I find the Allstar 1141 to hold up perfectly to the sidedrifting abuse during our X-treme sidedrifting adventures. A more expensive delicate rod does not hold up. I can't keep a Lami Esprit to stay in one piece or perform for distance.
Of course there are other rods to try. I built a rod from a 1201 Rainshadow blank that worked out great last Saturday. It is inconclusive on whether or not casting distance was improved. But it was definitely a fishcatcher.