Rich,
Pretty much everything you suggested, I am already doing or have tried. With Steve’s carbon fiber shaft and counterweight it is actually very comfortable to swing. That is not the problem. The problem is with the design of the handle/grip. It just does not fit my hand very well. Maybe it is because I am older (74) that it affects me more than it would a younger person.
Corvallis, OR
Detectors:
Tesoro Bandido II Umax (2)
Tesoro Outlaw
Whites MXT Pro
Minelab Equinox 800
XP Deus with 9” and 11” X35 coils
XP ORX with 5x9” and 9” hf coils (My traveling detector)