Foam seems to be the preferred handle material for trolling rods, but I was wondering if an all burl handle would be able to stand up to the pressure of the rod holders? Since it's alittle harder, I'm wondering if it'll handle the torque, plus give the rod a bit of heftiness?

If you're talking about butt grips, you don't want any type of foam grip. Rod holders will tear them up, not to mention that if a fish hits you'll play heck trying to wedge a foam butted rod out of the holder. Use something hard - burl cork, tuff butt, wood, etc.

As far as fore grips go, burl or exotic burl would be really nice. They're extremely firm and the slight additional weight isn't going to hurt you on such big rods.

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Tom is dead on about the use of foam butts for 'trolling' rods. Long range anglers use foam butts as it is easier for the mates to handle and pass the rod around obsticles like the anchor rope. Most long range fishing is done with the angler holding the rod so rod holders don't come into play. When trolling, my style of fishing, foam butts are a pain in the 'butt'. Back when I started fishing saltwater I had some rods with foam butts and can verify just how horribly they perform in this situation. When you get a fish on the rod butt is jammed in the holder and a foam butt only multiplies this problem. Some of them are near impossible to get out of the holder if you have much drag on the reel. This is where aluminum or slick, plastic butts shine. Cork or wood will work the same. They are easily used in rod holders.

Jay

I had a jammed rod this a.m. (EVA, tube and worm/wire,30# class striped bass) it caused enough of a delay to make me nervous. Thinking about your question, I'd consider using a combination of burl and tuff butt. The tuff butt would make it easy to remove from a holder, and the burl could/would add a custom factor and "feel" to a trolling rod.

I use EVA almost every time ( I like working with contact cement in confined areas :>} ), BUT , I put a WOODEN 'rub collar' in the grip where it will ride against the rod holder. Trolling for late summer Kings on Lake Ontario puts a pretty good strain on the rod/holders ( Canon riggers,in this case), but the wood helps a ton. SO,the rear grip needs to be fitted to the angler,plus,the rod holder.
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I have some Melton Custom rods that are done similarly, have a hypalon fore and rear grip, with a aluminum sleave where the rodholer would rub against. Pretty slick, I like the concept.