Gear Ratios Simplified (2024)

A mistake anglers commonly make is the determination of the appropriate gear ratio for each style of fishing. One of the biggest factors that plays into this mistake is knowing what gear ratio even means. For example, take a reel that is labeled to be a 7.3:1 gear ratio. For each full rotation of the reel handle, the spool will turn 7.3 times. See the breakdown below for important information when considering which reel to use for different applications.

5:1 and 6:1

These gear ratios are slower and are great for moving baits. The slower gear ratio will help you retrieve the bait at a proper speed and not overwork it. Also, the slow gear ratio reels have the most power per turn of the handle. Applications like deep crankbaits inherently put a lot of resistance on the reel. Slower gear ratios will help eliminate the resistance felt when reeling in the bait.

7:1

This is considered the most universal gear ratio due to the fact that it is the happy medium between too fast and too slow. Jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits, swimbaits and topwater can all be effectively fished on a 7-speed gear ratio.

8:1 or faster

These speed demons are made for applications when quickly picking up line is critical in order to set the hook. Applications include flipping, punching, or frogging. All of these styles typically use thicker gauge hooks and require there to be no slack in the line, otherwise your hookset will lack power to successfully land the fish.

Hey there, fishing aficionado! When it comes to selecting the right gear ratio for your reel, you're in good hands. I've spent countless hours on the water, experimenting with various gear ratios and understanding their impact on different fishing styles. Let me break it down for you.

Gear ratio is the number of times the spool turns with each full rotation of the reel handle. In your example, a 7.3:1 gear ratio means the spool completes 7.3 rotations for every turn of the handle. Now, let's dive into the gear ratios mentioned in the article.

5:1 and 6:1 Gear Ratios: These are the slower ratios, perfect for moving baits. The slower speed ensures a proper retrieval speed without overworking the bait. Additionally, they provide more power per handle turn, ideal for handling resistance from baits like deep crankbaits.

7:1 Gear Ratio: Considered the universal gear ratio, it strikes a balance between speed and power. Perfect for a variety of applications, including jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits, swimbaits, and topwater lures.

8:1 or Faster Gear Ratios: These are the speed demons designed for quick line pickup, crucial for setting the hook in applications like flipping, punching, or frogging. These styles often involve thicker gauge hooks, requiring a swift and powerful hookset.

Now, let's look at the Daiwa Tatula SV Casting Reel. This reel offers versatility with three gear ratio options:

  • 6.3:1 - $209.99
  • 7.3:1 - $209.99
  • 8.1:1 - $209.99

Whether you prefer a right or left-handed retrieve, this reel has you covered. The 7.3:1 option provides that sweet spot for a variety of fishing styles, making it a reliable choice for many anglers.

So, next time you're on the water, consider the gear ratio that suits your fishing style, and with the Daiwa Tatula SV Casting Reel, you've got a quality option at your fingertips. Happy fishing!

Gear Ratios Simplified (2024)

FAQs

What is the gear ratio explained simply? ›

The gear ratio is the ratio of the number of teeth in the gear to the number of teeth in the pinion, the pinion being the smaller of the two gears in mesh.

How do you simplify gear ratios? ›

Divide the number of driven gear teeth by the number of drive gear teeth. In our example, it's 28/21 or 4 : 3. This gear ratio shows that the smaller driver gear must turn 1,3 times to get the larger driven gear to make one complete turn.

What is the simple formula for gear ratio? ›

Students derive the formula for finding the gear ratio of a pair of gears: gear ratio = teeth in driven gear/teeth in driver gear.

How do I figure out what gear ratio I need? ›

For the ring gear, the more teeth, the lower the top speed, but faster the acceleration will be achieved. Less ring gear teeth will result in higher top speed but slower acceleration. The gear ratio is calculated by taking the number of ring gear teeth and dividing it by the number of pinion gear teeth.

Is a higher or lower gear ratio faster? ›

Gear ratios can be boiled down to a single statement: Higher ratios (with a lower numerical value) give better torque/acceleration and lower ratios allow for higher top speeds and better fuel economy. Higher ratios mean the engine has to run faster to achieve a given speed.

Which gear has more power? ›

In general, you'll want to keep this rule of thumb in mind: the lower the gear, the more power you have available. The higher the gear, the faster your engine runs! With both manual and automatic transmissions, you'll generally move from lower to higher gears as you accelerate.

How do you solve a gear ratio problem? ›

Divide the number of teeth on each "driven" gear by the number of teeth on the "drive" gear for each interlocking set of gears to calculate the intermediate gear ratios. In our example, the intermediate gear ratios are 20/7 = 2.9 and 30/20 = 1.5.

How do gears work? ›

Gears are usually found in sets of two or more, used to transmit rotation from the axis of one gear to the axis of another. The teeth of a gear one one axis mesh with the teeth of a gear on another, thus creating a relationship between the rotation of the two axes. When one axis is spun, the other will too.

What is the first step in calculating the gear ratio? ›

Step 1: Identify the Driving and Driven Gears

The first step in calculating the gear ratio is to identify which gear is the driving gear (input) and which is the driven gear (output).

Do gear ratios add or multiply? ›

The compound gear ratio between the driven and driv- ing gears is then calculated by multiplying the gear ratios of each of the individual gear pairs.

How to figure out gear ratio without pulling cover? ›

With the transmission in neutral, rotate the rear driveshaft by hand. Count the number of driveshaft revolutions required for one revolution of the tire. If the driveshaft turns approximately 3-1/2 times, you have a 3.54 ratio, etc.

What is an example of a gear ratio? ›

The calculation uses the number of teeth in the ring gear and divides it by the number of teeth in the pinion gear to provide you with a “[result] to 1” ratio. For example, if the pinion gear has 41 teeth, and the ring gear has 11 teeth, the ratio would be calculated as 41/11, which is equal to 3.73 = 3.73:1.

What does 60 1 gear ratio mean? ›

It means that there is a ratio of 60:1 between the input (motor) and the output shaft speed. The output shaft runs slower but has much more torque.

What does a 1 5 gear ratio mean? ›

The driving gear has more teeth than the driven gear. For example, if a motor drives a 60T gear to a driven 12T gear on a wheel, when the 60T driving gear rotates once, the 12T driven gear rotates five (5) times. This is known as a 1:5 gear ratio.

What does a 2 1 gear ratio mean? ›

2:1 means two rotations of the driver gear cause one rotation of the follower gear. This is reduction - the speed is decreased 2 times, the torque is increased 2 times. You get half of the speed but double torque.

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