I think you are correct with this statement. not only line slap but my tip guide seems to have been designed for an inverted tip.
If you look at the tip guide picture I posted...
You can see the "guide support bridge" coming off the guide insert holder into the guide tip mount.
It is on the INSIDE of the guide where the line rides instead of on the OUTSIDE of the guide away from damaging the line! (like the rest of my rods) It looks as if the guide was meant to be rotated downward so the line pulls on the guide instead of on the rod... so to speak! Either that or they built it backwards? Either way it's not good how they applied it on this rod. I can't believe their R&D wouldn't catch this... or rather knowingly let it slide. This tip guide design damages your line!
That tip guide must have been designed to work with a spiral guide placement or something.
I don't see how they could expect the bridge coming off the guide insert carrier to not cut the line unless it was an a spiral wrapped casting rod and inverted!
What the heck were they thinking?
I try to go to E21 website for warranty and it's completely gone now. It used to be up last month when I bought the rod.. lol
I'll have to find the hang tag. I know I saved it. It has the number.
If they wont replace it I'll salvage the parts for another rod. Almost thinking of doing so already anyways.
I don't want to pay to have this rod replaced at all.