Over the decades I've accumulated a lot of string management devices -- more than I realized as I discovered when I went through the cupboard. This reel, though, is rapidly becoming one of my favorites. It works quite well through all phases of flight. The grip at the center of the reel works quite well for me, which is interesting because it is, frankly too small for my hand. I have big hands. But I found that I naturally just use the hole for the fingers and grip it that way. My thumb is then free to be used to regulate the speed that line pays out (and if I need to stop the line, I can use the winding handle.) The guide works quite well for feeding line onto the reel. One problem with the guide is that I seem to have a knack for getting string wrapped around the guide mount when I am prepping for launch. I'm going to have look at what I am doing to see if I can mitigate this tendency. Winding in the string is a breeze. The line that comes with the reel is a good all-round weight good for all but the most light- and the most heavy-pulling kites. The first kite I flew with this reel is a pocket kite that was definitely struggling with the weight of the string. It flew but I could see that the string was weighing it down. (This kite is normally flown with a super-thin nylon line that is a step or two above carpet thread.) At the other end of the spectrum, I have some large kites capable of lifting instruments that I would not fly on this line and this reel. But for the vast majority of kites, this reel and line is a great set up.