you can say that again the new ugly stiks are horrible broke 8 of them at the ferrule thats the ugly stik custom I'm done with them tired of returning and paying 15 bucks to do it I guess thats what you get for staying on the low end of the $$ range.I do have an 11' ugly stik that is probably pushing 20 years old and no problems with that nor have I ever broken a 2 pc. rod period besides them so I don't think its me as shakesphere said.