How to install a tail pad
Pick the right pad for your foot and your tail, then stick it on straight, clean and bubble-free so it stays put for good.
- 8 min read
- 6 chapters
- 8 FAQs
- Updated 18 Oct 2026
In this guide
A tail pad gives your back foot a home: grip that never needs combing, a kick to brace against and an arch bar to lever off. Stick it on right and it stays put; rush it and it lifts at the edges. Here's how to pick one and get it on properly.
The short version
Sorted. Give it 24 hours, then go surf.
Tap a step
Why run a tail pad?
A tail pad gives your back foot a home: consistent grip on the most dynamic part of the board, the tail. Wax wears, smears and needs combing. A pad just sits there doing its job.
- The kick is the raised lip at the back. It tells your back foot where the tail is without looking down, and gives you something to push against in a turn.
- The arch bar sits in the middle, under the arch of your foot. It gives you leverage to pull the board back under you after a critical turn, or drive harder through a carve.
Most shortboard and performance surfers run one. Longboarders usually don't: the benefits for dynamic surfing don't carry over to walking the board.
Pad on the back foot, wax up front. That's the standard shortboard set-up. See exactly where the wax goes in our wax-up guide.
Pick your pad: pieces, arch and kick
Three things decide how a pad feels under your foot. Get them right for how you surf and the board you ride.
How many pieces?
- 3-piece: the most versatile, and fits most boards. The go-to choice. The separate pieces flex to follow the curve of your tail.
- 1-piece: simple and clean, but make sure it doesn't overlap your rails before you stick it.
- 5-piece: for surfers who move their back foot around a lot, or want extra cushioning for airs and big manoeuvres.
Arch: flat, medium or high
- Flat arch: for flat-footed surfers with little or no arch. Minimal arch bar.
- Medium arch: the most common and comfortable, with a 5–7mm raised arch bar. Suits most surfers.
- High arch: maximum foot support and leverage, but it can be uncomfortable for some.
Match it to your tail
Most pads fit most tail shapes, but check the pad doesn't overlap onto the rails. Overlap creates drag in the water and kills performance. If it overlaps, choose a different pad. Wide tails, like a fish or a twin, often suit a flatter pad made for them, like our Twin Fin Grip.
Where it goes, board by board
A pad goes on the back-foot zone of a hard board, with the wax in front of it. Here's how that changes from board to board.
Shortboard
The classic spot for a pad: centred on the stringer, back edge close to the tail without covering the leash plug. Wax goes from the front of the pad up to your chest.
- Wax zone
- Tail pad
Fish and twin fins
Wide, flat tails suit a flatter pad made for them, like the Twin Fin Grip. Some riders skip the pad and wax right back. Either way, keep the pad off the rails.
- Wax zone
- Optional tail pad
Longboard
Usually no pad. You walk a longboard, so the whole deck gets wax, nose included.
- Wax, whole deck
- Extra wax on the nose
Foamie and softboard
Skip the pad. The adhesive is designed for hard fibreglass and epoxy surfaces, and foam doesn't give it a reliable bond, so it's likely to peel off. Use foamie wax instead.
- Foamie wax only
SUP
Most SUPs come with a foam deck pad over the standing area already, so there's nothing to add.
- Deck pad
Step by step: sticking it on
Take your time here. A pad that goes on straight and clean stays put; a rushed one lifts at the edges.
- Clean the tail. If the board isn't brand new, strip all the wax off the tail with a wax comb and Citrus Surf Wax Remover. Clean it until there's no residue or dust, then let it dry completely.
- Position the pad, don't stick it yet. Lay it on the tail with the backing still on. Centre it on the stringer, put the back edge as close to the tail as you can without covering the leash plug, and space the pieces so they fit the tail without overlapping the rails.
- Stick the middle piece first. Peel its backing and place it centred on the stringer (or your pencil mark). Press firmly from the centre outwards to get rid of air bubbles.
- Add the other pieces. Repeat with the rest, keeping the spacing even, and press each piece firmly from the centre to the edges.
- Let it cure. Wait 24 hours before you surf so the adhesive fully bonds.
No stringer? Some boards don't have one, which makes the centre hard to find. Measure across the tail and pencil a mark where each piece goes before you peel any backing.
