Sunday I finally broke the grip on my nine weight that I built with cheap cork rings. I bought a bag of 50 rings for like $30 a few years ago. I should have culled out the crummier ones. I am casting a 350 grain sinking head for stripers with this rod, and the grip disintegrated where the thumb and index finger go. I could feel it collapsing the last couple times fishing. This morning I glued up some composite rings and good cork for the replacement, like this one on a six weight: