What Is The Fulcrum On A Diving Board?
The fulcrum is the roller underneath the board that you can slide forward and backward.
It's the wheel you see divers use their foot to move before each dive, and it changes how the board bounces depending on things like the diver's level, dive category, and overall preferences for the board's bounciness.
Here's a great demo on the difference as you move the fulcrum back!
What it actually does
The board is a lever. The fulcrum is where it pivots.
Move the fulcrum forward, toward the water: you shorten the part of the board that can bend. The board becomes stiffer, bends less, and comes back faster.
Move the fulcrum back, away from the water: you lengthen the bending section. The board becomes softer, bends deeper, and takes longer to come back.
The numbers printed along the side let you find the same setting again. That's the whole reason they exist, and it's why you'll see divers check the number rather than eyeball it.
Why a diver picks one over the other
It's a trade between how much energy the Duraflex board can store and how quickly it gives it back.
A higher setting stores more energy, but it takes longer, so your timing has to be more patient.
A stiffer setting returns faster, but there's less bend to work with, so you have to be strong enough and quick enough to load it and get to a ready position to leave the board with good form.
What divers need to know
Most divers find a fulcrum setting early, usually because a coach set it for them or because they copied a teammate, and then never touch it again for years.
Some divers like different settings for their backs and inwards vs their fronts and gainers.
Or even between the 1m and 3m, which I don't necessarily recommend.
So there is no universally perfect setting, just what feels comfortable to you and what you can actually handle.
It is okay to change it up and test out different settings. Generally as you get more advanced and comfortable on the board, the setting will move back because you will be able to stay on the board and handle the timing.
If you've been on the same number since you were a kid, it's worth taking a step back and assessing what you're capable of and what is best for your dive progression!
How to actually test it
Change one thing at a time and change it small.
You may not notice it a lot on your voluntaries, but your timing can be impacted on your harder dives.
Do a few of the same simple dive at your usual setting so you have a reference. Then move the fulcrum half a number or one number and do the same dive again. You're not looking for whether it feels weird, because a new setting always feels weird.
You're looking to see if you can ride the board at a more difficult setting just as well. At the very least, it will help you work on the fundamentals of riding the board well.
You can also film it or watch it on TiVo.
And of course, do this with your coach. Ask them if it's something you should consider. They will have a much better understanding of your ability to take more bounce or if you aren't quite ready.
- DG