RDA data on Rainshadow XP843 and XP844

[snooking80]

I was wondering if anyone had RDA data on Batson Rainshadow XP843 and XP844 RX8 popping blanks. I am more interested in the RX8 models because they are very light and I would like to see how they stand compared to a G. Loomis P844 GLX but if you have this info for the RX7 then I will take that too. I really appreciate it. Thanks

[Snyder Rods]

I don't have any hard RDA numbers, but the RX7 popping blanks are made with a special resin to allow for a more moderate bend... the flex point will be about 40% of the tip. Most popping rods and the Loomis are more like 33% and up. The XP are also labeled moderate-fast so I assume they will have the same action as RX. The XP are also a blend, IM7 in the tip, high-modulus in the butt section.

These new high modulus chinese blanks (such as Batson XP) are very light weight and refined, I think in practice they compare very well to GLX and if the weight of the blanks is about the same (and I think the weights are very close, but I would have to check my records to be sure), I don't think you could notice a difference in an actual fishing situation.

[snooking80]

Thank you for your reply. I am not really sure the Batson XP popping blanks are going to be more moderate than the Loomis P844 GLX, if for some odd reason they are then I suspect it would only be by a degree or two. For example, the Loomis blank measures at 58% which is pretty slow and the lower modulus Batson IP843 measures at 57% which is basically the same thing. Well, I guess no one on this forum has any data on these blanks so I might have to go ahead and purchase one and give it a try.

[MikeK]

RX7 blanks from 2007
IP842: WL-71", TA-65, P-2.0(g/100), Wt-1.62(oz)
IP843: WL-71, TA-59, P-2.3, Wt-1.65
IP844: WL-71, TA-57, P-3.0, Wt-1.93

Hope this helps

[Snyder Rods]

Snooking, I should have said this from the beginning... probably half of the inshore/bass/freshwater graphite blank lineups today are clones of G.Loomis, including Batson, American Tackle, and Pacific Bay. Just match up the type of rod (popping), the line and lure weights, and length, and pick your modulus.

[snooking80]

MikeK - Thank you very much for the data on the RX7 blanks, now if only someone else could provide me with the RX8 popping blanks data that would be awesome.

Snyder Rods - IMHO picking a rod by the manufacture's fishing style/line/lure recomendations was the old way of doing things before the CCS and RDA came around. Now we actually have two different methods we could easily use to measure the actual rod blank's power and action.

For example, if I were to use the old method I could pick the following blanks:

Batson IP844: WL-71, TA-57, P-3.0, Wt-1.93, PE-5.5
G. Loomis P844 GLX: WL-71, TA-58, P-2.4, Wt-1.59, PE-5.4
Lamiglas LP844: WL-71, TA-71, P-4.0, Wt-1.98, PE-7.2
Shikari IP704: WL-71, TA-59, P-3.5

Fishing style/line/lure ratings are the same within these rod models but if we look closely at the data we could see that the P844 GLX is by far the lightest but it is also the less powerfull out of all the popping rod blanks. Now if we compare that same blank to a Batson IP843: WL-71, TA-59, P-2.3, Wt-1.65, PE-4.9 we would have a very close match, notice how this rod is rated 1 power less then the Loomis but has almost identical specs.

On the same token we see that the RDA numbers for the LP844 are hardly in line with what we consider a slow/moderate action popping blank, this blank doesn't have a slow/mod/mod-fast/fast action but instead it has an extra fast tip and it is a lot more powerfull than any of the other popping blanks. See why it is beneficial to have actual data rather than going with the manufacturers rating, but I am sure you already knew this. Anyways, thank you for your input I really appreciate it.

[Snyder Rods]

I'm aware of the common cents system/RDA but it only works when you have all the numbers for current blanks. We know the MHX and Lamiglass are out, they are x-fast action. And Shikari is not available, unless you get really lucky and find one of the rare last ones. The simple fact is, there just are not that many high modulus Loomis clones on the market at this time. It's pretty obvious that the XP will come closest to what you want. I just know this from experience. RDA data is not necessary when you already know the answer.