What Handle Material And Type Do You Prefer?

[philsoreel]

Let's hear it.

[BASSclary]

I voted split cork grip.

In reality as long as its cork and has a very small fore grip im happy. My preference is like the falcon cara t7. Split cork, no foregrip. Very clean looking too. Not the flashy JDM looking crap.

I really hate this JDM fad where everything is foam and the ugly, flashy rods. I see the new Legend Tournaments from St.Croix in my future, or a Powell or Dobyns. They have a little bit of style but still look clean. Not some ugly looking JDM rod.

[philsoreel]

I voted split cork grip.

In reality as long as its cork and has a very small fore grip im happy. My preference is like the falcon cara t7. Split cork, no foregrip. Very clean looking too. Not the flashy JDM looking crap.

I really hate this JDM fad where everything is foam and the ugly, flashy rods. I see the new Legend Tournaments from St.Croix in my future, or a Powell or Dobyns. They have a little bit of style but still look clean. Not some ugly looking JDM rod.

I don't care if it looks like a dried-up white dog turd, ( no offense boyd duckett owners ) I want the most comfortable, sensitive, and lightweight rod I can afford.

[grimlin]

I voted as long as it's split grips. Don't care if it's cork or EVA. I like the foregrip to be missing too.Those are the two main deciding factors when I'm looking to buy a rod. It's just personal preference.

[BASSclary]

I don't care if it looks like a dried-up white dog turd, ( no offense boyd duckett owners ) I want the most comfortable, sensitive, and lightweight rod I can afford.

As do I, but foam just feels like a white dog turd, so the comfort aspect is out of the water, I think I can feel more though cork (I hold some cork because of my ergonomics), so sensitivity is better in my mind, keeping in my mind I have no scientific proof though, and I think because cork weighs more I can get a better balance. I dont care about weight because all the rods in a certain price range will generally all be in the same range. Balance is key to me.

I was just throwing out I don't like the JDM style stuff because all the rods are seeming to go to that style which I don't care for, instead of keeping what I liked. But if the foam is cheaper and a better rod for less, I can deal with it. But in the same price range and performance i'll pick up my style every time.

[Fat-G]

As do I, but foam just feels like a white dog turd, so the comfort aspect is out of the water, I think I can feel more though cork (I hold some cork because of my ergonomics), so sensitivity is better in my mind, keeping in my mind I have no scientific proof though, and I think because cork weighs more I can get a better balance. I dont care about weight because all the rods in a certain price range will generally all be in the same range. Balance is key to me.

I was just throwing out I don't like the JDM style stuff because all the rods are seeming to go to that style which I don't care for, instead of keeping what I liked. But if the foam is cheaper and a better rod for less, I can deal with it. But in the same price range and performance i'll pick up my style every time.

Sounds to me like you need to sell that BPS crap and buy a Dobyns Savvy.

[BASSclary]

Sounds to me like you need to sell that BPS crap and buy a Dobyns Savvy.

Word. Im eligible for work this summer(since the 12th) so I can get a nice lineup of Dobyns and Powell's(man I love Extra Fast tips!) with some Daiwa reels

[tracker01]

I hate foam. No fishing foam gear in my boat.

[Locked]

All this talk of white dog turds... sounds like you guys have been watching step brothers.. I agree with both of you. I'll fish a rod that looks like a white dog turd if it works, but foam grips do feel like a white dog turd. The sad thing is that I've really been looking into getting a cumara even in spite of the eva foam. I would already own one if they came with cork.

[philsoreel]

As do I, but foam just feels like a white dog turd, so the comfort aspect is out of the water, I think I can feel more though cork (I hold some cork because of my ergonomics), so sensitivity is better in my mind, keeping in my mind I have no scientific proof though, and I think because cork weighs more I can get a better balance. I dont care about weight because all the rods in a certain price range will generally all be in the same range. Balance is key to me.

I was just throwing out I don't like the JDM style stuff because all the rods are seeming to go to that style which I don't care for, instead of keeping what I liked. But if the foam is cheaper and a better rod for less, I can deal with it. But in the same price range and performance i'll pick up my style every time.

Yeah, me too. When I said, "comfortable" that included balance. I think balance is one of the most important factors in achieving high sensitivity. I was wanting all of my rods to have EVA, but the last two rods I've bought have been good cork and I love them so I'm kind of straddling the fence. I do like a split grip better.

