What does handle tuning do?

[MOJOBA55]

I was just wondering when there was a thread where everyone was showing off their tackle I realized that a lot of members have changed/tuned their handles and knobs. Are there any reason to do it especially when it's about 100 bucks for the handles and 100 bucks for the knobs? I was thinking maybe it was lighter? Any help would be appreciated.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

It depends on the circumstance. Some handles have more bearings, are different lengths and materials which may trim weight or provide a smoother feel. Knobs can be of other material or smooth vs. textured. Some changes are for personal preference alone.

[Big Bait Fishing]

i am putting a REVO Skeet Reese handle on my REVO SX . i like a longer handle on my reels , my SX is the 7.1:1 high speed , so now with the longer handle it is more like a 7.3:1 -7.4:1 . i had had a bass pro shops "power handle" on the reel , but it did not fit as good as i wanted it , plus i went to tighten it up when the bps handlke was on and i stripped the main shaft and mainshaft nut so i just got all the parts (the skeet reese handle , main shaft , handle nut , handle nut locking ring and the screw for it ) it cost me $31.00 shipped to the door !!! as far as the BASSTAR and ZPI handles go , maybe if i was putting the reel in a collection , i can think of plenty of baits i would rather get than buy a $100.00 handle !!!!

btw, the Skeet Reese handle has the same paddle handles as the REVO TORO (bigger than the stock paddles )

[NorCalFishinguru]

The show off your stuff thread carbon handles and cork knobs are mainly for aesthetics but yes, they do decrease weight as well. Swept handles (where they're kinds bent inward) can provide easier cranking and less wobble.

[The Rooster]

i am putting a REVO Skeet Reese handle on my REVO SX . i like a longer handle on my reels , my SX is the 7.1:1 high speed , so now with the longer handle it is more like a 7.3:1 -7.4:1 . i had had a bass pro shops "power handle" on the reel , but it did not fit as good as i wanted it , plus i went to tighten it up when the bps handlke was on and i stripped the main shaft and mainshaft nut so i just got all the parts (the skeet reese handle , main shaft , handle nut , handle nut locking ring and the screw for it ) it cost me $31.00 shipped to the door !!! as far as the BASSTAR and ZPI handles go , maybe if i was putting the reel in a collection , i can think of plenty of baits i would rather get than buy a $100.00 handle !!!!

btw, the Skeet Reese handle has the same paddle handles as the REVO TORO (bigger than the stock paddles )

Not trying to be difficult but how does changing the length of the handle change the ratio at all??  The spool will still only rotate 7.1 times for every one turn of the handle regardless of length.   That's a function of gearing alone. 

[SDoolittle]

i am putting a REVO Skeet Reese handle on my REVO SX . i like a longer handle on my reels , my SX is the 7.1:1 high speed , so now with the longer handle it is more like a 7.3:1 -7.4:1 . i had had a bass pro shops "power handle" on the reel , but it did not fit as good as i wanted it , plus i went to tighten it up when the bps handlke was on and i stripped the main shaft and mainshaft nut so i just got all the parts (the skeet reese handle , main shaft , handle nut , handle nut locking ring and the screw for it ) it cost me $31.00 shipped to the door !!! as far as the BASSTAR and ZPI handles go , maybe if i was putting the reel in a collection , i can think of plenty of baits i would rather get than buy a $100.00 handle !!!!

btw, the Skeet Reese handle has the same paddle handles as the REVO TORO (bigger than the stock paddles )

Not trying to be difficult but how does changing the length of the handle change the ratio at all?? The spool will still only rotate 7.1 times for every one turn of the handle regardless of length. That's a function of gearing alone.

I was wondering the same thing!

[uicdent11]

I pm'd him about the same thing. He explained to me that he has run a test with the new handle and got 32 IPT. I actually remember a discussion about this a couple months ago and we concluded that it did not make a difference. Who knows I guess. 

[Big Bait Fishing]

after  uicdent11 pm'ed me about this , i went to my garage and did a test , 5 times actually , and i got 32" per turn . btw , the line was 30 lb. power pro , if that matters .

