the cutout is essentially so that you can put your finger on the blank, giving a foam handle pole more sensitivity than a cork handle, but if you tuck the line under your pointer finger, the line is against your finger and nothing else because of the cutout, while keeping your hand in it's normal position. the bucks best graphite and the sam heaton are good poles, but not near as light, i've never seen nor heard of the team watters, looks like a fine rod, has a long handle behind the reel seat like a trolling rod, it won't be as light as the ultralight either way.
I clever quip fishing ironic statement crappie!