It makes perfect sense in my mind that dense cork would be more sensitive than EVA because it's harder, stiffer. just my 2 cents.

[Locked]

Yeah, me too. When I said, "comfortable" that included balance. I think balance is one of the most important factors in achieving high sensitivity. I was wanting all of my rods to have EVA, but the last two rods I've bought have been good cork and I love them so I'm kind of straddling the fence. I do like a split grip better.

It makes perfect sense in my mind that dense cork would be more sensitive than EVA because it's harder, stiffer. just my 2 cents.

Cork just has a more solid feel.

[deep]

Cork over foam any day for me.

Split-grip vs full-grip: doesn't matter either way.

Foregrip: a big comfortable foregrip is an absolute must on my swimbait stick; there must not be a foregrip on the bottom contact baits rod(s) for me; for all other techniques, it doesn't matter.

[SirSnookalot]

Not crazy for split grip rods, material is not that important to me. Given the nature and the size of the species of fish that I catch on a regular basis rods with ample foregrips are an absolute must.

[philsoreel]

Sounds to me like you need to sell that BPS crap and buy a Dobyns Savvy.

I know I'm about to stir up a hornet's nest here, but I'm just being honest not trash talking...cheap cork is why I got rid of my month old Savvy.

[Aluma-Bass]

Have had savvy for over 1yr...no probs with cork

[Dwight Hottle]

Cork. Either full or split grip. I like both.

[Stasher1]

I see "Hang the guy that created this poll." is holding 3rd place so far.

[J Francho]

For some baits, I like a full rear grip. For others, split is fine - no real preference. I don't care about the front grip, but I prefer the threads be concealed. I don't know why they don't use rear locking real seats, perhaps it's a technical thing, but that make more sense to me. And BTW, it's cork, filled and sealed with U-40 all the way for me. I do have one custom with burl, and that's nice too.

[Locked]

For some baits, I like a full rear grip. For others, split is fine - no real preference. I don't care about the front grip, but I prefer the threads be concealed. I don't know why they don't use rear locking real seats, perhaps it's a technical thing, but that make more sense to me. And BTW, it's cork, filled and sealed with U-40 all the way for me. I do have one custom with burl, and that's nice too.

I looked up burl grips and it seems like it would be nice. Have you seen the Cashion rods that have carbon fiber grips?

http://cashionrods.com/category.php?id_category=11

[philsoreel]

I see "Hang the guy that created this poll." is holding 3rd place so far.

Yeah, they started piling in when I dared to say something negative about Dobyns.

[Fat-G]

Yeah, they started piling in when I dared to say something negative about Dobyns.

LOL, a lot of people think they are the best things ever made. I have a Champ 735 that is perfect for what I use it for, feels amazing, just no bling to add a wow factor. The DX on the other hand is a sick looking rod.

[SirSnookalot]

I've never seen a Dobyns rod, have no idea of what they are like. My local tackle shops carry very little if any bass gear.

I have read on here that they are pretty good, I'm sure they are.

[flippin and pitchin]

I did this poll about a year ago. Split grip barely edged out traditional grip. I like all cork configurations but have a preference of split grip on spinning, and full rear grip, no for grip on casting. I have to have a full rear grip for flippin/pitchin and crankbait rods. Some brands have such a small rear grip your palm ends up on the blank. It's interesting that Dobyns offers both configurations in several models.

[philsoreel]

I did this poll about a year ago. Split grip barely edged out traditional grip. I like all cork configurations but have a preference of split grip on spinning, and full rear grip, no for grip on casting. I have to have a full rear grip for flippin/pitchin and crankbait rods. Some brands have such a small rear grip your palm ends up on the blank. It's interesting that Dobyns offers both configurations in several models.

It would be awesome if all companies did that.

I wanted to also include a choice like....I prefer different styles for different applications, but I didn't want it to get so complex that a clear opinion couldn't be formed.

JF- You're dang right about some U-40. My Gloomy shakeyhead cork still looks like the day I bought it because of that stuff.

[Stasher1]

Yeah, they started piling in when I dared to say something negative about Dobyns.

I had never seen the cork on a Savvy before reading this thread, but if the example on TW is indicative of the quality of cork they use, I would've sold it too.