Surfing Waves

So Im ready to move of my tank of a shortbard and onto something more suitable for my size. I'm looking to go to a 5'10 or 5'11 all round shortboard but cant decide whther to go with a thumbtail, squashtail or swallow tail.

So what tails do you guys have on your board? Do you like it? Are different tails really that impactual? Thanks guys!

floater wrote:Are different tails really that impactual? Thanks guys!

Is impactual a word?

Anyway, yes, tail shape makes a huge difference. So go and talk to a shaper and describe what you want to do, where you do it, and how good your surfing is (be honest with the shaper!)

A much better plan than getting some uninformed opinions of t'internet.

Tail shapes make a big difference.

It can depend on the type of waves you're surfing.

And to some extent it can just depend on personal preferance.

How loose/stiff do you want it...they will all give you a different feel when turning and to some extent even just going down the line.

Do some searches on tail shapes and you'll get plenty of info to help you decide.

Umm.....what's a thumbtail?

In all of my researching on swaylocks/here/etc, I have never heard that term.

Here check this out...
https://surfing-waves.com/board/tail_shape.htm

It's a shape between a squash and a rounded pin.
It's like a squash but with more rounded corners (looks like your thumb).

Less volume than a squash, but more volume than a rounded pin.

Hmm, always just called that a round tail.

Cool, I've got 2 round tails/thumbtails.

What about batwing or maybe swallow with a few sharks teeth further up the rails?

tomcat360 wrote:Hmm, always just called that a round tail.

Cool, I've got 2 round tails/thumbtails.

Hey how do you like your roundtails? See I have a squash tail right now but have never tried a round tail. Ive done plenty of research online trying to discover the nuances but ultimately i want to hear people's personal experience on them

lol impactual is not a word it turns out, but it sounded like it should be..

I like them. I have always been told that they are good for front foot heavy surfers. I really haven't surfed that many boards with different tail shapes, other than some swallow tails and squash/square tails, and they are noticably looser than a round tail.

So I've ridden swallow tail, square tail, and round tail thrusters, swallow feels much looser and square feels a bit looser, not a whole lot though.

Longboards, round tails and square tails. I like the square tails better.

Funboards, round and square. Again, I tend to surf the square tails better.

Hmmm, after writing that synopsis, maybe I should ride some more square tails....

I like the squash/flat tails on longer boards.

For my short thrusters, I like the swallowtail in most conditions. My squashtail 6-6 is definitely a bit more stable, though.

floater wrote:

tomcat360 wrote:Hmm, always just called that a round tail.

Cool, I've got 2 round tails/thumbtails.

Hey how do you like your roundtails? See I have a squash tail right now but have never tried a round tail. Ive done plenty of research online trying to discover the nuances but ultimately i want to hear people's personal experience on them

lol impactual is not a word it turns out, but it sounded like it should be..

To me the round tail feels smoother through my turns (it won't be as loose). It may not be a significant differance, but you will deffinately notice the differance.

cool thz for all the info....i guess i can consider myself a front foot surfer and i lean into my turns quite a bit, to the point where i sometimes feel myself turning too sharply into the face...the roundtail should help with my style rite??

I don't think it will help with style but it will make your turns more drawn out and smooth.

miamisurfer wrote:I don't think it will help with style but it will make your turns more drawn out and smooth.

But, that in it self may help his style...

arite arite i took the plastic out and bought the new board! Got a squashtail in the end, dunt think im ready for a thumb tail yet. Its a Rusty Bob @ 5'11 x 18 3/4 x 2 1/4. Super Stoked!!!! Anyone ridden this board??


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hey floater, do you surf breakwater?