New Daiwa Zillion

Longer life, more power and torque, and unbeatable performance characterize the new Zillion

Behold the new standard in freshwater low-profile baitcasting reels, Daiwa’s brilliantly designed Zillion SV TW. Style, innovation, research, and passion come together in the birth of the new Zillion SV TW. With 40 years of research and experience in magnetic braking systems, Daiwa has added a brand-new SV Booster System gives anglers total control, now with the added benefit of longer casting distance. The reels also feature Daiwa’s new Hyper Drive design for an ultra-smooth retrieve and powerful winding performance.

“Zillion has been a really popular name for Daiwa going back through the years,” says Marc Mills, Daiwa Field Marketing Manager. “But over the past seven or eight years the design has stayed largely the same. This year we’ve really made a lot of changes and technology advancements in the reel—a new shape to the reel, improved palmability, new braking system, new gearing, and so much more. This is a special reel for us.”

New design concepts are the pinnacle of Zillion’s durability and innovation. The Hyper Drive Design consists of four new elements: Hyper Armed Housing, Hyper Drive Digigear, Hyper Double Support pinion gear, and Hyper Tough Clutch. Hyperdrive Digigear is a new gear design that makes the teeth of the gears more efficient at transferring power, therefore making the gear set feel smoother, more powerful and also reducing gear noise. The reel also features Hyper Armed Housing, an aluminum frame and side-plate for maximum rigidity and precision performance of the internal components. Hyper Double Support is a two bearing support system for the reel’s pinion gear which means no side-to-side movement and an ultra-smooth gear rotation and retrieve. Furthermore, the Hyper Tough Clutch is a redesigned and reinforced clutch mechanism that increases durability and performance. These features combine to make the new Zillion SV TW a peak example of design, function and innovation.

“First off, the Zillion SV TW features a new Hyper Drive gearing system. What we’re using is a different cut, different angle tooth pattern, which allows more metal at one time to touch each gear. This allows us to transfer power and torque more efficiently and the angle and the shape of the gear teeth provides a super smooth rotation. The result is very fluid, and almost feels like there are no gears in the reel. The smoother you can make the rotation, the longer the gears will live and work well with each other. It also helps because with a fluid almost air-like feeling, you feel the lure better and what the fish are doing. It keeps your mind more focused on your lure and fishing,” adds Mills.

It should also be noted that Daiwa is using brass gears in the Zillion SV TW. In the U.S. market, anglers fish bigger lures and catch much bigger bass than those standardly caught in the JDM market, hence the move to brass gearing in the Hyper Drive system, which is harder and more resilient than the aluminum gearing used in JDM versions of the reel.

Besides the Hyper Drive gearing, Daiwa is also proud to introduce a new braking system in the Zillion SV TW called the SV Booster System. “In the past we’ve had our standard SV system—the one we have in Tatula—which is a one-step braking system, where it will really help you cast smaller and larger baits with less backlashes (and has been extremely successful and popular). The SV Booster System is a two-stage braking system that gives anglers control and stress-free casts without backlashes, but also provides 10% to 15% more distance in your casts. To help with that we’ve added our G1 aluminum spool, a much thinner, lighter spool that really reduces spool inertial allowing better casting of lighter lures,” says Mills.

He adds: “We also have our T-Wing system, G1 aluminum spool, the SV Booster System, and our Zero Adjust. It gives us complete braking technology system unlike anything on the market. There are so many layers working together that make it a special low-profile baitcaster truly unlike anything anglers have fished.”

Daiwa’s revolutionary T-Wing System addresses the issue of traditional guide/level wind systems constricting line flow by delivering a T-shaped line guide that is larger, wider and less restrictive. TWS allows line to exit freely from the spoon with minimal line angle and severely diminished friction, thereby reducing line noise and backlash, and delivering more accurate and longer casts.

The reel was also designed for the utmost in palmability. The Magforce dial is located under the reel so you don’t feel it touching the palm of your hand. There’s also a large hood above the T-Wing System, which allows your thumb to rest comfortably on the reel. And on the handle side of the reel, Daiwa went to a 90 mm handle throw and larger handle knobs. And in terms of overall weight, all Zillions come in at a light and comfortable weight of 6.7 ounces.

The reel is available in right- and left-handed versions in three different gear ratios: 6.3:1, 7.1:1, and 8.5:1.

For freshwater anglers seeking their next premium, precision baitcasting reel, look no further than the Zillion SV TW, a reel engineered with advanced technology and constructed of the finest and most durable materials available.

MSRP $349.99