Full cork or split cork?

[gim]

I've noticed that a lot of rods now come with split cork rather than full cork handles.  I've got rods with full cork and some with split cork and I don't really notice that much of a difference.  Which one do you prefer?

[roadwarrior]

Split grip just looks soooo much cooler!

 

[Log Catcher]

All of my rods have the full cork grip and I hope it stays that way. I don't even like the looks of the split grips.

[Teal]

I could really go with either. I like cork over EVA FOAM

[S Hovanec]

I prefer full grips, but on my drop-shot rods, I use split because no put the weight keeper behind the front grip, in the split.

[Jig Man]

I am looking for a rod.  I have found several that would be perfect if they didn’t have split grips.  They remind me of artificial limbs.

[spoonplugger1]

It was really not intended to be a big thing, a split grip, when built right, unlike many production grips nowadays,  was lighter and cheaper to produce. They didn't become "cool" till years after custom builders and their tournament anglers had won a bunch on money using them. The grips have gotten so large the benefit is gone.

This forum is all about building your rod the way you want, NFC has their carbontex grips on sale for half price, makes them lighter than just about anything and possibly cheaper than anything except EVA grips.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I prefer full grip from an ergonomics standpoint.  The ability to add more decorative aspects to the split section is attractive to both the custom rod builder and buyer.  Other than aesthetics, I see little advantage to a split grip.

[GTN-NY]

Reviving an old post because I was thinking a lot about this lately. 
Because most of my rods are older they are full cork/foam grips. Well I bought a St Croix Victory and Legend Tournament casting rods last fall and finally used them a couple weeks ago. Wow I don’t like split grips. They are jus so uncomfortable for me to cast. 
What’s your feeling on this?

[MN Fisher]

Just now, GTN-NY said:

What’s your feeling on this?

I actually prefer split-grips to full grips...can't explain why.

[gim]

11 minutes ago, GTN-NY said:

What’s your feeling on this?

I guess I haven't really noticed a difference in comfort.  I grip my rod n reels right near the reel seat area anyways so the lack of cork further down the rod is kind of a moot point for me personally.  What I did notice is that some of the rods now don't have cork ABOVE the reel seat.  That missing cork I am not a fan of.  There was a couple times last season when I tied into a sizable pike and when it would go on a run and peel line out, I used my reel hand (which is my right) to brace the rod there with more leverage.  On older rods, its a lot easier to grab the cork.  Well, on some of these newer ones, there is no cork there and it can be a slippery place to grab now.

[Deephaven]

To me it depends on the presentation and casting action.  For anything I tuck under my arm I like full cork, for anything that I want the longest casts possible I want full cork, for the rest I don't need the extra weight and have them built with split.

[bowhunter63]

I still like full cork grips , I have gotten used to them over the years and there more comfortable to me. Plus it like the way they look. 

[casts_by_fly]

18 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I guess I haven't really noticed a difference in comfort.  I grip my rod n reels right near the reel seat area anyways so the lack of cork further down the rod is kind of a moot point for me personally.  What I did notice is that some of the rods now don't have cork ABOVE the reel seat.  That missing cork I am not a fan of.  There was a couple times last season when I tied into a sizable pike and when it would go on a run and peel line out, I used my reel hand (which is my right) to brace the rod there with more leverage.  On older rods, its a lot easier to grab the cork.  Well, on some of these newer ones, there is no cork there and it can be a slippery place to grab now.

 

I prefer not to have anything in front of the reel.  No matter what lure I'm fishing, I will palm the reel and have my index finger on the blank.  Cork just gets in the way or makes me reach further out to do it.

 

On the back end, I don't mind either.  For a pitching rod or a 'one hand casting' rod it makes no difference at all since the second hand never touches the rod.  If I want a power casting setup then a full cork is better but I can work either way.  Most of my rods are split since most of my rods are falcons but I have a bit of both.

[NavyToad]

First time I saw a split cork rod I thought it was a gimmick and I still think that.

I have one split cork Dobyns DC734 refurb that I like just fine, but I prefer full cork. All my other rods are full cork.

[GTN-NY]

Yeah it’s when I’m casting and use two hands that I don’t care for the split

[Jig Man]

I only have full cork and don’t see a split in my future.

[ATA]

I personally like the full cork because of grip on them. But sometimes I force to choose split cork, Like all spinning gloomis Conquest SJR are split cork and because I love the rod, I have them with split handle and using them and also I am ok with it.

[padlin]

4 hours ago, GTN-NY said:

Reviving an old post because I was thinking a lot about this lately. 
Because most of my rods are older they are full cork/foam grips. Well I bought a St Croix Victory and Legend Tournament casting rods last fall and finally used them a couple weeks ago. Wow I don’t like split grips. They are jus so uncomfortable for me to cast. 
What’s your feeling on this?

I bought a rod for my grandson a couple weeks ago, it was a split grip. I've tried it for myself on my last 2 outings by myself, don't care for the feel while casting at all. Maybe I'd get used to it if I stuck with it, but why bother, been a long time since I worried about looking cool.

[MikeK]

Like for casting rods but not for spinning rods because I hold them differently for 2-handed casting.

[casts_by_fly]

I just spent 6 hours or so as a back seat angler on my off side and pitching from 10’ to 75’.  The rear grip did not matter. 

[MickD]

I prefer split, almost always using a two-handed wrist-only motion due to shoulder problems, works great.  I like split because the butt knob gives a really secure, comfortable object to hold onto.

[CrashVector]

I have no preference either way.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

On 5/11/2022 at 3:04 PM, GTN-NY said:

Yeah it’s when I’m casting and use two hands that I don’t care for the split

Ironically this was the real reason for split grips originally. The idea being the short butt grip had a better and more consistent grip for two handed casting. On modern production rods it’s all about saving material costs and maybe aesthetics in some cases. Of course they to market them As an innovation. 

[KCFinesse]

I'm sure someone who builds more than I can speak more intelligently on this- but at some point, quality full corks are going away. It seems like the real cork market has been going crazy of late! I'd think the production rod market will start headed to lower quality carbon fiber and split grips almost exclusively...

 

-Jared