THere is a difference and unless you are fishing day in and day out in tournaments, you dont really need the expensive poles. I can tell you i wouldnt trade my 6' 6" St. Croix for anything in the world. Then you get custom rods ( lifetime warranty), as for them my Key Largo can't be beat. Then for the weekend fisherman, I can't think of anything tougher and better than a Lightning Rod. I have three from 1995, that 20 bucks went a heck of a long way.