Real World Tests: The finish weight for the full rear grip build was five point seven ounces (5.7oz), while the split rear grip build tipped the scales at four point four (4.4oz). As with most of my personal gear, I didn't have a set reel to match up with either build instead letting review priorities dictate. However, techniques were very much centered around casting and pitching up close to cover - especially on the California Delta.

There's a certain sense of accomplishment getting that first fish on a fresh build. Especially when all the components on the rod stay in place!

Casting: The ETEC74H-SS blank handles well in pitching and casting situations. It has a very responsive tip and I quickly found a favorite presentation of pitching Texas rigged Keitech EZ Shakers in and around areas of overgrown vegetation - cover that makes up a great majority of the California Delta. Placing my bait on target was a breeze with this blank despite my mediocre builds. The blank can handle up to one and a half ounce ( 1 1/2oz) in total lure weight.

Pitching baits along the edges and into open holes of overgrown vegetation like this is part and parcel of fishing on the CA Delta

Sensitivity: Batson doesn't really state what grade of graphite they are using in their Eternity RX10 blanks but the result is a blank with about average to good sensitivity. Despite my attempts with the colorful wrap, the ETEC74H blank is not something one would mistaken for NRX, but few blanks are on that level. If we're doing a G.Loomis comparison for the sake of establishing a reference point, I'd say we're talking about IMX level of performance here.

Fig 1 : The chart above illustrates the deflection characteristics of our Batson Rainshadow ETEC74H-SS Blank against the historical averages of medium, medium heavy, and heavy powered bass rods we've tested over the past twenty plus years

Power: The ETEC74H has a nice power curve responding quickly during hookset with a nice, smooth transition to the backbone. It feels like a prototypical heavy powered rod with that 7'-4" length really adding to the rod's flexibility. It's funny to think how a couple of inches over 7' or under 7'6" could make a difference, but it somehow does. This 'tweener length makes for a truly versatile rod when paired with that heavy powered backbone.

My split grip build of Rainshadow's ETEC74H-SS with 24oz of weight applied to the tip

Design & Ergonomics: Rainshadow's Eternity RX10 blanks feature what they refer to as a sanded swirl finish. I'm not sure where the swirl comes in, but the surface of the blank is simply sanded smooth to remove the ridges that develop naturally during the blank rolling process. Between the two builds, it's difficult to decide which I prefer. While the split grip version is over an ounce lighter than the full grip, the full grip is better balanced. Both handle as one might expect a heavy powered rod to feel, so overall, it's just a solid foundation from which to your ideal spec.

If you like and appreciate a thicker blank, the ETEC74H's butt diameter is close to close to sixteen millimeters (16mm). On the build side, this means a lot of extra reaming to get those grips in place, but it made the reel seat install much easier with no need to use the graphite tube inserts that were options with these two seats.

The ETEC74H-SS is a very prototypical heavy powered blank that leans a bit more versatile than you might expect

Price & Applications: MSRP on the ETEC74H-SS blank is $197 but with a little poking around, it's not difficult to find the blank for less. If you, like me, find the 7'-4" length an attractive proposition, this is a very prototypical heavy powered rod that leans a bit more versatile than you might expect. I liked it not only for pitching TX rigged baits in and around cover, but it actually makes for an excellent stick throwing baits such as the Donkey Slayer, a big, oversized vibrating jig. Paddle tail swimbaits, large spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, these are all things for which this blank is well suited beyond the typical soft plastics and jigs assigned to most heavy powered rods.

Conclusion: While I'm far from completely immersed in rod building culture, I feel these Rainshadow Eternity RX10 blanks don't get enough attention. It's likely due to the fact the blanks aren't rolled in North America. I get it. However, objectively speaking, I've been very satisfied with the performance of my two RX10 builds so far.

Whether you're a seasoned pro at building, or new to the hobby, if you're not already familiar with Rainshadow's Eternity RX10 blanks, it might be time to change that