rob - i broke a 9'6 6-15 certified pro just llike you said where the top wasnt seated correctly and it slid up and broke on the top of the bottom section. Lamiglass replaced it cheap though even thou it was my fault . but he told me that on grafite rods you want to seat the top perpendicular to the bottom and once it is tight, twist the two sections straight. i tried that way and the top never rides up now.