Saying they are pointless is an ignorant statement. Bearings will help your handle knobs hold up better.

When I think of knob bearings, the last thing that comes to mind is knob longevity. I think of smooooth reeling!

When I think of knob bearings, the last thing that comes to mind is knob longevity. I think of smooooth reeling!

Bingo. It's one of the cheapest upgrades you can do and makes one of the best improvements. A few bucks and makes the reel quite a bit smoother compared to bushings.

Bingo. It's one of the cheapest upgrades you can do and makes one of the best improvements. A few bucks and makes the reel quite a bit smoother compared to bushings.

To be totally honest, I can live with all bushings or a bushing/bearing combo more so that that crappy bearing and brass nut that acts like a bushing combo that Shimano used on the Scorpion XT1500 and I presume the Curado 200E7. The bearing in that handle assembly is useless IMHO! When they use that big brass nut as a bushing, adding a bearing is not possible so a new handle is needed. My 12Calcutta 100 came with 2 bushings in each knob and at least when they are new, they are smooth reeling. Not as smooth as bearings but they are not that bad.

When I think of knob bearings, the last thing that comes to mind is knob longevity. I think of smooooth reeling!

how does having bearings in the handle knob improve reeling or would it even be that noticeable?

Saying they are pointless is an ignorant statement. Bearings will help your handle knobs hold up better.

Hogsticker didn't say having handle knob bearings is pointless...

Hogsticker didn't say having handle knob bearings is pointless...

 

I realize this. I was backing up his statement.

To me it's not very noticeable if at all on all my Daiwa's. I add the bearings because it's easy to do and I like to mess with things. Same goes with adding the bearing to the worm gear on some of the Daiwas. I think a lot of it is just in the head of the person. Oh I added bearings so it must be smoother. I have a tatula with the 2 bearings added to the worm gear and 2 more to the handle. If it wasn't for it being a different gear ratio than my other tatula's I couldn't tell you which is which.

how does having bearings in the handle knob improve reeling or would it even be that noticeable?

Have you ever used a reel with bearings in the knobs?

Have you ever used a reel with bearings in the knobs?

I can most certainly tell the difference. I've used both, the ones with the extra bearings are better, no matter what anybody says.

Ahhhh to be 16 again.

Have you ever used a reel with bearings in the knobs?

yes, and i can't tell the difference in overall smoothness. the knob itself feels nicer but that's about it for me. i don't think it's stupid to have one, because i like te 4 bearing handle on my ambassadeur. my original point was to say that like a drag clicker, it is negligible.

Ahhhh to be 16 again.

 

Ignorance is bliss my friend. I still like the stock Tats though. They look pretty solid. Sexy frame too

my original point was to say that like a drag clicker, it is negligible.

I have paid $100.00 for a handle with 2 bearings per knob for a 200.00 reel that had a handle that could not be upgraded. To me, the difference is noticeable so it's worth it.