[Fishing Rhino]

Longer handles increase leverage.  The knob will travel further per revolution on a longer handle.  The circle produced with a longer handle has a longer radius, and therefore a longer circumference.  Circumference of a circle = 3.146 X the diameter.

Easy to envision, if you imagine the handle were a foot long.  Your hand will have to move faster to obtain the same RPMs for the handle.

Longer or shorter handles will produce a desired "feel".  That feel varies from person to person.

It really has the effect of reducing, not increasing the ratio.

[The Rooster]

If you mean it might slow you down due to being unable to retrieve with the longer handle as fast as with the shorter handle due to needing to make wider movements with the wrist and hand then I agree with that. For example, it would seemingly make a 7.1:1 reel behave more like a 6.x:1 reel since you can't crank line in quite as fast.

But the ratio is still the same as before, and it's a measure of how many times the spool rotates compared to one turn of the handle. 7.1:1 means just a bit more than 7 rotations per one turn of the crank, and that will never change unless you change the gears inside.

Going back to the original thought I had on this, inches per turn should not increase one bit due to increasing the handle length. Spool still rotates 7.1 times and takes in the same amount of line for those rotations as it did prior to the handle swap. Only way it would take in more or less is if the spool had more or less line wound onto it at some point, the lower it gets the less line it takes in, and vica versa, per handle turn.

Now it is possible to notice an increase in line taken in if the test performed is not exactly accurate.  You would need to mark precisely each time the starting and ending point of the one turn crank in order to make sure the spool does not over-rotate in the least.  Since the spool does turn a considerable distance for even a partial turn of the crank then I can see that if the crank were turned even as little as 1/2 inch passed the starting point (making the crank turn say 1.1 times instead of a solid 1), then the spool might take in an extra 3 inches of line for that extra distance the crank turned.  The effect would be grossly misleading in conclusion.  You might measure 3 extra inches of line taken in and think it increased by simply adding distance to the crank handle.  The longer the handle is on a reel, the easier it would be to make such a mistake in testing it since you obviously do get more leverage with the longer handle.  It would be really easy to "over crank" it on the test retrieve.  Make sure you are not doing this when testing the IPT of the line intake.

Let me also say I'm sorry if I'm coming across wrong. I'm not trying to start an arguement (and as such I won't make anymore comments on this so you know I mean it). I think it's hard sometimes to convey meaning in just text words on a screen. What might sound like I'm being sharp tongued here is really meant just to explain the science behind my thinking. Sorry if I offend anyone with my typing. Not my intention. I was simply talking in physics and mechanics and explaining what I know about it, that's all.

Tight lines!!

[Fishing Rhino]

You have it perfectly. 

And you didn't start an argument.  There are only a handful of things that are not to be brought up, religion, politics, glamor photos, and a couple of types of baits, which must not be named, because to do so usually incites a riot.

Differing opinions, clarifications, or corrections are no problem, unless done in such a way as to belittle or flame another. 

[K_Mac]

after uicdent11 pm'ed me about this , i went to my garage and did a test , 5 times actually , and i got 32" per turn . btw , the line was 30 lb. power pro , if that matters .

With all due respect, put the original handle back on and re-test. Then take the handle off and re-test turning the shaft with your fingers. The amount of line retrieved in all three cases per turn of the handle shaft will be the same. I'm not sure of many things, but I am here. The length of the handle does not change the speed of the reel, only the feel.

Come on spring!! I have got to get out of this house.

[jc450r]

i am putting a REVO Skeet Reese handle on my REVO SX . i like a longer handle on my reels , my SX is the 7.1:1 high speed , so now with the longer handle it is more like a 7.3:1 -7.4:1 . i had had a bass pro shops "power handle" on the reel , but it did not fit as good as i wanted it , plus i went to tighten it up when the bps handlke was on and i stripped the main shaft and mainshaft nut so i just got all the parts (the skeet reese handle , main shaft , handle nut , handle nut locking ring and the screw for it ) it cost me $31.00 shipped to the door !!! as far as the BASSTAR and ZPI handles go , maybe if i was putting the reel in a collection , i can think of plenty of baits i would rather get than buy a $100.00 handle !!!!

btw, the Skeet Reese handle has the same paddle handles as the REVO TORO (bigger than the stock paddles )

Where did you get the handle from?