Easy answer, yes.

More complex answer is NO…….BUT

With many top end poles there is not a lot in it, say at 14.5 metres, however many anglers will say it is the “balance” of the pole that really matters.

You see many anglers with half a meter or more sticking out behind them to counteract top heavy poles, whilst others can be held on the dolly butt at full length.

It is a case of tuning the pole to your needs, if you are lump fishing for carp then lightness may not be a priority as strength is required, if you fish on canals for silvers at 16 mts a lot, then weight is a big factor.

Try using a Universal Carp Top instead of the regular top you will feel the difference in balance..

So Paddy easy answer is YES it does matter is correct but other factors come into it.

TT – I was just being lazy, as the question only inferred it wanted an answer and not an explanation! So “Yes” was the easy answer!!
Try fishing with a £500 quid pole with a power top on at 16m for 5 hours and see how you feel when you get home, alternatively, try fishing with a flagship pole for 5 hours?
I have done both in the past and know which one I prefer.
To me, weight is everything to be honest.

Of course it matters, ask Newton.
To hold it you need to exert work, the heavier the pole the more work to hold it. You burn more energy carrying all your gear than half of it.
Balance is another variable everyone says is important but how do you know what it is unless you try it for yourself?
One other point, what the heck does rated to 12 or 16 elastic mean when there is no standard?
I watched a video on the net for a new pole rated to 16 and the angler representing the manufacturer goes on to comment “but I put 20 in mine with no problem”, so why not sell it rated at 20 or whatever?
We are being taken for fools IMO.

it may also have something to do manufacturer guarantee
if you break it using 20 elastic in a 12 rated match kit they probably wont offer any warranty claims

i think balance of the pole is more inportent

balance all day long imo.

A balanced heavy pole is a balanced heavy pole.
Easier to use if it’s balanced, I agree – sooner fish with a lighter pole all day long.
I have a MAP pole for up in the water baggin and down the margins, which is heavy, but bomb proof.
On the other hand, my Sensas 874 is a complete joy, even at full length.
If I’m out for a full day pleasure fishing of 8 hours plus, the Sensas would be the pole of choice, but needs dictate that old MAP is required sometimes.

No mate, I did understand.
I would prefer a lighter pole that is set up properly.

If there was a “Standard” for elastic rating it would certainly help, BUT do we consider Hydro or Preston as the “Standard” or Middy? For sure neither would be willing to use the others laggy rating for this.

So the “Tackle Tarts” who do all the testing on their “free issue kit” should really state which they are using and what is preferred? Stay away from the sponsored guys who are bound to tell you one thing and really do another!!

Suggest you just do it, it is often best way to find out, if it says 20 then it will pull anything, if your need is, or prefer to use 20 then “get a Life” 12 Black Hydro works for me on anything, if the fish can break it quite frankly then I don’t want to catch it, as it’s tooooo bloody big!!

If we are getting to the point where 50 grams of carbon distributed over 16M of pole can make or break the balance of the product we should surely be weighing our elastic of choice and choosing the lightest brand.
We could be spending £3000.00 on a pole and wrecking any advantage by using £10.00 of elastic that is 25g heavier than the competitors equivalent grade
Personally, when fishing in the pouring rain in a strong South Westerly, the finely tuned balancing arms attached to my shoulders lose all calibration and fail to pick up these 50g differences.

totally agree with bigfella – regarding weight distribution – i had to get rid of my lovely stiff G10’s because , due to health issues, i found i could no longer fish it at 16m and latterly even 14.5m because it was so ‘heavy’.
I now have a t/pro- which on paper, actually weighs more – but can just about manage this at 16m with the dolly butt, lol. a big improvement for me as ‘weakling’ user.

That said, i recently fished my much lighter and far thinner walled silvers tricast excellence for 5 hrs recently (on a silvers only match to a feature and venue) and this was obviously easier – though adding the 16m section still made it a close call with the t/pro. I’d add at 14.5 and with the phex 3 – ironically i could fish the excellence almost one handed – if not for 5 hrs!
That confirmed to me how balance and weight distribution are as significant factors as total weight itself.

Still given my abysmal form over the last year – i probably shouldn’t have bothered! 😮

I remember Ivan Marks once saying that you are better off fishing well, short, than trying to fish, badly long.
My 16m section rarely comes out of the bag now.

i’d like a 13m limit !- but in the real world the far shelf on snakes means fishing short just means you might as well have gone pleasure fishing, imo, certainly on my local match circuit. Carp prefer a certain depth and you can’t change that particularly in summer. If you add the track silt and feeding -plus a smaller stamp of less fish- then its relatively no mans land unless you’ve got a rising hard shelf under 14.5 which is rare on the venues i fish – or the near margins and shelf. Winter is another story fortunately. 🙂
So until snakes are made narrower – then that’s not going to happen – despite the average age of match anglers now being 55. Maybe in 10 yrs time when that average is 65 we might get some changes but that would definitely be unfair on the younger lads who’ve become proficient at 16m and on some snake ‘bays’ more likely 17m!

Ironically locally, in iow club matches and venues – 8m and usually less is where the features/reeds are – and where bait goes in – . so a margin pole and a tip rod – as the islands 40m away, is really all you need in summer when carp count.