Not sure out plywood backing, but Grady does not use backing plates on rod holders, many heavy duty rod holders have optional backing plates which help to distribute the load, which leads to less possibility of damage. Also, Grady uses medium duty rod holders, they are what 90% of boat builders use, some even use ones of lesser quality. Most boat builders do not install Heavy Duty Rod holders with backing plates unless it is done custom, after market, or the boat is a true big game battle wagon and its intended main purpose is to fish big fish. Grady is by no means giving you a bad rod holder install, they install rod holders for the general population of their users. Most of us out there do not need to worry about the way they are installed and backed unless they do a lot of blue water fishing. If you do, it is not a bad upgrade to invest in, and the job is not that hard to be done by the average person either. The only guys who NEED to reinforce rod holders and upgrade are those who fish offshore almost all the time and are targeting fish that avg over 100lbs, ie: bluefin tuna, blue marlin, big sharks. If you may occasionally fish for a shark and may hook an occasional big eye, you are fine unless you plan to fish the rod from the rod holder.