I've built 8 (2 for myself) now with the microwave guides and love them for any casting. I talked my buddies into them and they were skeptical but really like them and think it was worth $10 extra. Really reduces the line slap and drag off the blank. I think they were saying 25% greater casting distance and it sure seems that was about right. I've got another 2 with just micro guides and really like them as well. I've got a couple more to build again I might stick with micros and upgrade the blank this time. If you haven't tried microwaves it's defiantly worth trying one.