For awhile the stick guards were the best we had, and the BPS ones were certainly inferior. I prefer not to use a hook guard when it's possible but sometimes you just have to. The Timmy Toms WSD version is my preferred jig head with hook guard and I've got a bunch of TT jigs. However, anytime I possibly can I use a Litewire Hooker jig head (a CDC sponsor.) They bend easily to come unstuck and then bend right back. I've heard people say they wouldn't use them because they would be to weak to lift a crappie into the boat. I have never had that problem and, in fact, have lifted a 3+ lb bass after bending and re bending several times. These litewire jigs are very popular in the south and used frequently in Florida. I don't hear reports of anyone losing fish. But, I don't lift big crappie into the boat. I don't mind losing a bass or catfish but I use a net on big crappie. Even with strong hooks I have heard several of our experts talk of losing fish at the boat. With a net, I can't remember the last crappie I lost at the boat. My experience has been that the jigs with hook guards certainly cause me more missed strikes than when using the litewire jig. Just my opinion.