Is there a traditional direction for putting a name on a rod ie. towards the tip ?

Douglas,
Good post!!! Yes, it is called personal preference. While possibly insignificant to most, your question has plenty of merit. While the vast majority of inscriptions / decals read from buttt to tip, that is opposite to what the typical, right-handed angler sees when holding the rod. Although I have admittedly following-the-norm with the “butt-to-tip” read orientation of inscriptions / decals, it certainly makes sense to reverse that so that it reads easily for the angler. It is odd that you mention it because I have recently been thinking of reversing my inscription orientation to accommodate the predominant right-handed angler (tip to butt). I am anxious to learn of any reason why an inscription needs to read one way or the other rather than personal preference. Splitting hairs? = most definitely, but isn’t that what rod builders do?

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

I actually use both - I have the rod specifics reading from the butt-to-tip anh my label (or a customer's custom label) on the opposite side reading from the tip-to-butt

Over the years, I have almost lettered from the tip to the butt for the name of an owner.

For the very reason that Mark points out.

A right handed person grabs his rod in his right hand, and then glances down at the rod. Normally the tip of the rod will be brought across his body and into his line of vision. This means that the tip of the rod is on the left and the butt is on the right.

i.e. When a person reads a book one reads - when reading english - that one reads from left to right.

So, if holding the rod in front of you with the tip on the left side, and the butt on the right side it is self evident that the writing should start on the tip side of the rod and go toward the butt end of the rod.

Your choice.

Enjoy.

When you're looking over a rod, whether reading the specs on the rod decal, or reading any inscriptions that may be on the rod, aren't you holding the rod by the butt and reel seat area? I would orient any such media where it is most easily read, left to right.

As the majority of people are right handed, unless you had a specific request to the contrary, I would think you would want it to read from butt to tip.

Douglas,

Your question has merit and as expected the response will be mixed and all for valid reasons.

If I hold the rod in my right hand and read left to tight it will be tip to butt.

If I hold the rod in my left hand and read left to tight it will be butt to tip.

So, you have to filter through the responses and do what you are most comfortable with, but the bottom line is, you should do what the end user (customer) wants.


Have fun

It’s personal preference. I always write from butt to tip, with the butt to my left. I just like it better that way.
Norm

I am attempting a calligraphy logo right now for the first time. I save the clippings from Decal Connection, separate the backing and Scotch tape it on the edges to a paper pad with the sticky side up. The calligraphy ink adheres nicely to the surface so far. After the ink dries, I replace the backing until I a ready to apply. My problem right now is that my penmanship skills are terrible. What makes it even better (LOL) is that I have to draw or write the logo backwards.

I always go from butt to tip on logos.

When I first started I really didn't think to much about it and just started from the butt to the tip on the right side of the rod. It just looked right to me. If I put decals on the left side it is from the tip to the butt. I put my logo center to right top of the blank and the blank and line description below that, butt to tip. Where do you guys put your logo? Top center, right or left side? Very interesting subject.

For myself, since I wrap with my left hand, I have the power end of the rod wrapper on my right.

So, as I move down the rod, it is easier to wrap with the rod oriented in that direction.

As a result, the butt of the rod is to my right when it comes time to do the lettering.

So, without changing anything it is just simple and easy to letter from the tip to the but and concidentially - it works well for users to read the lettering when the rod is held in their right hand.

I love this place! I do em' all tip to butt.

Here’s a thought as well: if you put two sets of info (say rod specs and a name) do folks prefer to align the text such that when the rod is spinning in the dryer it can be read right side up continuously? Or write them such that when looking at the rod from left side it’s upright and when reading the other text on right side it’s upright.

I do generally like writing from butt to tip tho for all

Makes sense to me that the writing be easily read according to whether it’s being held in the left hand or the right. Unless the real seat has any writing or logos, then I will orient decals to match the hardware branding / lettering.

Put the name on the rod on the same side the reel handle is on. This allows the name to show if the angler has his rods stored in a vertical rod holder fixture in his home or on his boat. The name should run left to right regardless.

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