Key Features of DAIWA 2021 STEEZ A TW HLC

HYPERDRIVE DESIGN

In 2021, DAIWA’s new baitcasting reels underwent a significant evolution, marking a new era of innovation. The term that embodies this transformation is "HYPERDRIVE DESIGN." This new design philosophy aims to elevate all basic performance levels, ensuring they remain consistently high over time. At its core is the HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR, which includes both the drive and pinion gears. Supporting this are three additional key components: HYPER DOUBLE SUPPORT (pinion gear support system), HYPER ARMED HOUSING (reel body), and HYPER TOUGH CLUTCH. These four critical elements, refined with DAIWA's cutting-edge technology and new innovations, collectively deliver exceptional drive performance. A model featuring HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR and enhanced rotational performance falls under the HYPERDRIVE DESIGN category. 

HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR

HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR is a newly designed gear system for baitcasting and conventional reels, engineered to maintain strong and smooth rotation over time. DAIWA’s unique technology avoids reducing the module size of the gear teeth, which is crucial for durability. Instead, it enhances meshing efficiency by shaping the gear teeth with a bullet-shaped silhouette that optimizes the pressure angle. This design ensures the initial smoothness of the reel lasts longer, achieving an exceptional balance between smooth rotation and rotational durability. Compared to previous DAIWA gears, the noise felt during handle rotation, such as roughness, has been significantly reduced by over 50% in the HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR.

HYPER DOUBLE SUPPORT

The HYPER DOUBLE SUPPORT system is a pinion gear support mechanism that enhances smoothness, power, and lightness in the reel’s operation. By precisely supporting both ends of the pinion gear with two ball bearings, it ensures that the power input from the handle is transmitted without loss, allowing for powerful and light winding even under load. The pinion gear, a crucial component on par with the drive gear in baitcasting reels, has also undergone significant evolution. Like the drive gear, the pinion gear’s tooth surface has been updated with new specifications, and the use of special materials has greatly reduced issues such as corrosion, seizing, and damage, thereby significantly contributing to the gear's durability.

HYPER ARMED HOUSING (Aluminum)

The HYPER ARMED HOUSING is a body system designed to provide high rigidity and precision, supporting the internal structure of the reel to deliver smooth winding and power. A key requirement is the use of metal materials for the frame, which, when combined with side plates and set plates, ensures that the reel's fundamental performance is maintained over an extended period.

HYPER TOUGH CLUTCH

The HYPER TOUGH CLUTCH system delivers precise on/off performance, maintaining its reliability through thousands of cycles. It is designed to be highly durable, even in saltwater environments with high salt concentrations. Featuring an advanced insulation structure, this system has achieved a 99% reduction in sticking-related repairs compared to DAIWA's previous clutch systems, showcasing its exceptional performance in harsh conditions.

ULTIMATE CASTING LINE GUIDE(T-Wing System)

Traditional level wind systems were designed, as their name suggests, to lay the line evenly across the spool. However, during casting, they often created resistance, leading manufacturers to experiment with different internal diameters and shapes to enhance line release. But these efforts had their limits. Excessive enlargement of the level wind compromised its original function, restricting advancements to minimal adjustments, such as refining the internal diameter. Some solutions included increasing the distance between the spool and the level wind or narrowing the spool width to prevent the line from hitting the level wind at sharp angles. While partially effective, these methods were essentially temporary fixes that led to side effects such as elongating the reel body, reducing palming comfort, or decreasing line capacity.

DAIWA's TWS (T-Wing System) addresses these contradictions not with compromise but with innovation, achieving both precise line winding and an expanded resistance-free range during line release. By significantly widening the resistance-free zone where the line makes contact with the level wind, particularly right after it leaves the spool, TWS has dramatically enhanced the long-casting performance of DAIWA baitcasting reels. Simultaneously, the smooth line flow facilitated by TWS has proven effective in preventing backlashes.

MAGSEALED

DAIWA's MAGSEALED technology is designed to prevent water, salt, and debris from entering the reel, using magnetic fluid to form a barrier that protects critical components like bearings, line rollers, and gears from saltwater. DAIWA adapted magnetic fluid technology initially developed by NASA for dust protection in hard drives used in space. Unlike traditional rubber seals that increase handle rotation friction, the magnetic fluid is held in place by a magnetic field, reducing friction and enabling smooth operation. This technology enhances the reel's durability and performance, significantly improving reliability in harsh fishing environments without requiring meticulous maintenance.

