I took a LONG hiatus from fishing due to grad school and career stuff.  When I restarted fishing earlier this year I found that the typical pistol grip handle had been displaced by longer split grip rod handles.  I understand the benefits of the longer split grip handles for many use cases, but for UL/BFS I don't see the benefits.  But the market has spoken.  I'm having a custom UL casting rod built on an old Fenwick pistol grip casting handle.  Is there a reason why the modern split grip handles are better for UL/BFS casting stuff?

I think the newer longer grips are better for longer rods.  The pistol grips were used when rods were typically  shorter, like 5 feet instead of 7.  But there is no reason why a new custom rod based on a pistol grip will not work if that's what you want.  I would be hesitant to do one of longer length rods without mocking it up and trying it.  

The split grip has the blank open, so you can feel the other end of your line. The pistol grip, which I still have, acted like a shock absorber. I do not get the same feel from my old rods like my new ones. Also, rod technology advances contribute to this. MikeD nailed it on handle/rod length.

The pistol grip was replaced by longer straighr grips.  The split grip started with custom rod builders in the late '90s to save weight, and a few years later major manufacturers took notice.  As Mick said, pistol grips aren't condusive with today's longer rod lengths. 

18 hours ago, QED said:

... Is there a reason why the modern split grip handles are better for UL/BFS casting stuff?

 

With a modern reel seat and split grip, you're touching the blank directly with your index finger, little finger, and part of your palm.  The taper cork is at least as comfortable as the old pistol grip. 

What you may not get is how important your little finger contact is with feel - it's rarely part of your grip, and always part of your finesse. 

 

When my friend was complaining about a rod that didn't transmit feel, I gave my ML as the example rod that feels every blade of grass. 

 

 

Next on my rod list will be a custom Carbon Mag from Waterloo Rods.  It will definitely have split grip so I don't waste the light weight with dampened feel from a full-cork grip. 

 

of course if you want to OP a question and then answer it...

Actually y'all it was straight grips then pistol grips then back to straight grips now it's split grips.

 

For years straight grips have had exposed blanks allowing contact with the blank.

 

Never liked pistol grips for anything even perch jerking. I want two hands on the rod for casting if necessary & two for controlling fish. 

The split grip absolutely has an advantage for casting distance and for hook setting leverage if you jam the proximal end against your torso.  For UL/BFS fishing, I cast with one hand and palm the reel on retrieve, so I find the extra grip length (in the split grip case) superfluous and even unwieldy.  But to each his/her own...

Hard to cast with two hands with a pistol grip.  I never did like pistol grips for that reason.  Rods made for other species of fish, never went down the pistol grip road.  I doubt they will ever be popular again.  I don't miss them, but if you like them than that is what matters.  I have been out fished by a man with a pistol grip rod and a Zebco 33 for a reel.  I new better than to give him my opinion of pistol grip rods. 

BFS rods are light weight. Pistol grip handle will double the overall rod weight defeating the goal. The rod builder could in concept make a pistol grip that is built like a short Trigger grip handle. The issue is the handle will be straight on the blank and not off set downwards for proper wrist movements.

Eagle Claw* had a cork pistol grip rod  with a sculpted in a pistol shape that was built with a through rod design. Looked good but very uncomfortable to cast one handed.

I grew up fishing pistol grip rods and can’t see any reason to go back. 

Tom

*BPS offers a Micro Lite 4 1/2” UL pistol grip rod that looks like the Eagle Claw design.

My Major Craft trout rods (Finetail and Troutino) have something like pistol grips on them, but they are under 5' long.  The longer models use a longer straight grip like any other modern rod.  Even when bass fishing with BFS, I tend towards rods of 6' or less as I like the range of motion that comes with one-handed casting.  Using two hands feels much more restrictive to me.  

 

 

 

I still use old boron pistol grip rod on occasion.

Here's my range of BFS rods. 

 

Stream L

would be a stretch to call it pistol grip

 

Bass all-range, Inshore ML

 

Shore light game all range

 

Here's my (now grown) daughter fishing a pistol-grip Eagle Claw Featherweight UL with a cork pistol grip and Zebco UL-1.  Caught Many fish. 

 

When we made the step up to light game XUL and UL spinning 13 years ago, it was a big step up. 

 

I fished Lew's Speed Stick, Fenglas Lunkerstik with rubber pistol grips (gave away a Browning Silaflex to a buddy for Abu 170 spincast). 

Falcon Glass was another big step up. 

I remember when pistol gripped rods became popular. I tried them a couple of times and never liked them enough to buy one.

 

One of my buddies has a few left in his rod racks, but never uses them. He tried to sell me a couple of them many years ago for little or nothing, but I refused and laughed at him.

 

I've got a Daiwa pistol grip rod from the late 70's and BPS pistol grip from the early 90's.  They are easier to hold in cold weather with gloves on, but you better not have any wrist issues when you use one.

Regardless of claims, a split grip in modern form is an aesthetic and material saving move. Full grips do not deaden feel nor restrict casting distance.  Any slight weight saving is in the least critical section. They’re 100% preference. 

15 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Regardless of claims, a split grip in modern form is an aesthetic and material saving move. Full grips do not deaden feel nor restrict casting distance.  Any slight weight saving is in the least critical section. They’re 100% preference. 

Although I’m partial to split grips, fell in love with the look after seeing and purchasing a Mitchell Fulcrum rod (endorsed by Roland Martin) which I still own and use?, I own both split and full grips in Winn, Cork & Eva and love them all equally. But nice to see a rod builder chime in with an explanation.

I think rod users know more about what they like and why than rod builders. 

 

 

A full cork grip is comfortable and great for two-hand casting. 

The exposed blank of split grip transmits more feel in places you don't normally think about, the tapered back grip is comfortable, and the lightest way to build a rod with a grip. 

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful input.  You've all pointed out some interesting decision variables.  In the end, our personal decisions depend on how we assign weights to those decision variables so I'm going to continue using both pistol grips AND split grips, depending on use context.