Surfboard Guide • Fish Surfboards • Grovelers • Performance Shortboards

Shaping Dreams, One Board at a Time.

One of the most common questions surfers ask is: Should I ride a fish, a groveler, or a shortboard?

The answer depends on your local waves, ability level, paddle strength, surfing style, and what you want the board to do under your feet. A fish surfboard can make smaller or softer waves feel faster and more playful. A groveler can give you extra speed and forgiveness while keeping a familiar shortboard feel. A performance shortboard can give you more precision, control, and vertical surfing when the waves have more push.

At One Revolver Surfboards, every custom board is built around the surfer, not the trend. Whether you want a fast fish, a daily-driver groveler, a performance shortboard, or something that blends multiple worlds, we can help dial in the right board for your waves.

What Is a Fish Surfboard?

A fish surfboard typically has a wider outline, flatter rocker, fuller nose, extra surface area, and a swallow tail. Those design features help the board paddle easier, catch waves earlier, and generate speed quickly.

Fish surfboards became popular because they make everyday waves feel more alive. They are especially strong in smaller surf, softer sections, and waves where a narrow performance shortboard may feel underpowered.

Pros of Fish Surfboards

• Easy speed generation: Fish surfboards carry speed well through flat or softer sections.
• Better paddle power: Wider outlines and extra foam help many surfers catch more waves.
• Great in smaller surf: Fish boards shine when the waves are weak, soft, or below head high.
• Flowing style: They encourage speed, trim, and smooth lines across the wave face.
• Fun factor: A good fish can make average conditions feel way more exciting.

Cons of Fish Surfboards

• Less vertical: Fish boards are usually not as precise for tight, vertical pocket surfing.
• Can feel loose: In powerful or hollow waves, some fish designs may feel skatey.
• Wider outline: Extra width can make quick rail-to-rail transitions feel slower compared to a shortboard.
• Not always ideal in steep surf: The flatter rocker that creates speed can be harder to fit into critical sections.

What Is a Groveler Surfboard?

A groveler is designed to bridge the gap between a fish and a performance shortboard. It gives you more paddle power and easier speed generation than a traditional shortboard while keeping a familiar high-performance feel underfoot.

Grovelers typically feature extra width, more volume, lower rocker, and wider tails to help the board plane early and carry speed in softer conditions. They are made for the days most surfers actually ride: waist-high, inconsistent, soft, punchy, or slightly underpowered.

A good groveler lets you surf aggressively when your normal shortboard would feel slow, sticky, or too demanding.

Pros of Groveler Surfboards

• More forgiving: Extra width and volume improve paddle power and stability.
• Shortboard feel: Grovelers still allow for snaps, carves, and tighter turns.
• Everyday performance: They work extremely well in the average conditions most surfers ride often.
• Easy speed: Lower rocker helps the board plane early and move quickly through weak sections.
• Fin versatility: Many grovelers work as thrusters, quads, or five-fin setups depending on the feel you want.

Cons of Groveler Surfboards

• Less glide than a fish: A fish usually carries speed better in very weak or flat-faced surf.
• Less precise than a shortboard: A groveler may not feel as sharp in powerful, critical surf.
• Not a true step-up: Bigger waves often call for a more refined performance shortboard or step-up.
• Can feel too wide: In clean, hollow waves, extra width can feel less controlled.

What Is a Performance Shortboard?

A performance shortboard is usually narrower than a fish or groveler, with more rocker, refined rails, and a more pulled-in outline. It is built for control, responsiveness, tighter turns, and more critical surfing.

Shortboards are designed to fit into steeper parts of the wave and respond quickly under pressure. They reward good positioning, timing, and speed generation.

Pros of Performance Shortboards

• More control: Shortboards hold better through steeper and faster sections.
• Sharper turns: Narrower outlines and refined rails help with tighter direction changes.
• Better pocket surfing: Performance shortboards are built to surf closer to the power source.
• More vertical approach: They work well for snaps, carves, and critical transitions.
• Great in punchier waves: When the surf has push, a shortboard can feel more precise.

Cons of Performance Shortboards

• Less forgiving: Shortboards usually require better paddling, positioning, and timing.
• Lower wave count: Less width and foam can make catching weaker waves harder.
• Needs speed: Many shortboards require the surfer to generate speed actively.
• Not ideal for mush: In soft, slow waves, a performance shortboard can feel underpowered.

Which Board Is Better for Small Waves?

In small, weak, or mushy surf, a fish or groveler is usually the better choice than a traditional performance shortboard. The added width, flatter rocker, and extra surface area help the board get moving with less effort.

If the waves are very soft and you want glide, flow, and easy speed, look at a fish like the Winged Fury Fish Surfboard or Black Hawk Fish Surfboard.

If you still want a more performance-minded feel with extra speed for average surf, the Short Fuse Performance Groveler or Snub Nose Groveler is built for exactly that kind of session.

Which Board Is Better for Punchier Surf?

When the waves get steeper, faster, or more powerful, a performance shortboard gives you more control. A refined outline and rocker help the board fit into more critical parts of the wave.

The .38 Special Performance Shortboard is built as an everyday performance shortboard with speed, control, and versatility. The Vortex Performance Surfboard gives surfers another fast, responsive shortboard option for varied conditions.

Where the Speed Demon Fits In

The Speed Demon Performance Shortboard is a strong option for surfers who are considering a fish or groveler but still want a more traditional shortboard feel. Its hybrid performance design creates speed quickly while keeping the board responsive and familiar underfoot.

If you want more speed and wave count than a narrow shortboard, but you do not want to fully commit to a fish outline, the Speed Demon can bridge that gap.

Where the Short Fuse Fits In

The Short Fuse Performance Groveler is designed for surfers who want the responsiveness of a shortboard with extra speed and forgiveness for everyday conditions.

With an ultra-low rocker profile, medium-full rails, wider groveler outline, vee through the tail, and a five-fin setup, the Short Fuse helps maximize wave count without sacrificing performance.

If you surf mostly knee-high to shoulder-high waves and want one board to handle the majority of your small-wave sessions, a groveler is often the answer.

Should Beginners Ride a Fish, Groveler, or Shortboard?

Most beginners should not jump straight onto a narrow performance shortboard. Shortboards require better paddling, timing, positioning, and balance.

A fish, groveler, mid-length, or other forgiving shape will usually help newer surfers catch more waves and progress faster. Wave count matters. More waves means more reps, more confidence, and more progression.

That said, the right board should still match the surfer. A fish or groveler that is too small or too performance-focused may not help a beginner much. The right volume, width, length, construction, and fin setup all matter.

Which One Should You Order?

Choose a fish if your goal is easier paddle power, more speed in smaller waves, and a smooth flowing feel. Choose a groveler if your goal is a daily-driver board that keeps performance alive in average surf. Choose a shortboard if your goal is sharper turns, better control in punchier surf, and more precision in the pocket.

If you are somewhere in the middle, a hybrid performance board like the Speed Demon or a groveler like the Short Fuse may be the better answer.

Final Take: Fish, Groveler, or Shortboard?

A fish is not automatically easier, a groveler is not just a small-wave cheat code, and a shortboard is not automatically better. They are different tools for different waves and different styles of surfing.

Fish surfboards are great when you want speed, flow, paddle power, and fun in everyday waves. Grovelers are great when you want extra forgiveness while still surfing aggressively. Performance shortboards are great when you want control, precision, and sharper surfing in better conditions.

The best board is not the one trending online or the one your favorite surfer rides. The best board is the one designed around your surfing.

Frequently Asked Questions