sure you get a quality cork? Like AA or AAA or just say cork? This is my first time doing this. 

 

Thanks for all the replies! 

~Harrison

[CrankFate]

3 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I gotta try fishing with them I guess. More stuff to buy. ?

Baitmonkey warning ⚠️

[MickD]

An easy way to find out if you like the way Winn's fish is to spend $10 for a  Winn grip tape and put it on one of your rods that has deteriorated cork.  You fix one rod and get experience with Winns.  the tape will feel just like a new Winn grip.

2 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I’m either palming the reel or holding the seat and stem with very little contact with the grip. 

Exc for casting a baitcaster?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

28 minutes ago, MickD said:

An easy way to find out if you like the way Winn's fish is to spend $10 for a  Winn grip tape and put it on one of your rods that has deteriorated cork.  You fix one rod and get experience with Winns.  the tape will feel just like a new Winn grip.

Exc for casting a baitcaster?

Ya right. Even then just the heel of your hand is on the grip. Not to say it’s completely irrelevant just not a high priority. 

[EGbassing]

3 hours ago, LionHeart said:

I have often pondered this.  Then again, how much of your hand actually touches the handle when you fish?  I'd submit nearly none for most guys/gals.

Generally two of my fingers are on the grip, two are on the exposed blank that my Lew's Carbon Fire has, and the fifth is on the top of the reel. That's just me though.

[microotter]

Can the winn wrap be easily removed if one doesn’t like it?

[LonnieP]

I prefer cork

[craww]

Cork, more for aesthetics- but as said the harder eva is also fine for me. All the rods Ive seen w/winn grips have had too much obnoxious writing all over them for my tastes. Same goes for the reel handles. To my eye the reel knobs are an eyesore also, they just look out of place- but that may be due to the “louder” colors that seem to get used more. 

[S Hovanec]

I prefer natural cork and composite and burl cork.  You can do so much more with that material than the Winn stuff.

[blckshirt98]

I prefer the feel of Winn grips but I have concerns about durability.  My brother uses Winn grips on his golf clubs and those things wear out and need to be re-wrapped fairly often.  If it's a rod that's going to see heavy use I'd go with cork until we see more feedback on the durability of the Winn grips on fishing rods.

[Bluebasser86]

Cork is my least favorite rod handle material. Winn grips or EVA foam is what I prefer. 

[deadadrift89]

Full cork for me, I can get a better casting grip with them compared to split. Don't care for the feel on Winn either

 

[Joshua van Wyk]

I prefer cork, I dont mind eva but it gets dirty really fast which drives me crazy as lm obsessed with keeping my gear in perfect condition.

[Heartland]

Cork

[LionHeart]

On 3/21/2019 at 9:12 PM, MickD said:

An easy way to find out if you like the way Winn's fish is to spend $10 for a  Winn grip tape and put it on one of your rods that has deteriorated cork.  You fix one rod and get experience with Winns.  the tape will feel just like a new Winn grip.

Exc for casting a baitcaster?

Sensitivity is the last thing on my mind when I cast.

[MickD]

1 minute ago, LionHeart said:

Exc for casting a baitcaster?

I was asking about a previous post in which it was mentioned that the hands are not on the grips much.  I think casting is the best application for Winn grips or tape.  Keeps the rod stable in the hand.  Tacky under all weather conditions.  I would think they would be ideal for heavy duty rods like muskie rods.

 

I have Winn's on my pitching rod and really like them.