45 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 The Recoil Guides were way better when it came to sensitivity.

 

   Recoil guides are extremely low mass compared to most other guides that have ceramic inserts. I say "most" because I haven't compared them (directly or indirectly) to Torzites.

   The difference in mass changes sensitivity ...... a lot.         jj

I find this thread fascinating. I'm a new rod builder so everything is a mystery to me. In my other hobbies I really like to get into the nitty gritty differences between products so rod building is no different. 

 

So is there kind of an optimum guide train build for bottom contact sensitivity where maximizing casting distance is irrelevant? I'm still researching what I want to put on my X-rays and maximum feel is important to me but I won't be casting very far. Mostly pitching to nearby targets.

 

I've never had pure stainless guides groove on me or fail. But is their lack of insert decreasing sensitivity because they don't have that extra hardness? Even if they are lighter in weight because they don't have the inserts?

As noted a good builder can put all the factors together to optimize casting performance based on the exact reel, line type and size plus rod length, power and action.

The 1st guide location is based on the rod type spinning or casting, the reel size and line. Off the self rods can only place guides based on averages, a custom build can optimize the guide train to keep the line going straight through the guide train without hitting the rod blank slowing down the cast. When trying to the o/a weight down every gram adds up. Today’s micro guide train on 7’ rod use 9 guides, the least expensive component that can impact overall casting performance. If you tend to drop your rods or step on them high end guides will not help, they are light weight and fragile. The rod builder is key to success if they know exactly how you use your rods.

I have been using custom build casting rods for 45 years with various guide design and rings during that time period and always insisted on state of the art guide trains. To be honest the lighter and smaller optimum placed the guide train is the better rods perform regardless of materials used at that time period. 

Tom

8 hours ago, WRB said:

If you tend to drop your rods or step on them high end guides will not help

 

    Tom, sometimes I think you're watching me fish!    ???      jj