I read an ad by the marketer of top-quality blanks that their top-of-the-line fly rod blanks "track" better than their lower price blanks and competitors' blanks. Exactly what is meant by a fly rod blank's "tracking" and how can I detect it or measure it in relation to other blanks?

Here is a post on rod tracking
[rodbuilding.org]

Bill - willierods.com

Your first seven words described it well! "Marketing"

Ron Weber

This same question was asked here a few weeks ago, by yourself, in fact. You received several good responses. Hit the link Bill provided.

..............

I'm still looking for a definition of or a way to measure "tracking," since it is apparently accepted as a critical quality in determining the value of a fly rod blank. I think Ron Webber's above post provided confirmation of what I suspected: "tracking" is the Emperor's New Clothes of fly rod building.

Heck
I did not even look to see if it was him that asked LOL

All that is is the company wants to sell you there better priced rods or blanks If they are straight - they track The lure weight pulls it that way that you throw it

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/31/2015 01:02PM by bill boettcher.

Bill: Then does "track" mean the blank/rod throws the fly line the same way every cast? Unless you change rods every couple of casts you should be able to adjust to any rod which "tracks" consistently, regardless of price. What would cause a rod to frequently change its "track"?

The blank does not throw the line the same way every time, it can't. Only the caster can ATTEMPT to throw the line the same way every time. If that were possible, there wouldn't be any bad casts. Forget this tracking nonsense.

There is the definition for tracking--ie NONSENSE.

The idea, from a marketing standpoint, is that some rods do not follow the same path as the person moving them. Your hand goes one way and the rod another. Obviously, this isn't the case, but they would like you to believe otherwise.

So chalk up "tracking" in the same category as "smooth action," etc. Dr. Hanneman wrote a fantastic article a few years back on these market terms.

...............

Tom Kirkman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The idea, from a marketing standpoint, is that
> some rods do not follow the same path as the
> person moving them. Your hand goes one way and the
> rod another. Obviously, this isn't the case, but
> they would like you to believe otherwise.
>
> So chalk up "tracking" in the same category as
> "smooth action," etc. Dr. Hanneman wrote a
> fantastic article a few years back on these market
> terms.
>
> ...............

Tom, would I be able to find the article in an Internet search or is it on the CCS info page? If not it might be something worth putting in the library (if it isn't already there. Maybe?) I understand that marketing gurus are paid to coin new terms and tell you that A does better than B or C, because A is so much better at XYZ. Might come in handy debunking some of these overused terms.

I remember that list
Just go and read any discretion of most any rod or blank I don't think a lot of the words are even in the dictionary ??? LOL

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/31/2015 03:51PM by bill boettcher.

It's in the magazine back somewhere in Volume 7 or 8 as I recall. Slightly humorous, but more accurate than you can imagine.

..................

Mass market rod makers can out-promise and undersell custom rod builders. Custom builders will lose contests with advertising agencies for mass market rod makers who invent and promise "feel" and "sensitivity" and "tracking" and other undefined and immeasurable qualities in rods. Custom builders have to educate many of their customers to REAL qualities of finished rods, qualities such as weight, power, action, hoop strength, even harmonics - stuff which is real, not imaginary hype.

Mass market rod makers can out-promise and undersell custom rod builders. Custom builders will lose contests with advertising agencies for mass market rod makers who invent and promise "feel" and "sensitivity" and "tracking" and other undefined and immeasurable qualities in rods. Custom builders have to educate many of their customers to REAL qualities of finished rods, qualities such as weight, power, action, hoop strength, even harmonics - stuff which is real, not imaginary hype.

Mass market rod makers can out-promise and undersell custom rod builders. Custom builders will lose contests with advertising agencies for mass market rod makers who invent and promise "feel" and "sensitivity" and "tracking" and other undefined and immeasurable qualities in rods. Custom builders have to educate many of their customers to REAL qualities of finished rods, qualities such as weight, power, action, hoop strength, even harmonics - stuff which is real, not imaginary hype.

Maybe we should Hype or throw the Bull more Which to me is just Lying To The Customer
Try to Educate them --- Why should they believe anything we say When the off the shelf rod is So Much Cheaper then ours They replace it outright Call them and they will send you guides for free for the ones that broke
Buy a blank and it costs almost the price of THERE completed rod ???
What is wrong with this picture !!!

Yet we take more care with spacing Testing Re-wrap if some thing went wrong And all the other extras that they don't get charged for

Bill - willierods.com

Maybe we should Hype or throw the Bull more Which to me is just Lying To The Customer
Try to Educate them --- Why should they believe anything we say When the off the shelf rod is So Much Cheaper then ours They replace it outright Call them and they will send you guides for free for the ones that broke
Buy a blank and it costs almost the price of THERE completed rod ???
What is wrong with this picture !!!

Yet we take more care with spacing Testing Re-wrap if some thing went wrong And all the other extras that they don't get charged for

Just like this post on ( tracking ) he believes it Has TWO posts Listens to the hype And does not seem to want to believe there is no truth to it ????????

Bill - willierods.com

I build fly rods that track perfectly. They cost $100-200.00 more if you want the tracking....lol. Fed ex has good tracking as well. Tight Lines MH

Thanks Michael I needed that LOL - LOL
Sounds like he needs more casting lessens

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/31/2015 06:37PM by bill boettcher.