Split grip or Full grip?

[dantatro49]

Do you think the split grip rods are more sensitive than the the full grip rod? I personally think the split grip rods are a little more sensitive.When I looked at buying my frist split grip rod I was at my friends tackle shop and I asked him what the deal was with these rod are they just meant to look cool or are they more sensitive. He handed me a rod and put the tip of rod up against his adams apple by my hand being in contact with the blank I could feel the vibrations every time he said something.I really couldnt feel it with a full grip rod.So what do you guys think is split grip just another fad or is it really a more sensitive rod?

[LAO162]

I have questionned the same thing.  However, I seldom hold the rod where the blank would be exposed.  When my bait is in the water, my hand is usally on the reel handle.

Leon

[Wayne P.]

No foregrip is more beneficial than a split grip for bite detection. The forefinger can be placed againt the blank while retrieving and offer more leverage when setting the hook.

[avid]

No foregrip is more beneficial than a split grip for bite detection.

fads will come and fads will go, but there is no substitute for an expert rodsmith using superior materials.  Split grips look cool, but to assert anything beyond that is wishful thinking.

[Marc711]

I have been building custom rods for 17 years, and a split grip offers ZERO sensitivity improvement.  It's only potential advantage would be blank contact and I have never seen anyone hold the exposed blank.

I have also ben told "I like it because it lightens the rods".  Removing weight behind where you hold a rod only makes it more tip heavy, and thus less sensitive.

Removing the fore-grip has a slight advantage, as you are removing weight ahead of where you hold.

Cork is very expensive, and rod companies save a ton by using split  grips/no fore grips - and good marketing allows them to get people to jump all over it.

I am only sharing what I believe to be facts, no personal opinion.  But hey, this is fishing.  We have all week for the "have to do stuff", when fishing time comes, use what you like - if it's good quality it will catch fish.   :)

[dodgeguy]

no foregrip/split grips are a marketing thing to sell rods.the blank amplifies the strike and you feel it through the handle.hold your line and hold myour rod with a 1/2 oz jig on the floor pop the line tight.you will feel the vibration amplified in the rod handle far more than you feel it in the line.

[Raul]

It depends:

Split grip just per se adds ZERO sensitivity

Split grip without forehandle adds zero sensitivity the added sensitivity comes from you being able to put your finger on the blank cuz it ain 't got no forehandle.

Split grip with sensatouch reel seat ( yup, the ones with the hole ) adds sensitivity by you being able to touch the blank with the finger through the hole in the reel seat.

Split grip like this:

I can 't argue about that, it does add sensitivity cuz, there ain 't no reel seat, you can touch the blank with more fingers.

[njbasser]

I really don't think that split grips add sensitivity because the vibrations of the rod already reached your hand before they reach the grip. No foregrip and the sensatouch reel seat do help though because they allow more contact with the blank

[Chad.]

Do you think the split grip rods are more sensitive than the the full grip rod? I personally think the split grip rods are a little more sensitive.When I looked at buying my frist split grip rod I was at my friends tackle shop and I asked him what the deal was with these rod are they just meant to look cool or are they more sensitive. He handed me a rod and put the tip of rod up against his adams apple by my hand being in contact with the blank I could feel the vibrations every time he said something.I really couldnt feel it with a full grip rod.So what do you guys think is split grip just another fad or is it really a more sensitive rod?

I told you so....

[.RM.]

The big problem here is the definition of split grip as apposed to split seat.

The split grip is a small 3 to 4" grip behind the seat (whether exposed trigger, a full trigger, or split skeleton seat) with a 2" fighting butt. On most rods there will be about 4" to 6" of bare blank in between the rear grip and the fighting grip (butt).

The true split grip no foregrip is a weight reduction only way of building.

For those of you that think it is a fad I have been spliting grips since the early 90's. It might be a fad for the big companies, but custom builders have been into it for some years now.

As far as the amateur definition of split grip most anglers are talking about the split reel seats that have popped up this season. Like the one Raul posted. Any time the rod and reel allow the anglers fingers to come in contact with the blank adds more sensitivity to the system.

Just my .02¢ from my rod bench...

Tight Lines!!!!  

[Chad.]

The big problem here is the definition of split grip as apposed to split seat.

The split grip is a small 3 to 4" grip behind the seat (whether exposed trigger, a full trigger, or split skeleton seat) with a 2" fighting butt. On most rods there will be about 4" to 6" of bare blank in between the rear grip and the fighting grip (butt).

The true split grip no foregrip is a weight reduction only way of building.

For those of you that think it is a fad I have been spliting grips since the early 90's. It might be a fad for the big companies, but custom builders have been into it for some years now.

As far as the amateur definition of split grip most anglers are talking about the split reel seats that have popped up this season. Like the one Raul posted. Any time the rod and reel allow the anglers fingers to come in contact with the blank adds more sensitivity to the system.

Just my .02¢ from my rod bench...

Tight Lines!!!!

Okay, some good info here and someone with real experience. Is reel mech. a mook?

[dantatro49]

I have been building custom rods for 17 years, and a split grip offers ZERO sensitivity improvement. It's only potential advantage would be blank contact and I have never seen anyone hold the exposed blank.

I have also ben told "I like it because it lightens the rods". Removing weight behind where you hold a rod only makes it more tip heavy, and thus less sensitive.

