Surfing Waves

Getting a new surfboard don't know what tail shape to buy round pin, squash or swallow what are the differences or are there better tail shapes ?

What kind of board do you want/for what kind of conditions? Honestly, if you are still new enough to surfing that you don't know what each is for it probably doesn't matter much for the time being.

That was my smart alec answer....answer to your question is:


Pin tails
Pin tails are usually used on big wave boards as they are designed for down the line speed with trimming in mind; mainly used in freight train waves.

Boards suited for this tail – guns (big wave boards).

Rounded pin tails
The Rounded pin is looser than a pin tail allowing the surfboard to do smooth transitions though still keeping the speed of the pin tail for bigger waves. This also makes the board quite stable.

Boards suited for this tail – short boards suited for bigger waves, fun boards (mini mals and some Malibu surfboards.

Round tails
An ‘all round’ performance shape used in most surf conditions. This tail design gives you the smooth transition but the tighter turning arcs.

Boards suited for this tail – performance short boards, fun boards, retro boards, and small wave boards.

Square tails or squash tails
The most common modern surfboard tail, it’s quite responsive in turning but helps keep the speed through the fat sections of the wave.

Board suited for this tail – performance short boards, fun boards, Malibu’s, hybrids, small wave boards.

Rounded square tails
A Rounded Square tail combines the performance of a round tail and a square tail, great all round performance for most types of waves.

Board suited for this tail – performance short boards, fun boards, Malibu’s, hybrids, small wave boards.

Swallow tails
Swallow tails are excellent for controlling sharp turning arcs because of the wider tail area and larger planning surface.

Board suited for this tail – performance short boards, and fish style small wave boards.

Fish tails
Designed with the small wave in mind, with the less push in the wave the fish will keep planning longer helping you do turns.

Board suited for this tail – retro boards and fish style small wave boards.

(More on Surfboard Tail Shapes here)

I ride a 6'1 atm but not on big waves

Not just size to consider....power of the wave (long or short period waves usually?), how hard it "jacks" at the break you surf, hollow or fat...the extremes of a slow crumbler vs a hard jacking fast hollow reef break....anyway, like I said, unless you're looking for a specific kind of board for specific kind of conditions it probably doesn't much matter as a lot of boards (most?) are designed to span a range of conditions.

What kind of board for what kind of conditions are you looking for? An "all arounder" board would depend on where you live and the waves that you are exposed to. A Texas gulf coast all rounder would be different than an all rounder for here in Bali.

isuckatsurfing wrote:Getting a new surfboard don't know what tail shape to buy round pin, squash or swallow what are the differences or are there better tail shapes ?

1) If you're ordering a new board, why don't you ask the shaper who is shaping a board for YOU ?
2) What is the best shape for a golf putter ? If there was only one "best" or better design equipment in any sport, everyone would be using just that one. ( you don't look like me, you don't surf like me, you don't surf where I surf, so what I like maybe not be what you end up liking )
3) If you don't know, stick with a Squash tail.
4) If you're venturing to Quad fins, it'll get even more confusing for you ( little early to mention, but i thought you'll be asking about that next )
5) I like swallow tails ( even on my longboard ), but I don't recommend them for beginners. Not because they're a bad design or too loose, but because beginners/newbies don't know how to care for their boards and damage the tips too easily.

I agree with talking to the shaper. In general though a round pin or round tail are good for all around boards, ride anything but maybe not the best on anything but if you ride the same board on everything you will get really good at riding that board.