What is the main purpose of winding checks? What will or can happen if they are not used on a bass rod?

They're just for looks..........If you've done a good fit job on your foregrip they aren't necessary. Just a personal thing.......

Ray

winding checks, as i see them, are an oops item. In my experience, if all goes right you don't really need them at all. Some people like to use them as a decorative peice. Basically, if the cork or handle is not bored perfectly to the diameter of the blank, there is a gap that is not desirable where the front of the cork is. That is what a winding check is used to cover up. For my lighter fly rods, winding checks are basically needed because I have a hard time finding cork that is a smaller diameter than the blanks.

these are just my opinions, maybe some other people on the site have different opinions.

steve

while winding checks are a functional item i feel that they provide a nice visual transition between the hardware of the rod and the cork handle. i think they add a nice visual element in our "composition".
i think most will agree that rod building can be a form of visual expression. it is both art and craft. the craft is the ability to create a highly functional fishing instrument. the art is in the individual expression that differentiates one persons creation from another. if you look at the photo section it is obvious that this expression goes far beyond any functional requirement. look at the winding checks and thread work of a mark janeck (and many others) and you will see what i mean. making these instruments in a unique way not only provides a form of expression for the maker but it elevates the spirit of the user.

oops, meant to say they are NOT a functional item.