Page 16 - 2025 Batson Master Catalog

HONEST INSIGHT ON
ROD BLANK MODULUS
As with most purchasing decisions in today’s information-rich marketplace,
anglers are seeking easy to understand product characteristics to help them make
intelligent buying decisions. When it comes to choosing a rod blank for creating a
high performance fishing rod, the most common question we get is: “What is the
modulus of Rainshadow Rod Blanks?” Unfortunately, the answer is not a simple
one. Choosing a rod blank based on fiber modulus alone can be equated to picking
a new truck based only on its engine horsepower. It’s an important factor, but it’s
only one of many that should be factored into a smart purchasing decision. Let’s
take a closer look at modulus, and some of the other areas involved in creating high
quality, high performing rod blanks.
What is modulus? In the context of carbon fiber or fiberglass, modulus tells us
how stiff a given fiber or prepreg (resin pre-impregnated) material is. The higher the
modulus, the stiffer the fiber. Is higher modulus always better? The answer depends
on the objective(s) of a specific rod blank design. One undeniable fact is the higher
you go in modulus, the more brittle the fiber effectively becomes.
What is prepreg? Rod blanks cannot be created from fiber alone. They are made
from a matrix called prepreg. Prepreg is a roll of carbon fiber or fiberglass cloth
that has 3 parts: the fibers, a scrim system, and a resin system. Scrim looks like
a screen (think window screen), and resin is a complex adhesive that bonds the
prepreg material together when heated. Engineers design multi-part patterns from
ROD BLANKS
prepregs that are wrapped around tapered tooling (usually steel mandrels) which
in turn is baked in a large oven to activate and bind the entire prepreg assembly
into a hollow tapered shaft. Once cured, the mandrel is removed, the cured prepreg
pattern assembly is trimmed and sanded (and usually painted), resulting in a
finished rod blank.
As we discussed earlier, the higher the modulus, the more brittle the fiber/prepreg
is. Why would anyone make a brittle rod blank when it’s the rod job to bend? Here
is where the real concept and use of modulus comes into play! Some rod blank
models may be constructed of one type of material, and may work great for their
intended use. However, let’s say you want a lighter and more sensitive blank, but
still need to maintain a certain measure of strength and durability. In this case we
must combine two to three materials to achieve a functional balance. The fibers
that offer more flexibility (standard or intermediate modulus) are used in the upper
portion of a design, and the stiffer (high modulus) fibers are used in the bottom
portion to reduce weight and enhance sensitivity. We call this a matrix or multi-
modulus positioning from a design standpoint, and this method is used in several
Rainshadow blank series. The highest modulus fibers/prepregs are rarely used in
the upper (tip section) portion of a blank’s design, but greater concentrations of high
modulus materials are used in high end designs to help reduce weight and add
sensitivity. Modulus, while important, is just one piece of a complex puzzle. There
are many other key disciplines involved in creating quality rod blanks including
process controls, engineering know-how, and creative composites design. If you‘d
like additional info on Rainshadow Rod Blank design and production please visit
our frequently asked questions page at: https://batsonenterprises.com/frequently-
BATSONENTERPRISES.COM
16 asked-questions or give us a call at 360-681-2381.
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a lightweight proprietary scrim system made just for Rainshadow. We
RX10 material is comprised of high modulus, high strain carbon fiber with
tweaked the resin content for lighter weight without sacrificing strength.
Finally, we designed proprietary angled pattern layups for even more
strength. The end result of this flagship material is the finest series of rod
blanks Rainshadow has ever offered.
This material features ultra-high modulus Toray carbon fiber, a custom
scrim system and a nano resin system that helps make these blanks strong
and light. The nano resin system bonds omni directionally and allows us
to reduce resin content and minimize weight. State of the art pattern lay
ups were designed specifically for additional strength and performance.
A top-shelf performing material comprised of ultra-high modulus Toray
fibers, a super lightweight scrim and an optimized resin content. All of this
translates into outstanding blanks that are feather light, brutally strong
and offer heightened sensitivity.
A no-compromises graphite material consisting of intermediate modulus
that is based on one of the finest carbon fibers Toray has ever produced.
RX7 is wildly popular and versatile as it hits a sweet spot of performance,
power and value that will impress the most seasoned angler.
A workhorse standard modulus material that has been revised recently with
enhanced fiber design and improved resin systems. Like other materials
sitting above the RX6 graphite series, these are also based on some of the
best fibers Toray has to offer. RX6 graphite is ideal for tournament rods as
they can detect the lightest bites and withstand the abuse of competitive
anglers.
A proprietary graphite and fiberglass matrix that is used in conjunction
with a high impact resin system. This has proven to be one of our most
reliable materials and is used to design our toughest blanks. RX4 provides
durability that is on par with fiberglass yet maintains some of the sensitivity
characteristics of graphite.
A proprietary unidirectional fiberglass material featuring a lower ply
thickness. This allows it to be pressure rolled for better compaction of the
layers, increasing strength. S-Glass is inherently stronger and stiffer than
the typical E-glass found in most saltwater live bait blanks.
A virtually indestructible fiberglass material that is extremely popular in
heavy-duty applications. E-Glass is commonly used when strength and
dependability are paramount.
Solid fiberglass material for unrivaled strength and durability. Solidglass is
the perfect material for building a heavy-duty rod that is extremely cost-
effective. The solid design allows for grinding a custom taper that is not
possible with a traditional tubular design.