There is a rage going on about bearing upgrades. How much is hype and how much is truth. Well I think it depends on what type of angler you are and what type of rig you plan on making your reel. Yes ABEC 5’s And 7’s  will definitely spin faster then your stock bearings which on average will have an ABEC rating  between 1 and 3. You would be surprised at how your bearings will spin after they have been flushed and re-lubed.  So do you need to upgrade and why. Me I’m swapping out all my bearings to ABEC 7’s. Why you ask. Most of my reels have a specific application. My Flippin/Pitchin reels flip farther and can pitch lighter jigs and soft plastic’s. My crankin reels can throw ¼ oz cranks farther. My deep crankin reels throw farther.  Do you have specific reels for specific applications? The bottom line is that as your ABEC rating on the bearings goes up the bearings spin faster. And this translates into a easier/farther cast. This is really seen on a Super Tuned Reel. There are also ceramic bearings. Why ceramics. Personal preference. Ceramics are lighter and  allowing you throw lighter cranks/soft plastics (this is why I put ceramics in my Flippin/Pitchin reels) Ceramics also don’t rust like stainless steel bearings (but the cages that hold the ceramic balls still can rust. The down side is that ceramics are higher in price. So in conclusion I will say this do you adjust your centrifugal brakes? Do you have a pretty good thumb. Are you looking for more distance in your casting? Do you have rust in your bearings? Think about a bearing upgrade. Try one reel and see the difference.

Your drag washers are another overlooked part of our reels. But I’m sure that no one wants their drag to seize up when you have that hawg on the end of their line! Your reels usually have a mixture of felt and metal washers. They are lightly greased and work of compression. Here’s where the problem is. They can dry out, be over greased, and lose their elasticity. The best way to preserve your drag system is to back it off when your reel is not in use. Keeping your drag set tight wears out the flex and elasticity of your felt washers. A simple backing of the drag will help to preserve the performance and increase their longevity. There is an upgrade to carbon fiber washers (already being put in some new reels) and smoothies. These washers offer a more even pull when a fish is “pulling” drag out. Think of your drag washers as the shoes on your brakes…the don’t last forever. Very cheap part of a reel upgrade.