I have an Evergreen Super Combat rod that is near 6.5 ounces, it’s quite a rod except 1 important aspect. The handle is a split grip carbon fiber & is slick as ice, even with gloves. I’m wondering if there is a solution you rod builders might recommend?

You could alway sand the handle and remove some of that finish.

But yeah...not a fan of that type of handle.
I do make my own ...but there not slick...much more texture.

You could also just try a couple wraps/stripes of electric tape.

I've make a ton of Tennessee handles with Texalium tube and graphite tube.
Though they were slick...you never noticed because the reels (spinning) were taped on.

@Chris Catignani I have definitely thought of sanding it, if I might ask, what grit would you recommend. I have it I’m sure..

I dont remember who makes it but there is a rod wrap that is almost like a baseball bat wrap.

5 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

@Chris Catignani I have definitely thought of sanding it, if I might ask, what grit would you recommend. I have it I’m sure..

I would start out with 800 or 400.

But also...it is winter and the hands are dry....try getting your hands wet and see how it feels.

I would hate to be the one to help you destroy a rod. Before you do anything...let others chime in.

If you don't mind a little bit more thickness, grip tape like you'd use on a tennis racket is very grippy and cushioned. It would add somewhere 1/16" to 1/8" in radius to the grip.

A couple things I'd try before tearing it apart would be 1. tacky grip enhancers. Cremes or sprays that give a tacky grip or 2. Tennis racquet grip wraps that advertise increased tackiness.

Scotty, my only full-carbon 2-hand butt had a traction finish, but it wasn't enough.

I also didn't like the quality of EVA on the China rod - I added X-shrink over the EVA, and a band at the front of the grip. This is the rod that was casting 1/4-oz plug to 200' for me last spring.

You’re not going to rough that up enough to do what you want. Shrink wrap or grip tape.

Myself I'm not an advocate for thinking that a smooth surface in use is somehow more likely to go flying out of your hand or is less grippy, my experience with hammers, axes, wrenches, monkey bars, jungle gyms you name it doesn't fly that way. When I'm palming a casting reel my hand isn't even on the grip, it's holding that smooth reel, spinning reels are held between the fingers in my hand, very little of the grips are held again unless you are using something like the Fuji IPS or VSS. all the new carbon reel seats are as smooth as your grips. I think you are blaming your grips bad result on the obvious visuals instead the ergonomics. That shape looks cool, doesn't mean it is cool, how many of your hammers, and axes would work well with that shape, or a screwdriver? These spinning grips are better, the taper has the biggest diameter at the butt, locking the hand in position, this is the old Lew's rod grip design, works just as well on standard pipe seats, the fore grip was the same way just more abruptly tapered. A Tom Kirkman photo.

F14,

I'd be very leary of sanding the carbon fiber. The dust is extremely bad for your lungs, skin and everything else and there is the chance of damaging the rod or voiding the warranty if you care about that. I like Bulldog's X-wrap solution or grip tape. If the X-wrap or grip tape doesn't work out you can always remove it.

Best of luck,

FM