Interesting post! I have used TN style split grips mostly but lately built using the DNPSM but did not like the weight. Have to try some of the mods mentioned here. My latest spin rods will use the VSS seats with the foregrip turned toward the butt. This makes a down lock grip with no foregrip and in limited use seems to be very nice! It is also easy to put together. Here in Tennessee we use a LOT of spinning gear and my wife uses nothing but spinning for all her fishing. I tried once to get her to use a bait caster, once was enough!

Not specifically on target for spinning rods but a very good lesson learned on handle and grips on fishing rods.

Mike Harris I think you can relate to this one. -since you brought up rod wrap and tape.

A long long time ago Bobby Feazzel and I sent two demo micro rods to Brent Chapman, an Elite, one flip stick and one eight foot cranker.

We think these two rods were the first micro rods in the hands of an Elite.

The crank rod had a split Fuji seat and the flip stick was fitted with the Castaway fully exposed blank reel seat.

We got a call from Brent and he gushed about how much he loved the two rods with the little guides -

Then he says -

The absolute best thing about the two rods is the seats you guys put on the rods.

When he said that I immediately said - yep, I agree the ability to get more hand contact with the blank is a huge advantage - better bite detaction etc -

Brent said - No No you don't understand!

I like the empty space on those seats for a different reason.

The night before a tournament the group of guys I fish with spend leisure time in the hotel relaxing and unwinding getting ready for the next day on the water.

I spend my down time using Rodwrap to shape each and every grip on the rods I intend to use on the water the next day!

I am very particular about my grips and they have to be right - those seats you guys used allow me to shape them the way I want!

Duh!

So much for a lesson for an Elite pro from a custom builder!

On that note, has anyone tried the new Fuji skspm split seats? Seems like a pretty good design from what I can tell.

I just spent a week on the water and took a batson xsb822.5 with the sbss seat detailed in rod maker. I absolutely loved it. That is all i will be using on my spin rods from now on. thanks to sticks and bones for sharing that little jewel. Everybody that used the rod remarked that the handle was very comfortable