What's the newest reel with the TW that you've tried? Because i wasn't a fan either, the steez 2016, and how wide the reel was in the front, is the reason i disliked it, but newer models, this isn't at a thing whatsoever. You try a 21 zillion, the newst steez, newest alphas, the newest tat 100/200, steez ct, etc, and they're perfectly comfy.

I purposely went out into the garage last night to hold a rod/reel combo.  because of this thread. 

 

I dont palm reels!!!  I just ride my thumb along the top and the rest of my hand is on the rod grip.  

 

I never pondered my grip, ever.  

41 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I purposely went out into the garage last night to hold a rod/reel combo.  because of this thread. 

 

I dont palm reels!!!  I just ride my thumb along the top and the rest of my hand is on the rod grip.  

 

I never pondered my grip, ever.  

That's probably because you learned with a left hand reel.  Left hand reels allow the angler to develop the habit of casting and retrieving in a semi-palming grip.  This isn't inherently bad and does have some advantages when pitching and flipping.  I use both right and left hand reels and trained myself with my lefties to use a two finger in front of the trigger grip for flipping and short target casts.

 

Right hand reels force you into having seperate casting and palming grip positions since you have to change hands to transition between the two.  This is good skill to learn, even with a left hand reel, because it let's you have a casting grip that frees up wrist movement and have a palming grip that moves your hand closer to the center of mass of the rod and reel for balance.  When long casting there is more than sufficient bait flight time to switch hands with a right hand or move the left hand up into a 3 finger in front of the trigger palming grip.  There is a topic on this here:

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/267975-casting-mechanics/#comment-3184506

6 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I purposely went out into the garage last night to hold a rod/reel combo.  because of this thread. 

 

I dont palm reels!!!  I just ride my thumb along the top and the rest of my hand is on the rod grip.  

 

I never pondered my grip, ever.  

I do the same. Been doing it that way for many years 

On 11/7/2025 at 9:38 AM, FishTank said:

To me each reel I have feels a bit different, no one feeling exactly the same. My goal is to match it to its best suited technique with how the reel feels and palms in mind but most reels seem to fit for a lot different things. Sometimes I just get lucky and the rod and reel feel perfect together.  It doesn't matter if its Shimano or Daiwa. Each one has a purpose.  The only reel I have put in my hands as of late that really felt off was the new Lews Custom Pro. It looks cool but it felt weird to palm. Like it was too small to get my fingers positioned correctly.  I can't say that about the BB1 I have. It feels pretty good.  

Do you have or have you had any other older lews? 

On 11/7/2025 at 10:37 AM, Micro Module Police said:

What's the newest reel with the TW that you've tried? Because i wasn't a fan either, the steez 2016, and how wide the reel was in the front, is the reason i disliked it, but newer models, this isn't at a thing whatsoever. You try a 21 zillion, the newst steez, newest alphas, the newest tat 100/200, steez ct, etc, and they're perfectly comfy.

Steez AII is still the same frame shape as the steez 2016 isn’t it? @Micro Module Police