I have to rant a bit

It is the year 2022 (almost 2023). windsurfing has been around for quite some time. Don't you think it is time for board manufactures to finally make a footstrap that doesn't twist ?!!?.... or at least put double inserts in? my only board where I don't have twisting footstraps....it has double inserts. And its not going to add a lot of weight...just use smaller inserts/hardware since there would be two.

ok,rant over.. (I feel better now )

I have to admit I have never had this problem on any board I have ever owned. For me, straps don't twist and nor do they need a tennis ball shoved in them to maintain an arch.

I had a similar rant in may:

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Gps/Twisty-footstraps

Then somebody suggested S4LT. Works a retreat

Depending on the board, it could be a problem with the footstrap inserts.

My Fanatic Blast had an issue with them loosening up, and Craig from Fanatic asked me if I was having a problem with them twisting. Apparently some of the Fanatic boards had been mis-drilled, or not completely drilled to the final hole diameter before being sent.

This resulted in the screws provided with the board not being able to fully tighten. His suggestion was to drill out a certain diameter (can't remember, didn't do this). I ended up finding some replacement footstrap screws that were a different dimension and after that, they were able to get snug and haven't had problems. And this is with the fanatic plastic anti-rotation thing that is different from the metal serrated piece on Starboards (and others?).

In the last 17 years or so I've only had an issue with 1 Fanatic board, 1 Exocet and 1 AHD. With the Fanatic they twisted then stayed put, so I just left them. The Exocet had a different pad construction/material to my other Exocets, and after I had retightened the screw every session for about 6 times they were ok. Same thing happened to a French mag when they had one to test. I think that was down to the pad compressing when the screw was first tightened, then got compressed a little more in use, so the straps twisted. Same with the AHD, that came with just a washer under the screw which I replaced with a metal tab as below. I've not had an issue with a Goya, Quatro & AV which I have recently had, and they have a metal tab as below. The Goya & Quato have a firmer pad (maybe doesnt compress further) than the others, the AV quite a soft pad, so thats a bit odd. I didnt put the screws in the AV myself, so maybe whoever did really tightened them up tight to start with and they compressed the pad to the max. All the screws seem the same pitch and diameter, except the AHD which were narrower at the tip.
A friend had a new Pyro where the straps came loose, not seen him recently to see if his issue has gone away.

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Sparky said..
It depends how you set them up (there are set ups that vastly reduce twist in a single screw scenario) and also you will always require a little twist whether its wavesailing or speedsailing or anything in between. Then there is safety, a super stiff non twisting strap is more likely to break your foot. Don't see a problem at all.

I think the opposite... a twisting bootstrap can cause your foot to get stuck. at least in my experience. My straps are set up a little wide....I will use one extra hole so I have plenty of room width wise. (except on my slalom gear). its my Goya board. no matter how tight I make the screws...or different hardware the straps eventaully twist. The foam is so thick on the pad...that I have to keep tightening the screws as the pad compress over time.

on a side note.... Check your screws for tightness.... mine loosened up over time on one of my boards...where I hit a jump and the strap came off. the screw backed its way out...must have been hangin on by a thread or two.