I've broken two of my graphite rods in the last 4 months, and even though I am sure it is all my fault, Ive decided to look into a decidedly more durable rod.

I saw this review of the Ugly Stik (GX2) which is a fiberglass/graphite combo, and feel I probably found a rod I won't break!!
I'd attach the video if I knew how but it is great, the guy casts up to 36 oz of lead with it, a 1 gallon milk jug filled with water, pulls his pontoon boat on a trailer, and finally breaks it when he ties on to a gocart running away from him with someone driving it.

It is at saltedangler.com Shakespear Ugly Stik GX2 rod review

Did not see the video, but just out of curiosity:
how often do you need to cast 36oz? gallon of milk?
May be, it is reasonable to compare this thing to broomstick? jumping pole?
When you choose your rod, what is your main requirement?
Mine are:
1) Action casting out?
2) Action retrieving?
3) Precision?
4) Weight of the rod to allow you to cast it 5 hours in a row?
Out of all those 4, GX2 is only good @2. Heavy, flimsy, absolutely inaccurate.
And how it possibly be accurate if (please have a close look @them) even reel seat is mounted differently on each rod!
Not to mention awry blanks themselves.
If you don't need to cast (bait fishing from the boat), or you don't really care about precision (catfishing from the lake's shore), or you need to cast 1 gallon milk and so on... it will work for you for ages!
Tight lines!

I certainly can understand that there are fishermen who are so in tune to the nuances of fishing, that they can appreciate and desire only the most state of the art fishing gear. I have used expensive gear and I have used budget gear and agree it is easier to fish all day with a light rod/reel combo than a heavy one.

I'm guessing there are far more people who have to buy things that are durable and fit within the budget they feel fits within their priorities and needs.

I'm also fairly confident that though some would turn up their noses at the "lowly" Ugly Stik, it is neither a broom stick or a jumping pole.

I personally do not need the difference in accuracy I would gain in buying a "better" rod enough to justify the expense, and I do not just catfish from the bank. I do however appreciate not breaking my otherwise more delicate graphite rods enough to consider dumbing down to the Ugly Stik.

Use what makes you happy and fits your priorities.

I'm happy using a MH GX2 for big treble hooked swim baits.

They are heavy, not very accurate, and not sensitive; but they are not likely to break.

If I fished tournaments or needed to detect every bite; I'd choose something else, but the GX2 meets my needs for the application I'm using it for.

Interesting conversation, guys.
I'm surprised how many people have this weird problem - broken rods!
Last time I broke one was 2006, I was lucky it was a cheapest rod I had - UL Shakespeare one worth around $15.
I am fishing all my life at least once a week, but all my other rods are fine.
This includes, for example, 2 great 8'6" and 9' Fenwicks I'm using for 17+ years for casting relatively large poppers for stripers, kastmasters for salmon and hairaisers for halibut/bats. Not to mention cats. None(!) of them ever where in a situation when it was possible for me to break them! Broken one was smashed by a car door. That's it.
Yes my lovely Fenwicks came around 100 each. But they do the job almost perfectly so far, and I'm planning to keep them for another 25+ years
IMO, it is much cheaper to have great LOVELY rods you will love to take care of and love for life, than something you will "enjoy" just because they are hard to break.
Man, just don't break them!

I might find I don't care for the rod, but I was hoping the fact that it combined graphite and fiberglass that it might be sensitive enough to use.

I have shut several rods in the truck door at once! But lately the last three breaks were landing a fish as I was reaching for the fish stretching my reach and trying to move the fish to my hand. It could be that because my rods tend to be medium to medium light weight rods with a thin fast tip that I just put too much strain on the tip (which is where it is breaking). I have had one break just hooking my bait up to the baitkeeper at the end of the day. Didn't leave enough slack but put only a very moderate downward pressure on the rod, maybe3-4" of deflection.

Ugly Stick is all great and dandy if you like a rod with the sensitivity of a wet noodle.

I wouldn't use an Ugly Stik GX2 for any technique that requires subtle bite detection.
They are ridiculously heavy, so I wouldn't use them for topwater lures either (tried it for frog fishing and your forearms will get worn out).

With braid mainline (significantly improves the sensitivity) to 6ft leader of copoly/mono/fluoro they work fine for treble hooked mid depth and shallow running large swimbaits. The parabolic action of the Ugly Stik is what you want for those kind of baits

Ugly Stik also makes an Elite rod, but haven't tried those.

I use them for a live bait rod mostly striper fishing. They have a good action for that and are durable. The GX2's are not as good as the ones I have from 10+ yeas ago though. I occasionally use one for jigging a heavy slab, but they are not my favorite for that.