Surfboard Tails
The different types of surfboard tails:
The end of the surfboard where the water exits form the board. The different tail types affect the stability and performance of a surfboard.
Following are the most common tail types:
Round Pin Tail
The curved tail with a pinch at the end permits the surfboard to hold well in the pocket of the wave and smooth rail to rail. The Rounded Pin tail can bog down through flat sections, therefore is great for powerful, medium to larger surf.
Pin Tail
The tail is shaped into a point. Pin tails have the minimum amount of area in the water, designed to hold the waves
well at higher speeds. Excellent for large waves where speed needs to be controlled, not generated. Popular with Gun surfboards.
Square Tail
Great for shortboards and small waves.
The square tail contains the greatest area of any tail design. The rails meet the tail at sharp corners allowing the surfer to carve the most sharpest, pivotal turns with great responsiveness.
Squash Tail
One of the most common tail designs with shortboards. The Squash tail is similar to the Square tail but with rounded edges. The tail provides excellent performance while maintaining speed and drive.
Swallow Tail
Easy to identify with the reversed 'v' chopped from the tail. The gap allows water to flow freely between the two
pins (pivots) which provides more drives in the weaker waves.
Half Crescent Moon Tail:
The Half Crescent Moon tail has been named due to the appearance of the tail, it has a semi-circular shape cut out of the tail. Popular with small, sloppy wave boards such as fish surfboards.
Bat Tail:
One of the more futuristic tail designs. Basically a bat tail is two outer pivot points and the addition of the central point. Bat Tails are good in small waves, but have been used for tow boards as well.
Wings (double/single/more):
The purpose of wing tails is to reduce the width of the tail (generally for the wider boards). The reduction is a small cut away which typically occurs just in front of the front fins. The example shown above is a wing tail combined with a swallow tail.