Surfing Waves

With the exception of my first pop-out, I have always had at least a tail pad.

I now have a mini mal with no deck grip. Do I get some? or do I stick with Wax?

What do you lot think??

Sinista

What size is it

It's totally personal choice - what do you prefer?
I have one board with a tail pad and one without

The board's 7'5.

I know it's a personal thing, but I thought I'd see what peoples' views are on the benefits/ drawbacks of both choices.

Cheers

Sinista

I got a 7'10" mini-mal with deck grip on the tail. I don't even use it all the time; sometimes my back foot is actually forward of where the grip ends. I'm glad it's there anyway - kind of a tactile reference for my back foot's position when I pop up. But if I put my back foot on the pad, I need to have a pretty wide stance to get my front foot all the way out where it needs to be so I don't stall.

My board came with it, so I didn't have an option, but I like it all the same.

The best thing about deck grip is that you do not have to worry about waxing up every time you go out - your board is ready to go.

On the downside - I got a tail pad a couple of years ago and it had a big kicktail on it. Every time I popped up I just caught my knee on the top of the kicktail. After a few sessions I had developed a scab on my knee which I kept knocking off every time I went out. In the end I got the sand paper out and filed it right down. Perhaps I should of used the opportunity to hone my pop up skills?

if you are gonna rip the top off a wave, you must, must have either pro skill or a deck pad. period. also, for real big snaps, you need a pad. that said, if you put a pad on a retro fish, fun shape, log or single fin retro, you will be destroyed by God.