Have any of you advanced builders experimented with asymetric grips shaped specifically to conform to the hand of an individual user? Do the inherent limitations of such a grip outweigh the advantages an asymmetric grip might provide? I won't get out the rifflers without an encouraging report.

Ya know, I have been intrigued for the past 3 days with the handle on my wife's new hairbrush. It is one of those conair soft gel handle brushes. It would seem that it is a rather firm silicone around the handle that acts like memory foam and is comfortable. While it may not fit the mold of what you are inquiring about, it would be very cool to see something like this made for fishing. I may end up buying two brushes and try to steal the handles off them to put them on a spinning rod, to see how it works and if they would hold up.

One idea is there is a Tool Handle Dip that may work for coating handles ?? Maybe at Home Depot

Bill - willierods.com

Rodmaker Volume 10 #3 covered this item in depth.

RodMaker Volume 12 #5 had instructions on how to turn an oval, rather than round, grip. In some situations there is an advantage with something other than a round grip. If it allows you to exert more force against twist, with less effort, then it can be worthwhile.

As far as things like finger swells or cuts, many fishermen report them feeling great at first, but then being less than great as they attempt to move their hand on the grip over the course of a long fishing day.

Consider the shape of a standard wooden hammer handle - it's the product of hundreds of years of use and allows for great twist control with little effort and also allows for various hand positions as needed. Regardless of the surface finish, it never gets slippery or hard to hold onto.

...........

bill boettcher Wrote:
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> One idea is there is a Tool Handle Dip that may
> work for coating handles ?? Maybe at Home Depot


Bill, I used that for a few rods , its called plasti dip.
Comes in spray or brush/dip on.
A few primary colors available too.The dips mix OK and you can blend your own shades.The brush on you just keep painting onto the side you want the bulge every 15 to 30 minutes and it gets as big as you want.
Great grip surface unless you are using cut bait then its very slippery. Unfortunately my application often was for cut bait rods. I went back to Ozite carpeting for that application, no amount of fish slime gets that slipping.
The smell of an ozite handle after a season of use is a whole other story.

Tom Kirkman Wrote:
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>
> As far as things like finger swells or cuts, many
> fishermen report them feeling great at first, but
> then being less than great as they attempt to move
> their hand on the grip over the course of a long
> fishing day.


Dale Clemens said the very same thing. As the day progresses one will change grip positions every so slightly so different mussles are used
to grip the rod. If you restrict that movement with finger notches & cut-outs fatigue happens quickly and can even lead to mussle cramping.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Isn't there a television show called Unique Grips? Oh, wait, thatn's Unique Whips......


**Warning: This message may contain language that is new-aged and may be unknown to some.....aged.....folks**

Happy new year folks :)

I had a guy come in with one of those Fuji ACS casting grips. He had me grind the grip smooth.

Bill - willierods.com

Andrew Metzger Wrote:
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> Ya know, I have been intrigued for the past 3 days
> with the handle on my wife's new hairbrush. It is
> one of those conair soft gel handle brushes. It
> would seem that it is a rather firm silicone
> around the handle that acts like memory foam and
> is comfortable. While it may not fit the mold of
> what you are inquiring about, it would be very
> cool to see something like this made for fishing.
> I may end up buying two brushes and try to steal
> the handles off them to put them on a spinning
> rod, to see how it works and if they would hold
> up.

It's been done at least twice. Here's one of them.

[www.bigbearfishingrods.com]

Lance