Just wondering what you guys see as more popular these days for bass - walleye - panfish - trout - spinning rods, full grips or split grips? Seems to run almost 50/50 for me.

The split grips seem to sell because they "look" cool - but the full grip rods always balance a little better.

My family and friends still prefer the look of a full grip cork handle with no bling. I like the split grip because of less reaming and less weight. The rear of the grip is also a good place for the decal and a hook keep. My personal rods these days have split gripTennessee handles.
Steve

Just a preference thing. I don't think there is a real functional difference. I make all my rods with split griip. I use fewer expensive cork rings and like the feel just fine.

I prefer full cork on all rods. I cast two handed and the full grip gives me a bit more to grab onto. Plus, I like the way cork feels, it’s very comfortable.

I like the look of a split grip and it creates another area to add decorative touch to the rod with a wrap or other. For some rods a full handle may provide better balance and if it’s going in a rod holder it may be a more practical option.

Almost all bass rods are now going to split grip but walleye, trout and panfish seem to retain the full grips more.

I personally see no functional difference between the two when considering casting alone. I cast two handed, and have always grabbed towards the butt of the rod. Simple lever physics and that’s just what’s comfortable for me. I personally am not aware of anyone who does cast grabbing the middle area of the rear grip. I tend to use a min. butt grip length of 3 inches., which fits perfectly in the palm. Split grips are also much easier to ream.

Full length grips I only use if I want a more classic look or plan on using it in a rod holder

Split grips for most rods due to less reaming, placement flexibility, and less build time. If I build a rod with a 7” rear grip it’ll be full, split would look weird. If I want to stuff it under my arm for some reason, I prefer full for the bulk. If i build a boat rod for big fish and want to stuff the rod between the legs… full rear.

If it's going in a rod holder it has a full grip so it will not hang up while trying to remove it, especially under full load from a fish. The full tube rod holder built into some boat gunnels and sterns are usually fine either way.

I've built 10 casting rods, and 8 spinning rods. 4 of the 10 casting rods have split rear grips. The rest are full length. 3 of those are 6' rods, so the rear grips are only 7" long. IMO, just not enough length for a split grip set up. Of the 8 spinning rods, 3 of them have full length rear grips. The rest have split rear grips.

I do very little two handed casting with spinning gear, so really no need for a full length grip. The full length grips I do have on spinning rods are carbon fiber grips so they're more of a cool factor, than a functional factor. The casting rods I prefer a full length rear grip on rods I use for heavy cover, or for making long casts. Other wise the split rear grip is a cool factor thing.

I make the majority of my casting rods with full length grips. My wrists and elbows are worn from electro-fishing and life in general. There are fishing techniques where holding the fore grip and tucking the butt under the arm for a few minutes every hour or so keeps the angling day going. These techniques vary from crankbaits and bigger spinnerbaits to pulling Carolina rigs. There aren’t any techniques I use on a spinning rod where this factor is in play. Thus, I like split grips on spinning rods if rod holders aren’t being used. Less is better unless it serves a functional purpose. Split grips allow for infinite adjustments on length and sometimes balance. The shorter rear grip fits more precisely to the reel seat as hand reaming is never perfectly centered when spiraled sandpaper reamers are used. They track well enough, but wander a little with even the most careful progress.