Full cork or split cork?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

3 hours ago, KCFinesse said:

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 

This trend has been visible for a while now. I expect it will accelerate given the current state of the world 

[uno]

I like full cork on casting rods and split on spinning rods. The reason is that on spinning rods I use an uplocking seat with a hidden thread cover. Can't do that without a split grip, though I think it was fenwick that had like an inch of split grip so you could unscrew it enough to take off the reel. If not for this functional benefit of split handles on spinning rods I would be all full cork.

[MickD]

9 hours ago, uno said:

I like full cork on casting rods and split on spinning rods. The reason is that on spinning rods I use an uplocking seat with a hidden thread cover. Can't do that without a split grip,

Why not?  With a seat like the Fuji DPPS it is long enough so that reels can be installed and removed without the nut having to go beyond the seat end.  So from there back it can be solid cork.  Or whatever.  Am I missing something?  

[WC53]

Split grips wobble in the rod holders, drives me nuts 

[uno]

11 hours ago, MickD said:

Why not?  With a seat like the Fuji DPPS it is long enough so that reels can be installed and removed without the nut having to go beyond the seat end.  So from there back it can be solid cork.  Or whatever.  Am I missing something?  

I'm talking about covering the threads with something like a fuji KDPS. You can't cover all the threads without a split grip on an uplocking spinning seat. Casting or any other downlocking it just slides above the reel seat and works fine. Basically I dislike exposed reel seat thread and design all handles to avoid them. For an example of what I like, look at the reel seats on the high end loomis spinning rods (GLX and above).

[J Francho]

For cranking and big swim baits I like a full rear grip. Anything else, it doesn't matter. 

[N Florida Mike]

On 5/17/2022 at 10:09 PM, uno said:

I like full cork on casting rods and split on spinning rods.

I like the  opposite on spinning . I do a LOT of skipping with spinning and I can control it so much better with full cork.

I honestly dont mind either one on casting, 

[Chris Catignani]

I like a full grip on shorter handles.

[padlin]

I wrote above that I didn't care for the split grip, yesterday my grandson and I went out on a Bass Raider, in close quarters the split grip I had along worked great. I got much greater distance with minimal movement. After this experience I think I'm going to pickup a Victory or similar as the cheap split I have has no sensitivity to it, it'll be my Raider Rod.

[MickD]

On 5/18/2022 at 7:06 PM, uno said:

For an example of what I like, look at the reel seats on the high end loomis spinning rods (GLX and above).

I see what you mean.  I like up locking too, and do it this way.  The threads at the rear could be covered, but diameter would increase.  With this setup they are out of the way of the hands so much that I don't notice them.  

[uno]

That's a fine looking rod. Is that finish epoxy over the composite cork or something else?