The 3 Most Important Parts of Surfboard Fins
When buying surfboard fins for your board, there are three fundamental aspects you will need to pay attention to: Drive, Pivot, and Hold. Or in other words, acceleration, maneuverability, and grip. Next, we will explain what each of them consists of and what you should look for before buying a set of fins.
1. Drive – Length of the fin base
1. – The Drive. It is the acceleration capacity of the fins and the ability to maintain speed after making a turn. The Drive of the fins depends on 3 factors:
- The width of the fin base
- The total surface area of the fin
- The material the fins are made of
Broadly speaking, the more base and greater surface area the fin has, the more drive it will generate and therefore the more acceleration capacity you will have after making a turn.
2. Pivot of the fins – Angle of the fin
2. – The Pivot Pivot is the fins’ ability to make short turns. The fin’s pivot is determined by the angle it forms. That’s why it is also known as Rake. The more angle, that is, the more tilted the shape of the fin, the more pivot it will have.
- Little pivot is ideal for small waves and for making short turns.
- A lot of pivot. Ideal for fast waves and long walls. These types of fins will allow you to make a wider bottom turn and better mobility for making short turns.
3. Hold or Grip – Fin Height
3. – The Hold. Hold, which translates literally as grip, is another key aspect of a fin. It is determined by the fin’s height.
- The higher the hold, the greater the grip.
- The lower the hold, the easier it is to slide the tail of the board.
Let the following illustration serve as a way to identify the different concepts we have talked about.
@singlequiver
Fin Brands
There are a lot of fin brands. The most well-known: Shapers, Futures Fins, FCS, Deflow, or Feather Fins. In addition to these premium brands, there are countless cheap fin brands. The vast majority of surfers are unable to notice differences between them, which is why they opt for the price factor before buying a new set.
Fins are not exactly a cheap surf accessory. Their price ranges from 40 to 140 euros. Some brands like Shapers, indicate the Drive, pivot, and Hold in each of their models. Something that can serve as a guide before buying.
Conclusion
We hope to have helped you as much as possible. If you still have doubts about which model can best suit your goals and style, you can leave a coment and we will be happy to help.
And remember to subscribe to our newsletter to stay tunned for any news, or more tips to take your surfing experience to a whole other level.