Should I go with fish at this stage?

[frostless]

although they aren't cheap boards by any means - you can buy a custom board for less and something like a torq for much less.

Then it is probably out of my budget as I dont intend to spend more than 500 or 600 on a board at this stage.
Thanks for your advice.

[waikikikichan]

I was not able to tell the difference between them. But when it happens to someone new to surfing, it is not really a surprise is it?

That's why I kept asking you questions so we all can be on the same page and give you appropriate advice.

So if question was " is a swallowtail hybrid surfboard good for a beginner who needs extra paddling power?"

NO, because a Hybrid surfboard is a mix / compromise between a funboard and a shortboard. Bigger dimensions than a shortboard but smaller than a longboard. If you need more paddling power, than you need a bigger board, NOT a smaller board. If you said you need a board more easy to maneuver, than maybe a Hybrid Swallow tail might help.

Look up other post on "catching waves". Hopefully you figure out it more about Timing and Position, than it is about Power.

[oldmansurfer]

I like fish

[dtc]

you are right. I was not able to tell the difference between them. But when it happens to someone new to surfing, it is not really a surprise is it? So if question was " is a swallowtail hybrid surfboard good for a beginner who needs extra paddling power?" Would the answers still be no? I know I can always try it next time when I go for a lesson but I am just so eager to know that is why I asked here.

A lot of people tend to say a swallowtail board is a fish, even though more 'traditional' surfers know that while a fish does have a swallowtail, its not the tail that makes it a fish, its the combination of a lot of other factors (width, rocker, length etc). So its one of those terms that gets bandied about and can mean two different things, depending on who is doing the talking (indeed, if you look at some online stores and click 'fish', you get swallowtails).

as wkk said, a hybrid board is, well, a hybrid. All surfboards have tradeoffs - change one thing and something else changes. A hybrid is not as stable or easy to paddle as a mini mal, but its more maneuverable. On the other hand, its not as maneuverable as a short board. Some people argue they are pointless boards, not good at anything and instead mediocre at all things. Others say that being, say, a high performance board is irrelevant because their surfing style or skill wont utilise that performance level, so why trade off paddling or stability for an outcome you wont be using.

At this stage, it seems that paddling might be your weakness, so buy something that assists - ie something with a lot of volume. A mid 7ft mini mal will offer more than a longboard in terms of turning etc, but will still assist in paddling. that said, the Addvance has a lot of volume so might be an easy paddler; I personally find that narrower noses help a lot with paddling in choppy conditions (the nose cuts through the chop instead of ploughing through or bouncing over the top). But a narrower nose = less stability. So, again, trade offs.

As an example, a 7'2 Addvance has 62L volume whereas a 7ft2 Torq funboard has 48L volume. Is 62L too much in a 7ft2 board ie will it sit too high in the water and be hard to control - possibly esp if you are a lightweight (under 70kg). But while the Addvance has more rocker (nose flip - which pushes against the water ie makes it harder to paddle) it still actually may be easier to paddle than the Torq

However, at the end of the day you should have the fitness to paddle a board of 50L or thereabouts for a 60-90 minute session (if not longer). If you are starting from a low fitness base then its something to work on, for sure; and may take a while. But in the meantime, enjoy the sessions for as long as you can surf and dont get too tied up about which board. Something around mid 7ft should be fine, the Torq boards (or there are other similar priced new boards or a second hand board) will be a good choice