The blank is the wr300 and yes a huge consistent improvement in distance. This is a power rod and not the easiest to get a handle on. I have had this rod three years and only in last 12 months reaching anything like its potential.It is hard to explain however if you feel a rod has no more then you never will with this rod. wr300(world record 300) sort of says it all. When you get the cast just right it has a different feel nothing else i have used like.