Smith grind
vs feeble grind
The short answer
Both grinds lock your back truck on top of the ledge or rail with your weight over it, like a 5-0. The difference is the front of the board. In a smith grind the nose dips down on your side of the ledge, alongside it. In a feeble grind the front truck hangs over the far side. Both are level 4 of 5 in our guides, and both come after a solid 5-0. The feeble also needs a boardslide-style entry angle.
Smith vs feeble
Side by side
| Smith grind | Feeble grind | |
|---|---|---|
| Back truck | Locked on top of the ledge | Locked on top of the ledge or rail |
| Front of the board | Nose dips down alongside the ledge, on your side | Front truck hangs over the far side |
| Front foot | Near the middle of the board, pressing the nose down | Light, steering the nose over the far side, not pressing |
| Approach | Slight angle, similar to a 5-0 | Slight angle, similar to a boardslide |
| Lean | Slightly away from the ledge | Weight on the back truck, like a 5-0 |
| Learn first | 5-0 | 5-0 and boardslide |
| Level in our guides | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
In your clip
How to tell which one you did
Look at the front truck in your clip. If it dropped below the ledge on the side you came from, it was a smith. If it went over the top to the other side, it was a feeble. If it stayed up in the air above the ledge, it was a 5-0.
Feet and weight
Smith: almost all your weight over the back truck, with your front foot near the middle of the board pressing the nose down next to the ledge. Lean slightly away from the ledge to hold the angle.
Feeble: weight on the back truck, the same balance as a 5-0. Keep the front foot light and use it to steer the nose over the far side.
When it won't land
Common mistakes
- Smith: the board catches and stops dead.
- The nose dropped too far and the wheel hooked the ledge. Ease the nose down instead of jamming it.
- Smith: the nose won't drop.
- Your front foot is on the nose instead of the middle. Move it back toward the middle.
- Feeble: the front truck lands on top instead of over the edge.
- Your ollie isn't turning enough on the way in. Turn a bit more, closer to a boardslide angle.
- Feeble: the nose drags on the far side.
- Your front foot is pressing down. Keep it light and just guide the angle.
Film your
next grind.
Smith or feeble, film a try from the side and Skate AI scores it and gives you the one fix that matters most, with a drill for your next session.
Which should you learn first?
If your 5-0 is solid and you haven't learned boardslides, the smith only needs the 5-0 plus control of the nose angle. If you already have boardslides, the feeble's entry will feel familiar.
Full guides: How to smith grind · How to feeble grind · How to 5-0 · All grinds and slides · Boardslide vs lipslide
FAQ
Smith vs feeble
FAQ
What is the difference between a smith and a feeble grind?
Both lock the back truck on top of the ledge. In a smith grind the nose dips down alongside the ledge on your side. In a feeble grind the front truck hangs over the far side.
Is a smith grind harder than a feeble grind?
They're both level 4 of 5 in our guides. A smith needs control of the nose angle so the wheel doesn't catch. A feeble needs a boardslide-style entry so the front truck crosses over.
What do you need to learn before a smith or a feeble?
A solid 5-0 for both. For the feeble, a boardslide too, because the entry angle is similar.
Do smith and feeble grinds work on rails?
The feeble's lock-in works on rails and ledges, and a flat rail or low ledge is easier to learn it on than an angled one. Smiths are usually learned on a ledge with room below it for the nose to drop, knee to waist high.
How is a feeble different from a 5-0?
The back-truck balance is the same. In a feeble the front truck hangs off the far side instead of staying up in the air.
