Leash Plugs - Regular vs. Goofy

Should the leash plug be on your heel side or toe side?

  • Toe

    Votes: 10 32.3%
  • Heel

    Votes: 13 41.9%
  • Right up the crack

    Votes: 7 22.6%
  • What's a leash plug?

    Votes: 1 3.2%

  • Total voters
    31
  • Poll closed .

sh3

Michael Peterson status
Dec 1, 2008
2,975
4,359
113
So one of the Stab EAST shapers and I were talking, and I saw he put the leash plug for Dave Rastavich on the left side.

Dave's a regular foot. WTF isn't it on the right?

Response: (mocking voice) "Leash plug at your heel. You would carelessly drag your leash in the face of a pristine wave?!?!"

I'd never thought of it that way... and it pissed me off that it made sense.

I've been surfing since I was a kid, and the leash plug always goes on the toe side. But should it?

For your troubles:

Screenshot 2024-09-21 at 10.32.09 AM.png
 

jkb

Tom Curren status
Feb 22, 2005
10,526
10,306
113
Central California
Sounds like you were talking to Lovelace.

My vote is for toe side.......at least for the asyms I ride.

I noticed his leash plug placement on these boards and thought they were whack. Great looking shapes, but silly plug placement, IMO (unless they're twins).

http://instagr.am/p/C_-5wtZPS1G/

If these are twin/quads you'll have to put your tail pad like 2" higher than you normally would. I want the option to have my foot back further than that plug (with tailpad) would allow.
 
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Goofy_Footed

Nep status
Jul 31, 2016
845
1,970
93
Either heel or centered for me, depending on the tail shape.

Swallow or asym = heel (as far back as they can get it)
Squash or thumb = center

Plug on the toe side seems like it would be a recipe for standing on your leash and blowing waves :shrug:
 
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sh3

Michael Peterson status
Dec 1, 2008
2,975
4,359
113
Sounds like you were talking to Lovelace.

My vote is for toe side.......at least for the asyms I ride.

I noticed his leash plug placement on these boards and thought they were whack. Great looking shapes, but silly plug placement, IMO (unless they're twins).

http://instagr.am/p/C_-5wtZPS1G/

If these are twin/quads you'll have to put your tail pad like 2" higher than you normally would. I want the option to have my foot back further than that plug (with tailpad) would allow.
They are twins
 
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silentbutdeadly

Duke status
Sep 26, 2005
35,412
27,111
113
Tower 13
My last keel I ordered a plug on my heel side. Someone here said are you goofy and I'm like WTF? Maakes more sense to me. But 99 percent of my boards have plugs in the middle.
 

smithgrind

Nep status
Dec 25, 2009
620
759
93
PNW
Response: (mocking voice) "Leash plug at your heel. You would carelessly drag your leash in the face of a pristine wave?!?!"

I'd never thought of it that way... and it pissed me off that it made sense.


View attachment 190863
What about when you’re surfing on your backhand? Isn’t that leash dragging in that pristine face? :shrug:
 
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need 4 speed

Phil Edwards status
Nov 1, 2003
6,866
3,908
113
SoCal
If the plug is in the center would the board come back to you a little "straighter" for what it's intended purpose ?
left as right is about as senseless as a traction pad causing drag
 

trifish

Billy Hamilton status
Sep 23, 2009
1,555
4,331
113
Shred City
I never thought much about it until I got one too high at center on a deep swallow tail. Stepping on it constantly annoyed me to the point of reordering the board.

The customs I've gotten the past few years have been placed on my heel side when I tell them i'm goofy. No complaints there. I'm frontside more often than not.
 
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Swallow Tail

Michael Peterson status
Oct 6, 2017
2,336
4,235
113
Your Mom’s House
Joking apart I'm sure I remember single fins where the leash attached through a hole in the back of the fin.
Yes- my very first board, early 70s single fin, which I still have, has that.

My dad bought it for me in the mid 80s. Came with old school leash which consisted of nylon rope inside of surgical tubing. I was so fucking pumped when I got that board
 

Black

Legend (inyourownmind)
Jan 1, 2015
404
661
93
UK
Yes- my very first board, early 70s single fin, which I still have, has that.

My dad bought it for me in the mid 80s. Came with old school leash which consisted of nylon rope inside of surgical tubing. I was so fucking pumped when I got that board
Yes exactly my memory. I was going to mention the surgical tubing but my keyboard is stuffed so I've resorted to typing with OSK which means I've just spent 5 minutes typing this!