Rods are more of a user preference thing than is this one better than that one. Lite, crisp, fast action rods don't do any thing for me no matter the cost. Whether it is 100 bucks or a thousand bucks if it doesn't feel right then it isn't worth the money no matter the cost. Soft graphite and fiber glass are what I prefer and they tend to be much cheaper does that make them any better?? Well for me it does. I also fish them harder and more often because if I do break them they are cheaper to replace. Soft slow rods are just fine to make tight loops and open loops in the windy surf for me.