Funny this thread started as I was about to ask is the quad fad over...I have surfed both a lot lately,and these are my thoughts. I find the 3 fin to be way smoother to surf,it just loves the late take off,as in it keeps me held in the wave. Loves a beautiful bottom turn,which imo.is the first move to set up how your wave will go,drop down bank off the rails and setup what is next. I also love the pivot factor,it lets me turn so much more,on any part off the wave. It will hol. In hollow waves,yet I can adjust if **** is not going to plan straight away. It makes me a far more active surfer on the wave.
The quad,well once on a wave and going,I do like that locked in feeling,it makes me feel like I'm a screaming along. On the locked in feeling,I do love how a cut back feels,and the way it climbs the foam with ease. When you are on a nice hollow wave, once again that locked in feeling feels good.
I will stick with my 3 fin for 90% off my surfing I think. For all the good feelings a quad provides for me,I still think my 3 does it better.
Late thought,my quad seems to be a faster paddling board