Is there any benefit to a split rear grip on a spinning rod besides reducing weight? Oh, and that it looks cool too! Thanks

I've read that the split grip aids in two handed casting. I always just assumed it was for looks and weight.

I like it for a couple of reasons besides less weight. It does help with two hand casting by giving me better feel of the rear grip area and I find when I hold a rod so that the handle us under my forearm the grip has a better fit because the cut out part is not hitting my arm like a full grip. Major advantages? No but full grips feel odd now.

The weight reduction is the major benefit. And, the more you mess with it, the more you discover that you can really shorten your sections of cork, thereby reducing weight even more. I've gotten to the point that I only have a 1.5" rear grip and a 2.5" mid-grip (casting), even less on spinning rods. I could probably cut it down even more, but turning pieces of cork that small gets a little tricky.

Weight savings aren't really why I do it; it does cut a bit of weight, but usually the weight is needed behind the reel seat. I do it just to have another place to decorate on the rod and because it looks really cool!

It is more comfortable to fish with, like Bill Tune says above, and I'll be building all of my personal rods with splitters on them from now on.

Putter
Williston, ND

I use mainly burl corks and wood which is a bit heavier that regular cork so the splits help with the weight, but weight in the butt isn't really a problem (if anything they need more weight to balance it. I with Putter looks good and gives me a place to put logo/decal, marble, wrap, etc. If desired you can have a longer grip than normal for leverage without adding weight or cost!

What it boils down to is. "It's Cool"

Mike

take a regular griped rod and try to flex it in the back (rear grip) nothing happens the split grip will flex (bend) meaning you will increase your casting distance because your rod is getting the full wip effect. It was started in europe over 20 years ago with surf rods and than all the carp rods because you needed a rod with long casting distance .
I don't use any other rods any more.
Mark Crouse- The Munich rod man

i tried it one day because i needed a rod for a trip and diddn't have enough cork to do a full casting rod grip. so after fishing with it for a week i found other than it being a little lighter.i liked it way better than a full grip.i have built many more for myself that way.i found it is very comfortable to fish with.i know where the butt is all the time while casting.i can lay my cheek right on the rod blank where it tapers off the rear butt grip when i am drifting fishing for steelhead.my forearm also lays on the rod blank and rear grip while holding the triger seat.i can also hold the rod under my armpitt with the butt grip and know it is there.like when tying knotts. i just feel i can feel everything a little better.thats what i have found with them.

If you want to maximize the "split grip" on a spinning rod...try this. I use a 2" butt section consisting of a rubberized cork butt cap and 3 standard cork rings. Place the reel seat where you want it and place one cork ring on each end of the reel seat. This decreases the overall rod weight about as much as possible. I place the reel seat in an uplocking position, so the reel is positioned forward. This allows me to contact the blank when holding the reel for increased sensitivity. Two-hand casting is also enhanced. When fighting a fish, the butt of the rod will contact your forearm...not the mid-section, nor the area directly behind the reel seat.

Have fun!

George

The split design looks cool, and helps position your hands for maximum leverage when casting.
George, I like the sound of your minimal reel seat split, but find that the heel of my hand needs to be sat on a little cork. That may be due to the downlocking setup. i find cork more comfortable than the threads of the seat barrel.