ATD

DAIWA’'s ATD (Automatic Drag) technology is an innovative system designed to address the issues found in traditional drag systems. Previously, the main problem was the lack of smoothness when the drag first engaged. ATD ensures a smooth initial drag, releasing lines with consistent tension under strong pressure, and offering gradual resistance under lighter pressure. This adaptability reduces the need for frequent adjustments of drag force and also improves hooking rates. Enhanced drag washers maintain drag strength during long fights, giving anglers an advantage against large fish. ATD provides a stress-free and efficient fishing experience.

ULTIMATE CASTING BRAKE (MAGFORCE)

DAIWA was the first in the world to apply the principles of magnetism and electromagnetism to control the spool rotation in baitcasting reels. After over forty years of continuous refinement, the ULTIMATE CASTING BRAKE was born, characterized by two key elements. First, it employs a non-contact, electromagnetic induction brake system called “MAGFORCE”, which generates braking force without relying on friction. Second, it features a [Variable Induct Rotor] that adjusts the braking force according to the spool's rotational speed, ensuring optimal control based on the angler's input and the lure's flight.

The ULTIMATE CASTING BRAKE's non-contact design offers significant advantages, such as resistance to water, rain, splashes, and humidity, while its parts remain free from wear, resulting in consistently stable performance that lasts nearly indefinitely. The stable performance of MAGFORCE allows the Variable Induct Rotor to be finely tuned for various scenarios, such as improving compatibility with lightweight lures, enhancing versatility, and enabling exceptional long-distance casting through its dual-stage Variable Induct Rotor.

MAG-Z BOOST

MAG-Z BOOST is a distance-focused setting that maximizes the long-casting performance of MAGFORCE-Z. Due to its nature of activating the inductor rotor through centrifugal force, MAGFORCE-Z is less suitable for lightweight lures but ideal for long casts with medium to heavy lures, where every bit of input translates to greater casting distance. By adding the BOOST spool's characteristics, the system avoids the backlash zone and then instantly retracts the two-stage inductor rotor to a single stage. This allows for an extended trajectory from mid-cast to just before landing, achieving maximum casting distance.

ULTIMATE CASTING ZERO ADJUST

Since 2016, DAIWA has referred to the mechanical brake as the Zero Adjuster. This change was prompted by the evolution of DAIWA's baitcasting reels, where the primary brake system, MAGFORCE, reached its pinnacle, rendering the secondary mechanical brake unnecessary for braking purposes. Instead of functioning as a brake, the mechanical brake now serves solely to set the spool shaft's lateral movement within an optimal range (less than 0.2mm). By eliminating the complexity and ambiguity of using a secondary brake, the ZERO ADJUST system ensures complete spool control with just the main brake.

HLC (Hyper Long Cast) CONCEPT

By making the induct rotor in the MAGFORCE system movable, the brake applies strongly at the beginning of the cast when needed, and weakens during the latter part of the cast. This setup optimizes the brake for long-distance casting, resulting in a lighter start and extended casting distance.

G1 DURALUMIN SPOOL

G1 Duralumin is an advanced aluminum alloy that boasts twice the strength of magnesium and is 1.3 times stronger than super-duralumin. Known for being extremely lightweight, this material is also highly rigid, making it the top choice among lightweight alloys used in aircraft structures and precision instruments. To achieve an exceptionally lightweight feel without compromising strength, the winding surface of the spool has been thinned without any blanking in material, preserving its full strength. The result is unmatched rotational responsiveness due to its lightness and highly precise rotation thanks to its superior rigidity.

ZERO SHAFT

Typically, spools are supported by a shaft integrated with the spool itself, but with ZERO SHAFT, the spool is supported solely by ball bearings. By eliminating the shaft, unnecessary resistance is removed, resulting in optimal spool rotation. This feature prioritizes casting performance, making it a crucial element of the stress free casting. Previously known as the Speed Shaft, this spool mechanism was renamed "ZERO SHAFT" in 2021.