hi john, actualy i do think rods can improve distances right one obviosly also the wrong one can cost you distance,i know i have done it, problem now is that many diff leads used it complicates matters, i just wished they had stuck with the 175 and 150lead ,fishing wise thats all i use use is the 175 i started casting to improve my fishing. distnace wise with 150lead about 210 it will do me for fishing,would like to improve but been trying for years but for fishing my cast is ok for me distance not quite as important as it used to be.forums been on loads recently just been out of work for a while bored stiff .i get quite a few phone calls about casting and pm etc if i can help them i will but i just say my opion.thats why i say to the lads go to the cast events if you want to learn ,norman might tell you how long we have been doing this approx 1983 events such as hartlepool/kirkleathem/ wirral/driffield/seaham/barrow in furnass/ east halton/ more not sure.might make an appearance one day you never know but wont chuck these 125leads,hope results are going to go on board with wieghts what people are using, anyway have a great sunday to all cu around john