A bodysurfing handplane, otherwise known as a handboard, works by providing lift. As the bodysurfer swims for a wave the handplane, usually on the lead hand, is planted on the water's surface, it then begins to aquaplane. This allows the bodysurfer to apply downward pressure and thus create lift. This lift dramatically reduces the surfer's drag allowing them to catch the wave easier, ride it faster, longer and with way more control.

Once riding the wave the handplane offers increased control with a rail edge, which can cut into the wave's face to enable the bodysurfer to keep the desired 'highline' for more speed. You can learn more about this on our Bodysurfing Tips page.

Yes, only one handplane is required, and it is usually worn on your lead hand. This normally equates to left hand for going left, and right hand for going right and either hand for going straight. This is of course unless you want to share the fun with others then mulitple handplanes are required :)

We have our products stored in warehouses across the US and so we expect our standard shipping timeframe to be 2-5 business days. Quicker if you select express shipping.👍

Swim fins help significantly if you plan to bodysurf in waters out of your depth. However, if you're in shalllow water and can kick off the sand into the wave then fins are not needed. If you plan on catching waves a little further out then some bodysurfing fins would be a good idea as these provide you with the speed required to catch the wave in the first place. We recommend looking at brands like DaFiN, Yucca, Viper and DMC.

Both our recycled plastic handplanes and the timber handplanes are based off the same model and design and work very similarly in the water. The choice really is down to material preference and budget. If you want to find out more about the differences between our handplanes, check out our blog article on this HERE.

The WAW BadFish Handplanes are certified Australian-made. The WAW Timber Fish Handplanes are handmade in Java, Indonesia.

The ocean plastic we use in our BadFish Handplanes comes from multiple sources along Australia's east coast, but most of it comes directly from the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland. You can learn more about this over on our sustainability page.