3 of the most Important Parts of a Surf Fin

When buying surf fins for your board, there are three fundamental aspects to take into account. Drive, Pivot and Hold or just the same; acceleration, maneuverability and grip. Next we´ll explain in what consists each of them, and what you have to be looking for before buying a set of fins.

1.      Drive – Longitude of the fin base

The Drive is the capacity of acceleration of the fins and the capacity to maintain speed when turning. The Drive of the fins depends on these three factors:

  • The width of the fin base
  • The total area of the fin
  • The fin material

Generally, more base and more fin area means more drive generated which augments the acceleration capacity after doing a turn.

parts of a surf fin

2.      Pivot – Fin angle

The Pivot is the capacity for the fins to do closed and tight turns. The pivot is determined by the angle that the fin has. That’s why it´s called the Rake. More angle, as in less upright, means more pivot.

  • Less pivot is ideal for small waves and doing short turns.
  • A lot of pivot is ideal for fast waves with long walls. This type of fins will let you do a wider bottom turn and give you better mobility when doing short turns.

Anatomy of a surf fin

3.      Hold or grip – Height of the fins

The Hold which is another key aspect for the fin will be determined by the height of the fin.

  • More hold/grip the harder it is for your board to slide side to side
  • Less hold means it will be easier to slide the boards tail

Let this illustration help you out so as to identify the different parts.

Surf fin parts

@singlequiver

Fin brands

There are a ton of fin brands. The most well-known are: Shapers, Futures, FCS, Deflow or Feather Fins. Apart from these premium brands, there are an infinity of cheaper brands. The majority of surfers are capable of noticing the difference between one and the other, and that’s why they usually decide on price when buying a new set.

Fins aren´t a cheap surfboard accessory really. Its price is usually around 40 euros all the way to 140 euros. Some brands like Shapers indicate in each of their models the Drive, Pivot and Hold. Something that will serve as a guide before buying.

Conclusion

We hope that we´ve been able to help you the maximum possible. If you have any doubts about which model is best adapted to you and your objectives, send us an email and we will happily help you. Visit our surf fin outlet and find your cheap surf fin.

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