Do you ever get used to split grips? 2024

jbmaine reply :

I'm thinking of picking up a new spinning rod and it seems most rods now are split grip. I've tried them and don't really like them. They just don't feel right to me. However it seems the selection of full cork rods is kinda slim. So I'm wondering, do you get used to split grips? Or is it just more of a love hate thing.

Thanks

Jim

DINK WHISPERER reply :

What is there to get use to? I own many of both kinds and they feel the same to me. Most of the time your hands are not in the middle section that is missing in a split grip anyways. And balance on just about any decent new rod is great in both split grip and full handle models as well.

burrows reply :

Yes

Bankbeater reply :

For a few trips I went down to the local park with just a spinnerbait on a split grip rod. After a while I finally started to get use to it.

MickD reply :

Yes, one gets used to them. I actually prefer the feel of them as the knob gives me better grip on two hand casts than the full grip. And I use full grip and split grips interchangeably on the same day and have no problems. It's a personal thing, so I cannot be certain, but I expect if you try one soon you will be not even noticing it.

Similarly, until this year, for about 70 years, I had used BC reels with right hand cranks. After a shoulder problem with some techniques I bought a left retrieve BC reel, and now it feels more natural than the right cranks.

GReb reply :

St. Croix offers both

Basically every reel I fish now is split grip. But then again I never touch the grip while fishing so it doesn’t matter

islandbass reply :

This is what I discovered about the split grip. It essentially feels like a full grip. You hand will be in contact with the top half of the split grip and neither hand would frequently touch the uncovered section, even with a two-handed cast. At least for me. With a two-handed cast, I noticed that with my bottom hand, only two fingers are used. Weird, lol!

I am indifferent to either. Besides, the fish don't know nor care.

Brad in Texas reply :

All of the above!

I'd only add that, technically, your gripping hand where your fingers are split on each side of the reel support arm . . . should never move. It stays put . . . so it spends no time down on the grip.

Your reeling hand, of course, operates the reel handle, operates the anti-reverse lever, manages the bail and often makes adjustments to the drag knob. It, too, spends little time down on the grip.

With my split grips, I am like the others where I drop my reeling hand down low for that added casting leverage. I make my cast and my hand comes back up immediately to manage the reel, the line going out.

Brad

jbmaine reply :

thanks for the input everyone. I'll give split grips another look.

FishDewd reply :

I prefer split grips for most applications, feels like I get better leverage when casting. Full grips I prefer when doing things like drifting. I have found most drift rods are full cork anyway.

Angry John reply :

Spinning no issue at all, casting depends a lot on your style. If you plam the real dont think it matters at all, I dont so the handle aft of the reel is important to me and no split.

NYWayfarer reply :

I got used to them. They look sleek compared to full cork or foam grips.

tander reply :

No. I don't like split grips. All of my rods, but one, are full cork handles. Maybe I just too old to change. The only rod that is split is my pitching rod. I throw all of my off shore fishing with two hands and I really like the way cork feels.

FrankN209 reply :

I have both. I can't tell any difference while using either of them. They both feel natural in my hands.

GateToWire reply :

Don't get used to it.....if you don't like it then go with a full grip.

I have 2 St. Croix spinning rods....one full grip and one split grip

There are so many choices out there you shouldn't have to compromise

S Hovanec reply :

I can take them or leave them. I actually prefer full cork grips because it gives me more of a canvas to do cool inlay work. That being said, my favorite dropshot rods are split grip for the sole purpose of putting the weight keeper in the split behind the reel.

Mobasser reply :

I have a split grip spin rod now. I've gotten used to it with no problem, But I still like my full cork grips better.

BaitFinesse reply :

Depends on how you cast. For guys that cast with more than one finger in front of the rods trigger by choking up on the reel will want to naturally place the other hand a little further up the rod as well. This often results in the other hand grabbing the rod on the split portion of the blank. There is no getting used to that. The only fix is to stop casting that way or to go to full grip rods.

Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :

I like split grip better just for the look, but doesn't matter full or split I don't use handle anyway. The most important is reel seat, I want low profile with a lot of bank exposed. I went back to fish some of my old rod with full Fuji reel seat and it huge and can't feel s thing with it.

LionHeart reply :

Makes no difference to me at all. One way or the other wouldn't even be considered if I were thinking about buying a rod.

Tywithay reply :

I own two split grips and they never get used. I prefer a full handle, regardless of the material.

Choporoz reply :

I'm having difficulty getting used to my full-grips.

MIbassyaker reply :

Seems to me if you have difficulty getting used to split grips, you should just fish full grips and not worry about it. Life is too short for that sort of hair-splitting.

Johnbt reply :

I prefer full cork, but don't mind using split grips too much.

Sometimes though - most of the time? - there's just no choice no matter which you prefer. I ordered 2 Conquests Monday and the 843C only comes with full cork and the 843S only comes with a split grip. They'll be here tomorrow. I'm old, Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me...

Time for another night trip to avoid the 95*F weather and miserable humidity.

Columbia Craw reply :

My preference is full rear grip but a split version is okay, especially on a spinning rod.

NH-Fishin reply :

I have always used full grips but just ordered a split grip offering...I didn't give any thought to that being an issue, I guess we shall see. As others have said, St Croix offers a good mix of both.

Spankey reply :

I primerarly fish St. Croix rods. Pretty many of them. At one time they were full cork. Now I have a 50-50 mix I guess. Handle length means something to me but really never gave a lot of thought to the split grip. If the rod feels right, balances right, I'm out the shop door with it. I've never bought a rod sight unseen or touched. I can't do that. Unless I have one identical.

OnthePotomac reply :

The split grip did seem awkward at first, but as the comment above, I cast two handed and grew to really like the "ball" for my other hand on the end of the handle. Now it is second nature to use them.

flbassmaster reply :

I prefer full cork but they have been very limited to say the least. You see way more split Grips on the market. I wonder why is that?

Scott F reply :

On 9/7/2018 at 10:19 AM, flbassmaster said:

..... You see way more split Grips on the market. I wonder why is that?

Because people are buying them. If they didn’t sell when they first came out, they’d be gone by now. They’ve shown to be popular so that’s what all the companies are putting out.

flbassmaster reply :

They need to make more full cork handles!

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

On 9/1/2018 at 10:16 PM, OnthePotomac said:

The split grip did seem awkward at first, but as the comment above, I cast two handed and grew to really like the "ball" for my other hand on the end of the handle. Now it is second nature to use them.

That was the original intent among custom builders. I think the rod companies sell them more for style and material savings. Good cork is getting scarce and expensive. Probably won't be long before synthetic materials rule the day.

Vincent_Diesel reply :

On 9/8/2018 at 12:32 AM, flbassmaster said:

They need to make more full cork handles!

I’m a new fan of the original Daiwa Tatula rods. Love the split look, I’ve been out of fishing for so long that initially I wasn’t sure what the purpose was but it has really grown on me.

Interestingly, the the new line of Tatula rods now have a full cork grip. Seems to be the trend right now. I suppose since reels are getting lighter they are offsetting the weight by adding more material in the handle area. Sorry if this has been mentioned already.

Just looking at my small collection my spinners are full cork. My baitcasters are split grip. Totally not my intent.

Fishingmickey reply :

On 9/8/2018 at 1:35 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

That was the original intent among custom builders. I think the rod companies sell them more for style and material savings. Good cork is getting scarce and expensive. Probably won't be long before synthetic materials rule the day.

This I agree is probably one of the reasons there are so many more split grip rods out. Spot on DVT.

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Do you ever get used to split grips? 2024

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