The best fin setup is the one that solves whatever your waves throw at you, and the history of fins shows exactly what each setup was built to fix. At Flatrock Surf, we reckon the easiest way to choose is to know that story: the single fin gave boards direction, the twin fin gave them speed, the thruster added hold and control, and the quad brought speed back without losing hold.
Here's a short history of surfboard fin setups, written as a practical guide. We've stuck to dates and events that are well documented, and where the record gets murky we say so. Each section ends with a verdict on who that setup suits today.
Why did surfboards get a fin in the first place?
Surfboards got a fin so the tail would stop sliding sideways. In 1935, American waterman Tom Blake fitted a fin to a surfboard, and the modern fin story starts there. Without one, the tail skids out every time you turn, so holding a line across the wave face is a fight. One fin under the tail gave the board something to grip the water with, and it stayed the standard setup for decades afterwards.
The trade-off is feel. A single fin holds a line beautifully and drives smooth down the face, but it fights sharp, quick changes of direction, so the board feels stiff when you want to snap a turn.
Who it suits today: longboards, logs and classic-style boards in clean, smooth waves, where trimming and noseriding count for more than snap.
Why did twin fins add speed and looseness?
Twin fins cut drag and let a board skate around quickly. The short, wide twin-fin fish came out of San Diego, California, in the late 1960s, and its two fins, set out toward the rails, made small, soft waves heaps more playable. By the end of the 1970s, twins had hit the world stage: the World Surf League lists Mark Richards as world champion four years running, from 1979 to 1982, and he is widely associated with twin fins.
The catch shows up once the surf gets bigger and more powerful. With no centre fin, a twin can lose hold when you push hard on a steep face, and the tail can slide out from under you.
Who it suits today: fish and retro boards in small, soft waves, like a mellow summer arvo at one of Sydney's best surf beaches.
What problem did the Australian-invented thruster fix?
The thruster fixed the twin's lack of hold without giving up its looseness. Sydney shaper Simon Anderson developed the three-fin setup in 1980. In 1981 he won both the Bells Beach contest in Victoria and the Pipeline Masters in Hawaii on it, according to World Surf League event records.
The two side fins give you drive and hold. The centre fin steadies the board and helps you release the tail through a turn. That mix of grip and pivot is why the thruster went from one surfer's experiment to the default, and more than four decades later it's still what you'll find under most shortboards.
Who it suits today: shortboards and all-rounders in nearly every kind of wave, from a knee-high beachie to a solid point. If you're unsure, start here. Our surfboard buying guide covers the other specs that matter alongside fins.
Why did quads take off after the thruster?
Quads drop the thruster's centre fin to cut drag while keeping hold. A quad has two fins on each side and no centre fin. The idea is to keep a twin's speed and get extra grip from the second pair of fins, so the board stays planted when the wave gets steep.
Unlike the thruster, we can't pin the quad to a single documented moment, so we won't try. What we can say is that it has gone from niche to common on modern boards, and as of spring 2026 it's a regular option on shortboards and fish alike.
The trade-off is feel. With no centre fin, a quad tends to feel very quick in a straight line but a touch less pivotal in tight turns than a thruster. That's our read, and it's why some surfers carry both setups.
Who it suits today: small to medium waves where you want speed, and fast, hollow waves where you want hold.
Which fin setup should you ride today?
Pick by wave, not by fashion:
- Single fin: longboards, logs and classic shapes in clean, smooth waves.
- Twin fin: fish and retro boards in small, soft waves.
- Thruster: the all-rounder for shortboards and most conditions.
- Quad: speed in small to medium waves, and hold in fast, hollow ones.
Many modern boards have five fin boxes, so you can run a thruster one sesh and a quad the next. Try both on the same board in similar waves before you decide. If you've outgrown your first board, our guide to the best intermediate surfboards in Australia is a good next read. Once the board's sorted, browse our all gear collection for the rest of your kit, from wetties to accessories.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented the thruster fin setup?
Sydney shaper Simon Anderson developed the thruster in 1980, and in 1981 he won both the Bells Beach contest and the Pipeline Masters on it, according to World Surf League event records.
What is the difference between a thruster and a quad?
A thruster has three fins: a centre fin sitting between two side fins. A quad has four, two on each side and nothing in the middle. Thrusters tend to feel more pivotal in turns, while quads tend to feel faster in a straight line.
Is a single fin still worth riding?
At Flatrock Surf, we reckon a single fin is still worth riding on the right board. It suits longboards and classic shapes in clean, smooth waves, where trimming and noseriding count for more than quick turns.
What fin setup should I start with?
Start with the setup your board came with. On a shortboard, that's almost always a thruster, and it's also the most versatile option across different waves.
Can I ride a thruster and a quad on the same board?
Yes, if your board has five fin boxes. Check your board's fin boxes before buying fins, because not every board is built to run both setups.