Removing the fore-grip has a slight advantage, as you are removing weight ahead of where you hold.

Cork is very expensive, and rod companies save a ton by using split grips/no fore grips - and good marketing allows them to get people to jump all over it.

I am only sharing what I believe to be facts, no personal opinion. But hey, this is fishing. We have all week for the "have to do stuff", when fishing time comes, use what you like - if it's good quality it will catch fish. :)

you think cork is expensive these rod companies use so much cork the probely pay pennies for it. Cork isn't even that expensive for me or you so I don't think there doing it to save any money.

[Chad.]

So you are telling me if I bought a St. Croix ledgend tourament rod that cost about 250 it going to cost me 270 because it has a full grip. Shofftackle isnt a large rod building company like St. Croix or Lommis Shofftackle sells to rod builders not large companies so the cost is not going to be the same. >

Okay, cork is a natural products and how much cheaper and where are you going with this? Rod builders people that make custom rods save money from making split grips  some for customer preferences some for balance etc. a split grip doesn't make your rod anymore sensitive.. No fore grip maybe/yes fully exposed black reel seat yes. That 5 inch gap between the fighting butt and the rear grip NO. and i have already gone over that a more balanced rod with be more sensitive if it must be more weight in the handle!

[roadwarrior]

** MODERATOR NOTE **

Several posts have been deleted. Personal attacks will NOT be tolerated.

-Kent  a.k.a. roadwarrior

Global Moderator

[Chad.]

** MODERATOR NOTE **

Several posts have been deleted. Personal attacks will NOT be tolerated.

-Kent  a.k.a. roadwarrior

Global Moderator

Thank you for laying down the law. It was getting out of hand.

[flechero]

This thread should have been deleted, not moderated.  Lots of bad and info and assumptions made.  

[Lucky Craft Man]

I'm a little confused as to why it matters?  I have tried to fish with a Split Grip rod and did not like it at all.  I went back to full grips and will never go back.  Even if you told me that a Split Grip Rod was tested by Myth Busters and found it to be 150% more sensitive than a Full Grip, I still would use a Full Grip, because a Split Grip is not comfortable to me.  Therefore, I think it is largely a matter of personal preference and comfort, because there is no substitute for confidence on the water no matter how sensitive your equipment is.  

[Muddy]

I would rather take advice based on years of experience from an older , very experienced rod builder like Reel Mechanic, who has been fishing and building rods longer than some of the posters here have been alive. This is not said with malice or to stir things up, it just makes more sense. Dave has given me a lot of sound tips and has always been truthful, based on years of experience.

I prefer full grips, but I have very limited experience using a split grip so I am not qualified to give an opinion. EXPERIENCE not Opinions is what counts!

PS And Yes ReelMech is aka ROD and REEL MOOK! :

[.RM.]

I'm a little confused as to why it matters?  I have tried to fish with a Split Grip rod and did not like it at all.  I went back to full grips and will never go back.  Even if you told me that a Split Grip Rod was tested by Myth Busters and found it to be 150% more sensitive than a Full Grip, I still would use a Full Grip, because a Split Grip is not comfortable to me.

This is part of the point I keep trying to make. When it comes to a split grip (that is the all cork/foam section of the rod) it is for weight savings and balance help (on some rods). But with a custom builder it is all personal preference in what the customer wants in a rod. It is still a weight issue and balance thing with big rod mfg's.

When we get into split reel seats (like the one posted by Raul) then it becomes a sensitivity issue, also with exposed (ECS) seats the same thing. More sensitivity comes from more angler contact with the blank.

Yes ReelMech is aka ROD and REEL MOOK!

Thank You Muddy I think.... :-?

Still don't know what a MOOK is...

Tight Lines All!!  

[OkobojiEagle]

To veer slightly away from the sensitivity question... would a split reel seat be more apt to allow the rod to break at that point than a more conventional reel seat?

[Raul]

To veer slightly away from the sensitivity question... would a split reel seat be more apt to allow the rod to break at that point than a more conventional reel seat?

No.

[.RM.]

To veer slightly away from the sensitivity question... would a split reel seat be more apt to allow the rod to break at that point than a more conventional reel seat?

I remember when Brad Tharp and a few other builders were using MH and H Shikäri blanks building them up with hand made split reel seats (skeleton type), and testing them by tying the free end of heavy line to a tree trunk and using a sweep setting like hook sets, and the rods would fail in between the split area on the reel seat.

So to answer your question IMPO I would say YES there is a chance of the rod failing in between the sections of a split reel seat. I have tired the split seats that fuji makes (for spinning only) and have felt the rod blank flex in that area...

The number one reason why I don't build with them BC or SP rods....

Tight Lines!!!!

[Chad.]

I would rather take advice based on years of experience from an older , very experienced rod builder like Reel Mechanic, who has been fishing and building rods longer than some of the posters here have been alive. This is not said with malice or to stir things up, it just makes more sense. Dave has given me a lot of sound tips and has always been truthful, based on years of experience.

 I prefer full grips, but I have very limited experience using a split grip so I am not qualified to give an opinion. EXPERIENCE not Opinions is what counts!

PS And Yes ReelMech is aka ROD and REEL MOOK! :

LOL I feel that was aimed at me ;D