Rocket or Progressive Fish style- performance differences?

[bajoman]

Anyone have any experience with a Lost Rocket style shape vs. a progressive quad fish like a Von Sol Shadow or HaydenShapes Shred Sled? I'm looking for my first shortboard (want a "quiver-killer" travel board that works in a variety of conditions and wave sizes) and wondering how the design differences in these two types of shortboards effect the performance of each. I could be wrong, but it seems the rocket style puts a lot of the volume towards the back end (in the tail) with a narrower nose whereas the progressive fishes keep the volume in the chest and nose and have a narrower tail (rounded pin with an elevated wing). I don't have a lot of experience with shortboards (my current shortest is a 7'3 eps Superfish XL quad with a deep swallow tail) so I'm wondering about the pros and cons of each of these designs and how they will effect my surfing. Thanks!

[themathteacher]

The lost rocket is a progressive fish without the V, so your real questions is tri fin or quad. Well, why settle?

Many now come with a 5 plug set up, but those that are new don't get that it's so you can use it as a quad or thruster, not as a 5 fin setup, so they don't look at those too often. Channel Islands and lost make many of their hybrids with 5 fins, check them out.

As to the tail design of the rocket vs a swallow tail, the v tail is usually wider, thus more volume and easier paddle, but also not as responsive. So do you want to catch waves easier or do you want to cutback harder? I personally prefer a thumbtail, so I would vote for the rocket.

[surf doc]

I have a 5'10" Lost Rocket, squash tail. It can be set up as a thruster or quad, I almost always use it as a quad. It's like you said, it's a board that's good in lots of different surf but a master of none. I use a retro fish when it's mushy or small.

When set up as a quad the rocket handles somewhere between a fish and a classic shortboard. It moves fast down the line, still allows for some progressive maneuvers but clearly not to the same degree as a potato chip thruster. If you are like me and your skill level is intermediate, there's not a whole lot you'll be able to do that this board can't handle. If you're looking to hack nasty cut backs, 360's and back flips you might be disappointed.

[themathteacher]

Ditto: I had been using strictly quads for a while but went back to Thruster, cutbacks are easier and it's more stable on steep waves. The only thing I miss about my quad is that it seemed to catch waves easier than a thurster.

So, get a board that has 5 plugs, buy a quad and thurster set and start having fun!!

[Trickster]

I have a 6'0'' ...Lost Stealth squashtail. When I first took it out I expected a performance board but instead I got an amazing groveler with a performance outline. Even though it is a thruster it has no problem gaining speed and control. Cheers.