A patent has been granted to reduce vibrations in rod blanks, and for years manufacturers - especially of fly rod blanks - have touted the addition of elastomeric materials in the rod tip and the grip portion of the blank to reduce vibration. The new wave in rod blank advertising is "sensitivity," which I believe involves the transmission of vibrations through the rod blank. Manufacturers now are promoting the lack of vibration-dampening materials in their rod blanks.
These proclaimed advantages are polar opposites. Is this the result of different requirements for fly rods vs. bait casting and spin casting blanks, or is this chiefly the product of creative advertising? I'm confused by conflicting claims about blank performance without specific reference to rod type or purpose, and I think rod builders' customers are too.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2013 09:34AM by Phil Ewanicki.

Obviously, there is a lot of advertising double-speak which is deep in hype and shallow in real world benefits. However, there is also some issue with terminology. Quicker damping of rod movement isn't really the same thing as "reducing vibration" although I suspect that's what the ad guys were getting at. Any time you make a rod lighter for the same stiffness, you make it more efficient. It will react and recover more quickly, and also transmit "vibration" better thereby making it more sensitive.

Now, if somebody believes they can add dead weight, in the form of "elastomeric materials" and make a rod react and recover more quickly, I have some beachfront property in Arizona I'd love to sell them.

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I will buy some When is the big one going to hit

More technology in a blank = higher price

Bill - willierods.com

Bill:

Google "fishing rod vibration dampening" - and brace yourself for "the big one."

I hope it says "damping" but wouldn't be surprised if it did indeed say "dampening" which means to "make wet."

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Tom:

"dampening" is the present participle of the transitive verb "dampen" which means either (1) to make wet or (2) to check, to lessen
At any rate, is reducing vibrations a good thing or a bad thing, or is magnifying vibrations a good thing or a bad thing, or does it depend upon what the rod is used for?

Neither "dampening" nor "dampen" are the correct term/s in this context. "Damp" and "damping" are the terms you want to see.

Are they damping oscillations or reducing vibrations? There is still a conflict with their marketing jargon.

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Hey Tom, don't be offering any of my real estate in my home state unless you live here or go thru me as an agent

Ron Weber

I don't think either of us has to worry about the sale.

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beach front properity does go up in value - Doooo

Bill - willierods.com

I understand what Phil is getting at - the claims, regardless of their validity, are contradictory which is no doubt confusing to those considering the purchase of these products.

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