Quad in small surf for skatey-ness Tri in medium to large for hold Just started rocking tri fins more often and found that I can drive off the top and bottom much harder. Quads feel too loose sometimes.
Basically, I agree with Kanman... Four single foiled fins create more lift, which is good for small/weak surf. They also generate speed, and hold speed through turns, better than thrusters. Going rail to rail can feel a little "staged," but adding a little nubster in for a trailer helps smooth this out. This has been my go-to config for quads lately. Thrusters for control in good waves. Whether or not a quad feels "too loose" has a lot to do with foot and fin placement, which is why you really need to dial in your fin placement with your shaper. It's frustrating to me to move my foot around to accommodate my fin placement, and I've been frustrated by this in the past. Your back foot should go down in the sweet spot every time... then you can move your foot around depending on what you want to do on the wave.
From my few years of experience I'd say thruster when the waves are good and twin when you can mess around and have fun. Tried quad once or twice and loved the skatey feeling.
I like quads in softer waves, small or even with some size. Waves where you need speed above all else to keep turns from bogging. Quads seem to get more speed and hold it though soft sections. Tri fin when the waves are steeper, pockety and/or big. Tri fins don't seem to generate speed, but in these kinds of waves I don't feel like I need it, but like the real positive feel jamming a turn on a steep face. Single fins for any longboard in any kind of waves. It feels faster down the line, and better on the bottom turn when I ride the longboard in big waves.
I agree with all of this, but I rarely switch to quad, even though I have the setup for it, I just get lazy and stick with the thruster setup. All single fin all the time on LB's.
Thruster for my shortboards although i get them shaped with5 boxes for the quad option. Never really liked the quad. That's for my DD SB and step up Quad i never liked until i got a mini sims a few weeks ago. Only have one sesh on it so far, but it was one of the best sessions i had in a long time. For that type of board i feel it works good but with only one sesh under my belt on it can't say to much. Single fins on any LB. And on slightly longer (mid 6s) SBs with more of a fun outline. It's like an IPA. Very different and an acquired taste, but if you dig the feeling it can be really fun
I think Moore will get em into the playoffs, then Tanny will lay a dud in the fist round. Oh, I thought you meant the Phins
