The True Ames Greenough 4A Fin: A Legacy of Performance and Innovation

February 6, 2023

What's Inside

The True Ames Greenough 4A Fin: A Legacy of Performance and Innovation
The Birth of a Legend: George Greenough and True Ames
Key Features of the True Ames Greenough 4A Fin
Wave Conditions and Surfing Style
Who the Greenough 4A Is For
Sizing and Setup Considerations
The Greenough 4A in Hawaiian Waters
Comparing the Greenough 4A to Other Fins
Caring for Your Greenough 4A Fin
The Future of Fin Design: Building on the Greenough Legacy
Why the Greenough 4A Deserves a Place in Your Quiver

True Ames calls the Greenough 4A one of their most popular single fins. In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive deep into its rich history, key features, and why it's become an all-around favorite at our Honolulu surf shop.

The Birth of a Legend: George Greenough and True Ames

The True Ames Greenough 4A Fin: A Legacy of Performance and Innovation

Photo from: https://www.greenoughfilms.com/

Before we delve into the specifics of the Greenough 4A, it's essential to understand its origins. The fin's story begins with George Greenough, a pioneering surfer and designer who revolutionized surfboard design in the 1960s and 70s. Greenough's innovative approach to fin design laid the groundwork for modern surfing performance. True Ames, founded in 1979 by Chuck Ames, partnered with Greenough to bring his visionary fin designs to the masses. This collaboration resulted in the creation of the Greenough 4A fin, a design that has stood the test of time, still made by True Ames more than 40 years later.

Key Features of the True Ames Greenough 4A Fin

The Greenough 4A fin is renowned for its unique design elements that contribute to its exceptional performance. Let's explore the key features that make this fin stand out:

Flex Pattern: The 4A fin is crafted with a specific flex pattern that allows for optimal energy transfer and responsiveness in the water. This flexibility enhances the fin's ability to generate speed and maintain control through turns.
Rake and Sweep: The fin's distinctive rake (angle relative to the board) and sweep (curvature of the leading edge) contribute to its exceptional hold and drive. This design allows surfers to maintain control in critical situations and generate speed effortlessly.
Foil Shape: The 4A fin features a carefully engineered foil shape that minimizes drag while maximizing lift and drive. This balance results in a fin that feels both fast and responsive.
Base Width: The wide base of the Greenough 4A provides stability and hold, particularly beneficial when surfing larger waves or performing powerful turns.
Materials: True Ames offers the Greenough 4A in various materials, including fiberglass and in Volan. Each material option provides unique performance characteristics, allowing surfers to fine-tune their setup based on personal preference and wave conditions.

Wave Conditions and Surfing Style

The Greenough 4A is built to be genuinely all-around, not suited to one type of wave. Surfers ride it everywhere, from small, playful days to bigger, more powerful surf. The balanced rake, foil, and base width covered above are what let it hold up across that range, instead of specializing in one kind of wave.

Who the Greenough 4A Is For

The Greenough 4A isn't reserved for one type of surfer. Here's who it's built for:

True Ames' Own Benchmark: It's the shape they size and test every new fin design against, because of how balanced and all-around it performs.
Any Riding Style: Cruising, driving through turns, or picking up speed, the 4A is built to handle it.
Nearly Any Board: In True Ames' own words, the 4A works extremely well on just about every type of surfboard.

Sizing and Setup Considerations

Choosing the right size for your Greenough 4A fin is crucial for optimal performance. True Ames offers the 4A in nine sizes, from 6.5 inches to 10.5 inches (6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.75, 10, 10.5). Here's the sizing chart we use in our own shop, based on your board length and setup:

2+1, Center Fin		Single Fin
Board	Fin	Board	Fin
Up to 8'0"	Up to 7.0"	Up to 6'8"	8.0"–9.5"
8'1"–8'6"	7.0"–7.5"	6'9"–7'2"	8.0"–9.5"
8'7"–9'0"	7.0"–8.0"	7'3"–9'0"	8.5"–9.5"
9'1"–9'6"	7.5"–8.0"	9'1"–9'6"	8.5" and larger
9'7"–10'	8.0"–9.0"	9'7"–10'	9.0" and larger

Board length is the biggest factor, but a few other things nudge the size up or down:

Surfer Weight: Heavier surfers may benefit from a larger fin size to provide adequate hold and drive.
Personal Preference: Some surfers prefer the feel of a larger or smaller fin based on their individual style and the characteristics they prioritize (e.g., speed vs. maneuverability).

When setting up your Greenough 4A, pay attention to the fin box placement. Experimenting with the fin position can significantly affect your board's performance characteristics.

The Greenough 4A in Hawaiian Waters

As a Honolulu-based surf shop, we've seen firsthand how the Greenough 4A performs in our own waters, holding up from playful days at Waikiki to bigger conditions on the North Shore.

Comparing the Greenough 4A to Other Fins

To truly appreciate the Greenough 4A, it's worth comparing it to other popular fin designs:

vs. Traditional Longboard Fins: A traditional longboard fin is built to hold a straight line and resist turning. The 4A's rake and foil trade a little of that straight-line hold for more maneuverability, so riders who want to turn more pick the 4A, and riders who want the smoothest possible trim pick a traditional fin.
vs. Modern Thruster Setups: A thruster splits the work across three fins for quick, tight turns. A single 4A gives you one connected feel down the whole rail instead, so riders chasing a smooth, drawn-out glide pick the single fin, and riders chasing quick direction changes pick the thruster.
vs. Other Single Fins: Other single fins tend to lean toward one strength, more hold or more release. The 4A's balanced rake and base width split the difference. Riders who know exactly which extreme they want, maximum hold for heavy power surfing, or maximum release for loose, playful turns, are better off with a more specialized single fin. Riders who want one fin that does both reasonably well pick the 4A.

Caring for Your Greenough 4A Fin

To ensure your Greenough 4A fin continues to perform at its best, follow these care tips:

Rinse After Use: Always rinse your fin with fresh water after surfing to remove salt and sand.
Inspect Regularly: Check for any signs of damage or wear, particularly around the base and edges.
Proper Storage: Store your fin in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight when not in use.
Travel Protection: When traveling, use a fin sock or wrap to protect your 4A from dings and scratches.

The Future of Fin Design: Building on the Greenough Legacy

The Greenough 4A continues to influence modern fin design, with many shapers and designers building upon its principles. As surfboard technology evolves, we're seeing new materials and manufacturing techniques that push the boundaries of what's possible in fin performance.At our Honolulu shop, we're always excited to see how innovations in fin design complement the timeless performance of classics like the Greenough 4A.

Why the Greenough 4A Deserves a Place in Your Quiver

The True Ames Greenough 4A fin has been in continuous production since 1979, and it still delivers speed, control, and responsiveness wherever you ride it.

At our Honolulu surf shop, we're proud to offer the Greenough 4A to our customers. Local or visiting, stop by to feel the fin for yourself and talk sizing with our team.

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