The above graphics show the physics of a human hydrofoil, the body surfer.

What is the correct size bodysurfing handboard that will best suit the individual?

Many have questioned this theory; there is no right-size bodysurfing board?

My answer, in short, is incorrect; why?

Bodyboarders and Surfers Know What's Best

With extensive knowledge and experience, bodyboarders and surfers are the best guides in choosing the right board. They select a surfboard's length, width, and volume based on height and weight, and this principle also applies to bodyboarders. Their understanding of the nuances of length, width, rails, thickness, and materials that provide the best performance is unparalleled.

As a result, It's No Different for a Bodysurfer!

With over 35 years of handboard manufacturing and bodysurfing experience, I checked out this calculation to investigate the best size handboards surface area of a handboard m2 = (s) and the best shapes for handboarding.

The right size handboard to suit a body surfer's body area m2 = (A) height and weight should be just over the size of your hand or up to a maximum of two-and-a-half times the length of your hand and up to two-and-a-half times the width of your hand.

For instance, considering my height of 170cm and weight of 70kgs, and observing a few bodysurfing friends who are 180cm and between 80 - 90kgs, we find that handboards twice the length and width of their hand provide excellent lifting force, speed, and control. 

Based on real-life experiences, this practical advice can confidently guide your decision-making process.

The Best Shape Bodysurfing Handboards

With the vast number of hand surfers or handplane shapes now available, it is essential to understand the best handboard shapes.

The best shapes to consider are elliptical/oval (surfboard shapes) or rounded rectangle shapes (snowboard or skateboard shapes).

Because these shaped handboards maximise the best surface area for the fastest body lift out of the water, resulting in less drag.

Handplanes with cut-out shapes in the tail, namely, crescent tails and fishtails, just to name a few bodysurfing handplanes, lose this amount of surface area and volume due to these tail shapes.

Also, these shaped board tails will direct a greater fluid density to splay outwards and spray water towards your face.

This results in less visual foresight, impairing vision to control direction, causing less lift, and reducing speed. Therefore, these boards would first need to calculate this loss in surface area to retain the same volume.

Proven Hand and Strap Position

Understanding the best hand position on a handboard is crucial for achieving the best performance and control. We have been researching this key aspect since the late 1980s, shaping and testing bodysurfing handboards.

From all our research since the late 1980s, shaping and testing bodysurfing handboards hand position, what is the best hand strap position?

Other than the research articles related to the Hydrodynamics of a Boat planing hull and the Centre of Pressure from these planing surfaces.

What I discovered from testing handplanes with hand position in the middle of the board started to tend to lose greater control.

Also, boards with the hand placed further to the front tended to noise drive.

As a result, the best hand position is undoubtedly off-centre to the rear of the board, based on the hydrodynamics and physics articles and our bodysurfing test.

To better understand this, please review the below illustrations that best illustrate these theories.

Hydrodynamics of a Boat Planing Hull and The Centre of Pressure from These Planing Surfaces

Convex Deck and Concave Bottom Handboard

Before buying the right size handboard, it is essential to have a convex deck and concave bottom for the following reasons.ease review the below illustrations that best illustrate these theories.

• A Convex deck provides comfort in the palm of your hand. Unlike a flat surface, it strains the hand and arm muscles. I am so confident in this theory that I developed the world's first ergonomic palm support for even better comfort. It also holds your hand in position and prevents your hand from slipping out from under the strap.
• Concave equals Optimum Lift, Speed, and greater control in the surf. Most of all, there is no spray on the face.

POD® Handboards Flow Velocity 100% Custom Built for Bodysurfing

The signature shape of the POD handboard is a concave bottom and Keel Fin surface area, in association with a mixture of air and water, which provides instant lifting force, speed, and control.

Neutral Buoyancy Body Surfing Boards

The following Important Consideration is a Neutral, Buoyant Body Surfing Handboard.

They are natural to swim with, offering paddle freedom and comfort with effortless swimming strokes when cutting through the water without the extra load on your shoulder.

Overly buoyant handboards make cutting into the water's surface challenging while swimming. They also add extra load to your hand, wrist, arm, and shoulder, further twisting your body to one side.

The buoyancy of the handboard is a crucial factor that directly impacts your performance. A smaller handboard provides less lift, while a larger one with more volume and surface area offers more significant lift, less drag, and more speed. Understanding the role of buoyancy, volume, and surface area is essential for making an informed decision about your handboard size.

Therefore, you must carefully consider whether the bodysurfing handboard size suits your height and weight to achieve the best performance.

With the smaller volume and surface area, you won't get the lift and speed required to have the best bodysurfing performance; too large will make it difficult to swim and catch waves easily.

This leads me to the next question, how does anyone bodysurf with a handboard larger than three times his or her hand length and width, with a thickness over 40mm to 60mm?

These board sizes are closer to a swim kickboard or training board, and some are as big as a skimboard or a kid's small bodyboard, particularly bodysurfing boards manufactured with the same bodyboard materials that are all over buoyant and not fit for purpose.

Even if you are a beginner body surfer, consider how you would naturally swim freestyle and try cutting through the water paddling with an apparatus of this size, especially when it is so massive and overly buoyant.

The simple answer is that it's not practical swimming whatsoever. You will find it difficult and quickly lose interest; even if you are an experienced swimmer, you will find it arduous.

Alternatively, you could use these oversized buoyant boards by kicking your legs like a swim kickboard or training board. However, this would only suit minimal surf conditions and remember you're limited by only using your legs to swim back to the breaking waves.

However, this would only suit minimal surf conditions and remember you're limited by only using your legs to swim back to the breaking waves.

Never alone are public liability concerns from spraining a wrist, damaging a shoulder blade or muscles, being hit in the face, or even getting knocked out.

Without Prejudice, this is irresponsible manufacturing when you consider the damage this could cause anyone using oversized boards or anyone close by in the surf.

No wonder they must sell a bodyboard leash with even more drag to prevent carnage.

It's not only irresponsible manufacturing, but it's also not innovative, functional, or practical merchandise for the bodysurfer.

Before You Buy a Bodysurfing Handboard

Take the time to research the vast array of bodysurfing brands and individual shapers available before you decide which handboard to purchase.

Find the appropriate handboard size that suits you, your height, and your weight so you can swim naturally and efficiently to the break, catch waves, and improve your bodysurfing performance wave after wave.

Remember, your number one priority when bodysurfing is your surface area, volume, convex deck, concave bottom, and neutral buoyant handboard.

They should provide you with the optimum Comfort, Lift, Speed, and Control.

Another worthwhile read is "Swim Fins: How to Choose Bodysurfing Fins".