I've had a bit of bother with single legs rings bending on my favourite float rod, indeed it arrived secondhand with two beyond repair.
A lot of the problem is that they are clearly a bit weak, but it was made a lot worse by splashing out on a decent rod bag for it!
The bag was so tough that it just wouldn't let a section slide in without grabbing somewhere and I promise you I was as careful as possible.
I cured the problem by buying a cheap and nasty bag for it and saving the good 'un for an old cane rod. Now it never 'grabs' a ring and slips in and out of the rod tube easier too!
There are a number of double and treble leg rings that attatch their legs to the ring section in such a way that they do not restrict rod flex at all, and as Fred has said, they are far, far more flexible than a section of rod .... though I would be tempted to stick with single legs on the top section if at all possible simply due to the weight.
Click on the picture from Guidesnblanks to magnify it and you will see what I mean.......
BLNAG 3 leg Guide
Best of all are these, no flex issues here......
BNMVAG 3 leg stand off match guide