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Harrison Ballista / Baby Ballista (15 posts / 3,741 views)
SHimmer45 SHimmer45
Posts: 664
Post #1 15 Jun 2023 09:20
0
I have a set of 11ft 2.5lb Baby Ballista which have basically become my go to rod for nearly everything apart from bad use.

Is there any difference between the Standard Ballista and Baby aside from the length.

I have a set of Shimano Velocity in 3lb which is use when i need alot more grunt but thinking about replacing them and see there is a 3lb Baby Ballista, but assume this will have quite a soft action?
CTblahblah CTblahblah
Posts: 126
Post #2 2 Jul 2023 08:50
0
In reply to Post #1
Hi mate, I've had a pair of old 12ft 2.75lbs and 3lbs then a new pair of 11ft 3lbs.

Although they've never been side by side I'd say the 11ft is a much lighter and slimmer blank. 12ft 3lb felt quite unwieldily and unbalanced, the 11ft 3lb one is slimmer, lighter and crisper. Can't say whether that's due to a change in manufacturing and/ or age though. I bought the 12ft 3lb at 20 years old to start with.

The action on the 11ft 3lb ballista surprised me compared to the other two I owned, although again I'm not sure if that's because I was having it from new. For me It can do a small pva bag to 60 yards or so and felt pretty good for pinging a 2.5oz lead out. The action is quite soft in the tip, I still enjoyed a 5lb male tench on it. That said, I christened it with a 35lb carp and it had shed loads left in the butt. I am looking forward to giving it a go for close range hit and hold stuff.

It might be worth looking at the Aviator Flex as well, it retains some proper playing action but it's modern design seems to make it much for capable of banging a decent size lead some distance or a slightly bigger pva bag. Whilst I love the ballista 11ft 3lb the Aviator Flex feels a bit more of a modern all rounder to me.

Can't comment on the 2.5lb in comparison.
jeffire jeffire
Posts: 4,442
Post #3 2 Jul 2023 09:21
1
In reply to Post #1
There is a bb 3.5 you know
SHimmer45 SHimmer45
Posts: 664
Post #4 3 Jul 2023 08:47
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In reply to Post #2
thanks for the feedback,
the 2.5 BB chucks a 2/2.5 a decent way its just bags (which the rod just isnt designed for)
as the BB are a pure compound / through action.
SHimmer45 SHimmer45
Posts: 664
Post #5 3 Jul 2023 08:48
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In reply to Post #3
i didnt.
i bet that is an interesting blank for use
SHimmer45 SHimmer45
Posts: 664
Post #6 27 Dec 2023 11:48
0
In reply to Post #1
lovely couple of sets of 11ft 3LB BB's on ebay at the moment
not a distance tool but yum
villa1471
Posts: 249
Post #7 27 Dec 2023 12:01
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In reply to Post #6
Are they good tools then?
OatcakeFred OatcakeFred
Posts: 1,466
Post #8 27 Dec 2023 12:01
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In reply to Post #6
They're built by Jeff (Jeffire, post#3)
SHimmer45 SHimmer45
Posts: 664
Post #9 27 Dec 2023 12:06
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In reply to Post #7
as stated above i have a set of 2.5 11ft's and LOVE them
JackWhitstable JackWhitstable
Posts: 246
Post #10 27 Dec 2023 19:04
1
My 12ft 3lb Harrison Ballista's are beautiful, and were a recommendation on here.

I can fire a 3 oz lead with pva around easily and they have a lovely through action.

Jeff as mentioned above knows his stuff with these rods.
SHimmer45 SHimmer45
Posts: 664
Post #11 27 Dec 2023 19:56
0
In reply to Post #10
i like the 11fters they feel right
Baitman Baitman
Posts: 5,238
Post #12 27 Dec 2023 20:03
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My mate had some very early ballista 11ft 1.75lb rods, very nice small water rods.
I have never seen these mentioned or listed anywhere.
Any knowledge of them?
jeffire jeffire
Posts: 4,442
Post #13 27 Dec 2023 20:10
0
In reply to Post #12
They are the GTI same blank as ballista and still available.Also a 10ft 1.75 which are a beautiful blank.
Baitman Baitman
Posts: 5,238
Post #14 27 Dec 2023 20:29
0
In reply to Post #13
I knew you'd know. Cheers.
jeffire jeffire
Posts: 4,442
Post #15 27 Dec 2023 20:58
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In reply to Post #14
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