Grommets - necessary?

[Striperknight]

Depends on my mood if I use them or not.

[Tagger]

You guys talked me into it ... will try no grommet next batch of needles ... will try little hole too ..

[Mr. Krinkle]

Thanks guys. The only time I use them are on some of the big swimmer I make. I guess they would be good to use on the softwood like red cedar. Time to go smack some sense into my friend.

[BigFish]

I like to use them! I like the finished look! Call me strange but I like to dot all the "i's" and cross the "t's"! It protects the belly hole from getting pounded to heck and I think the fact that you might get a little noise from the swivel hitting the grommet is not a bad thing! Some will say it will enable the fish to leverage the swivel against the edge of the grommet but I have not had one fail yet?! Its all up to the individual.....some like them, some don't!

Of course I use AYC not a hard wood.