Surfing Waves

Ive never used a traction pad...do they help with carves, snaps, balance, etc more than wax and which ones are decent?

I am only an intermediate surfer but i always use a traction pad on the back of my shortboards just so i know there to put my back foot because it feels different to wax. The companies that sell them try to make out it helps you with airs and big Manoeuvres, but i cant pull these off so dont really know. I also dont see how it can help your balance at all, balance is up to you. I think you should give one a go and see that you think of it, its just a personal preference really. Finally creatures of leisure make a good variety of different shapes and sized traction pads.

I don't use one my self and I'm only pulling basic turns right now.

But, like the captain said the people I've talked to about them say that they use it for foot placement.

all they do is give you more grip on your back foot, and a place to put you foot so it wont move when your doing big turns