One of my fishing buddies bought one this fall for the salmon runs. It is bigger in diameter than most graphite rods and they look like an eyeless glass rod only matte black. It doesn't cast as well as my rod I think because there is more friction. I would only use it for mooching or something like that. I can see some science behind it as far as parabolics are concerned but what you gain in parabolics you more than loose in friction and to be truthful, ugliness because they are bulky looking.