Recently bought a new rod. I left the original plastic wrap on the handle cork. I then wrapped a tennis racquet grip over the original factory clear plastic and wrapped “high pressure / high temperature” electrical tape over the ends.
It gives me a slightly larger grip and the rubbery material is easier to hold than the cork. Now the tennis pro fellow at the tennis shop is still wondering about where one gets a “5 weight” after he asked what I swung around for a racquet…
Sometimes I have to concentrate not to grip my rod with an iron fist :rolleyes:
As a result, I’ve crushed the rod grip on some of my higher weight rods to the point where they’re falling apart
On one 20 year old 8wt I’ve replaced the cork twice.
When the grip on my 10wt started to crack I wrapped it with baseball bat tape
Even though it’s not too pretty, I like it alot this way
It’s a bit thicker and the texture makes it easier to hold on to
Because it’s easier to hold, I don’t grip it as tight
Worked out great
TFO
Welcome to FAOL. I often wondered why you don’t see flyrods with grips made out of the same stuff (EVA) that you find on a lot of spinning & casting rods.
Tim
You can make the grip on a fly rod out of whatever you like. I’ve seen them with leather grips, cork, wood, foam, graphite, etc. Its all up to the owner or buyer.
but you cant get em on factory built rods
I have used a product called “RodWrap”. It is a bit thinner than the material used on racquets and is available in different lengths and colors. It makes the rod easier to grip during long battles. It also seems to wipe clean easier than cork, which can be important if you get fish slime on the grip.
dudley
Are you a dairy farmer? 
Milking by hand? Crushing cork grips has to be in the league of the exceptional.
art