Getting an old pad off
- Warm the adhesive with a hair dryer.
- Slowly peel the pad off, starting from one corner.
- Clean off any leftover glue with a scraper and adhesive remover.
- Clean and dry the tail properly before the new pad goes on.
Tail pad mistakes, and the fix for each
- Sticking it over waxThe adhesive won't bond to wax. Strip and clean the tail first.
- Skipping the dry-fitLay the pieces out with the backing on before anything sticks.
- Overlapping the railsIt creates drag. If a pad overlaps, choose a different one.
- Covering the leash plugGet the back edge close to the tail, but keep the plug clear.
- Starting with an outer pieceCentre piece first, on the stringer, keeps the whole pad straight.
- Trapping air bubblesPress from the centre outwards on every piece.
- Surfing it straight awayGive the adhesive 24 hours to bond.
- Putting one on a foamieThe adhesive is made for fibreglass and epoxy, not foam.
Tail pad FAQ
Do I need a tail pad if I already wax my board?
On a shortboard, most surfers prefer a tail pad in the back-foot zone. It gives more consistent grip than wax, never melts, and the kick gives you a reference for foot placement. Most surfers run wax on the front of the board and a pad on the tail.
Can I install a tail pad on a soft-top board?
It's not recommended. The adhesive is designed for hard fibreglass or epoxy surfaces. A soft-top's foam doesn't give a reliable bond, and the pad is likely to peel off.
How do I remove an old tail pad?
Use a hair dryer to warm the adhesive, then slowly peel the pad off, starting from one corner. Use a scraper and adhesive remover to clean off any leftover glue before you put a new pad on.
Does the number of pieces matter?
Three-piece pads are the most popular because the separate sections flex to follow your tail's shape. One-piece pads are simpler but less adaptable to curved tails. Five-piece pads suit surfers who move their back foot a lot.
Where exactly should a tail pad go?
Centred on the stringer, with the back edge as close to the tail as you can get without covering the leash plug, and no part of it hanging over the rails.
Can I wax over my tail pad?
No need. The pad does the gripping, and wax just clogs the grooves. Wax from the front of the pad forward.
How long before I can surf with a new pad?
Wait 24 hours so the adhesive fully bonds.
Do I need a front-foot grip too?
It's optional. Most surfers wax the front of the board, but some like a front-foot grip, like the Offshore Front Foot Grip, for a consistent feel up front.
The tail pad kit
Billy 'Bilbo' Stairmand Pro Grip
The Bilbo Grip by Sticky Johnson is premium closed‑cell EVA foam tail pad offering serious traction with its diamond‑cut grooves. It’s built with a 5 mm arch bar, 26 mm kick tail, and strong super‑stick adhesive — designed to lock your feet in when you need control above all. Signature style comes via Billy Stairmand’s custom logo and Silver Fern detail, blending performance with local pride.
Offshore Grip
The Sticky Johnson Offshore Grip is a high‑performance surfboard traction pad constructed from premium, lightweight closed‑cell EVA foam. It features new Square‑cut grooves with an extra cross texture for maximum grip, a sturdy arch bar and an elevated kick‑tail for enhanced back‑foot control, all backed with a strong adhesive to lock it in place
Twin Fin Grip
The Sticky Johnson Twin Finn Tail Pad is crafted to provide surfers with optimal grip and control. Featuring a sleek black and blue design, this traction pad enhances board sensitivity and performance with its lightweight, eco-friendly EVA foam and a 27mm kick tail.
Citrus Surf Wax Remover
Natural citrus based solvent wax remover. Great for cleaning wax off boards and making them look like new!
Also useful for removing any type of adhesive, including deck grip adhesive! Spray on generously and allow the product to penetrate the adhesive for at least 1 minute. Then, remove it with a wax comb or paper towels.
120ml
Wax Combs
The Sticky Johnson Wax Comb is a simple yet essential surf‑tool built for efficiency — its hard plastic construction and sharp‑toothed edge make it ideal for scraping off old wax, creating crisp rail contours or texturing your board in seconds. With a generous 117 mm × 60 mm sizing and a built‑in string‑hole, it’s easy to stash or tie to your kit and forget. Available in multiple vibrant colours (green, blue, yellow, orange, red) for easy identification and personal style
