I have this reel and don't like it. I backlash way too much. Anyone else have this problem?

Nope.  I have 3 and they all work great.  Good reel for $50.  Not as smooth as my other more expensive reels but for the money when setup right they get the job done with no problems.

When I first bought mine and didn't know what I was doing I had a lot of backlash(first baitcaster). But after a lot of fondling the knobs and practicing it got better. Now it never backslashes.

I have one. It was probably my 3rd bait caster and I like it. Play with those knobs!

I picked one up as my first baitcaster a few years ago and didn't really have a problem. I threw a plug on the line and just practiced adjusting everything. Play with the knob and brakes. I would make sure the line is put on right as well because if its not it will cause a lot of backlash even if you have everything set right.

I love my black max. It was one of my first casting reels, the other was a rhino that my pawpaw gave me. I bought the black max combo at walmart, and I love the reel. If you can't figure out how to set it up, just watch bassresource's video on YouTube on setting up a baitcaster. That's how I set all of my reels up, and it's never done me wrong. I've got a buddy who's got one of the high dollar revos, and my black max is way better. Just because it's inexpensive doesn't mean it's cheap. It'll throw rattle traps, or Texas rigs a mile, but I prefer moving baits on the combo rod, because that 24 ton graphite isn't very sensitive. The only time I have a problem with birdnest is on really cold days when my line is wet and I can't feel my fingers. I use stren 12 or 14 pound original line on it. Only use 12 or 14 pound. Don't throw braid on it, because the black max hates braid. Hope this helps!

Tight Lines!

I have one still somewhere. It was my first baitcaster and I must have birds nested it a good 20 or 30 times.

That reel was what led me to this place in an attempt to figure it out. I was pretty frustrated. Got it dialed though and caught a couple fish on it and that was that.

I should sell that combo now that I think of it. It's just sitting there and somebody could be putting it to good use. I might have to put that up for grabs today. I hate when stuff goes to waste.

I bought one as a lower price temporary reel to use on a rod I got free at a tournament. It was the only cheap 'lefty' I could find at the time. I know everyone assumes that it's operator error on your part, but in fairness I will say: I had been using baitcasters for years without issue before that Black Max, and have used them for years without issue since; and that thing was a pain in the backside. To be fair to the reel, mine was a previous version, and more than likely, mine was a lemon. But I'll just put it out there that it's not beyond the realm of possibility that you are doing things just fine and your reel is a lemon too. If that's the case, get rid of it. It isn't worth the hassle.