Everyone knows the angle of kicktail in skateboarding does something. But what is it, after all?
Using a board that doesn't fit your style may cause an overpopping problem. Let's analyze it scientifically.
Summary
Steep kicktail angle = Higher pop
According to "ball drop tests" using a physics simulator, a board with a steep kicktail pops higher.
Mellow kicktail angle = Smaller pop
The tail can hit the ground with a smaller amount of energy. But the board only raises a little as its angle becomes small when it hits the ground.
Too steep kicktail angle = No pop
A board pops lower when its tail's angle gets too big. When the tail's angle reaches a certain extent, the tail cannot even touch the ground after being snapped down.
Experiment
Equipment
We will use skateboards with different angles of tails. Other conditions, including their sizes and weights(3 kg), are the same.
Condition of experiment
- I'll drop a ball that weighs 2kg from 50cm high(colored parts indicate their trajectory).
- The colored part indicates the ball's travel distance.
- The ball stops its movement right after its first impact.
- I adjusted the balls' starting height to ensure all boards receive the same amount of energy.
Result
Seen from side
You can see they behave differently from this angle. Please note they have the same noses.
A board with a steeper kick rises higher, while a mellower kick stays lower.
When the noses' and tails' shapes are the same
I repeat the same experiment with boards whose noses and tails are the same shapes.
You can see boards with steep kicktail angles would grip your feet more as their noses' rise higher. Which one do you think is the most suitable for you?
Extreme examples
The steepest kick
We will use a board whose tail is angled extremely.
The ball's energy directly transfers into the wheels and ground without really "popping" the tail. As a result, the tail does not even hit the ground and never leaves the ground
The warped kick
We will use a board whose tail is lowering.
In this case, the board hits the ground fast. But the board's angle stays small, and it must be challenging to slide up your front foot or ride it.
