Large grip rod handles??

About 10 years ago now I had a little incident with a table saw on three fingers of my rod hand, and well my years in the trades are catching up to me a lil bit. This late winter/spring really has been causing some issues with this hand. I don’t want to switch hands for holding the rod because I actually just switched due to running a tiller it is much more convenient. Reaching out here to gather some info if there are any such products that are out there that enlarges the grip area on a rod. It would be tough without adding weight but man would it be awesome. Most all my work stuff I just throw on hockey tape to get good grips but can’t imagine that would work well on an expensive rod. Specifically my Rage rod is so dang skinny where you grip it, would love to have it bigger. I am a pretty young dude yet at 29 but if I am having some issues now the years ahead could be worse and with work one can just tough it out but when it comes to fishing I can’t stop pitching plastics every 2min for a few seconds to get the blood flowing again. Been through the whole carpal tunnel thing years ago, which this is not, much different and localized and just something I need to work around. Any suggestions other than medical stuff would be groovy.

There are some very good custom rod builders on here that I know of from older posts and would have went to you directly but want to see if anyone has some homemade cheap remedies that they use bc the Red Green show could have had something just on this topic that may work for me.

Tough to add dia with out adding too much weight. Talk to Chris at elk river custom rods. I know they make their own cork handles. He has also done various wounded warrior projects, should be able fit you up
Oh and the rods are awesome too.

Here are just a few suggestions I think might help, if nothing else, a pretty cheap way to at least try.
I held a rod once with the “Rod Wrap” brand at a tournament once and really liked the feel.
I think I’m actually ordering some for myslef to try and I also have bad hands (Duyptrens disease) and thinking from what I remember, I’ll really like.
In it’s own way, I’d like to thank you for posting as this is a goos reminder for me.
Good luck. Hope you find what you are looking for.

http://www.rodwrap.com/rodwrap-custom-fishing-grips.htm

http://www.mudhole.com/RodWrap-Grip-Wrap?search=Other+Grips

http://www.mudhole.com/RodWrap-Grip-Wrap?search=Other+Grips

Thanks Mr.West those do look interesting. Actually makes me think to get a hold of some golf shops as well and see if they have anything along these same lines. I wish there was just an aftermarket product, some type of light durable foam, that would be ergonomically correct and thick that would slip right over your rod handle. Seems to be a million dollar idea to me
And the weight is a big issue but I have read many times of pros that put weights onto the butt of their rods to balance it out and they say by doing so it actually feels lighter bc of less strain. I would think the same concept holds true of this but

I wonder if just slipping some bike grips and somehow securing it would work, made to be durable in all weather.

I’m assuming you’re talking about a spinning rod? And how large of a diameter are you thinking of? Where do you hold the rod – on the cork or on the reelseat? There are larger reelseats that can be installed on a custom rod. If you want an all cork grip, you can go with a larger cork grip. There are options.

nhamm

Here’s another possible option.
They show round, oval and tapered. In many sizes and colors.
I’m still lookin’ around some more.

http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building/Hypalon-Grips

Talk with some custom rod builders about re-gripping your rods. Thorne Bros offers Syncork which is some super light stuff and being its used alot for muskie rods its a pretty good diameter compared to normal spinning and casting rods.

I’ve used this for years on my tennis rackets and swear by the stuff – Tourna Grip. It has a dry feel and doesn’t absorb water or sweat. They also have a new version which has a tacky feel. Costs around $4 for the small roll to do one racket so its reasonable. You can get it at Walmart, Sports Authority, [censored], and any tennis shop. Its cheap enough that it would be worth a try.

The censored word was “d-i-c-k-s” as is D-i-c-k-s sporting goods. Jeez….

As a rod builder I would first suggest trying the rod wrap stuff. It’s not really heavy and doesn’t absorb water. If that doesn’t work I would then have a thicker handle put on by a rod builder with a bigger reel seat, that will add a small amount of weight, in most cases you can get away with this without any big difference as you would be able to have a better grip or personal “feel” on the rod.

Luckily I always carry a rod with me in the work van but give an idea of how I hold all my rods and just curious if a larger cork would even work BC for the most part I’m grabbing at the seat. I think those grips some of you linked to look very nice, thanks.

I would suggest a larger diameter reel seat then. Most Rods are a 16 or 17 you could have a 20 put on that might help a little.

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Luckily I always carry a rod with me in the work van but give an idea of how I hold all my rods and just curious if a larger cork would even work BC for the most part I’m grabbing at the seat. I think those grips some of you linked to look very nice, thanks.

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My kind of guy…always need to have at least one rod on hand!

FDR

I’m still leaning towrdds the Rod Wrap. The one I had in my hand a couple years back was really comfertable… I think.
It sure would be a cheap try & see if like situation.
Matter of fact, ordering a couple today

Think I am with you on this too. Foam would probably lose some sensitivity that just spent good money on to get in a nice rod.
Although out of curiousity might get some cork, grind it up, mix with gorilla glue the type that foams up and expands, wrap it around grip area then wrap some type of wax paper around that then mold it to my hand for 10-15min until it sets up. Let dry, sand down rough spots and bam custom grips. Then who am I kidding that sounds like work I will order some wrap.

Yeah I would go a larger reel seat in a soft touch. Then best of both worlds great grip bigger reel seat.

There a lot of options though.

If you ever want to talk about ideas I am usually available to talk.

John