Handled one before I bought my 774 last week. To be fair it still feels top heavy compared to most of the competition. it is very stiff, but just like the g10, it feels like you have a power kit on the end when there’s a match kit on it (IMO). It felt very strong though, and I have no doubt it could handle proper carp. Whether it’s up to 20 elastic I’m not sure, but to be honest it would depend how tight it was set anyway.

Nice pole, I just felt others were better.

The best pole was the colmic x5000, slimmer than the rest, stiffer or as stiff as the competition too. Just a shame it lacked top kits and the top kits were too expensive IMO (think about 90 for a top 3), daiwa and sensas have it sorted for the value to kits I think.

The 774, btw, is lush…only used it once so far but at 13….well probably more like 12….meters it is stiff, light and a joy to fish all day in the gusting wind blowing across the fens yesterday morning.

yes it is lighter than the G10 – probably not as light as others but it is balance you want and the Gmax is very well balanced. It has a range of top sets and the new match lites are as strong as a standard match – easily take purple hydro with the no1 dropped out.
Fished it yesterday at Rolfs, 16mt shallow with the match lites, purple hydro and had carp up to 13ilb shallow. Also used it down the edge at Rolfs on the paste at 8mts again with match top kits and had fish up to 14ilb 8.
In my opinion the best pole i have owned and will deal with big weight venues and big carp.
Top pole and previous poles i had are G10 and tourney pro

Just upgraded from the G10

Gmax 1000 is awesome , thought the G10 was the best pole I hed ever had , until now~clap ~clap

Very strong and stiff , sure it would handle serious elastics if you wanted it to – personally I think it is too good a pole to use for that sort of fishing so will use my Tricast Reaction for heavy duty fishing when I know in advance that I need it.

i have a G10 and if i was looking for another pole, i would seriously consider the Shimano Fireblood (but I would also buy the half-ex).

I thought the G1k was too heavy.