Phase 5 Buying Guide

Not sure which Phase 5 board is right for you? That’s exactly why we created this guide. With so many models, styles, and sizes to choose from, picking the perfect wakesurf board can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re new to the sport or upgrading your setup. This guide highlights our most popular Phase 5 boards and breaks down the key differences in size, style, and performance so you can confidently find the best fit for your riding goals. Whether you're chasing tricks, carving clean lines, or just getting started, we’re here to help you ride better.

Surf Styles

Phase 5 offers a variety of surf-style boards, each crafted for different riding preferences—from loose and playful to fast and drive-heavy. With models like the Ahi, Doctor, and Phantom Stealth, Phase 5 delivers surf shapes that stand out for their speed, control, and high-performance feel. These top picks rise above the rest because they offer something for every kind of surf-style rider—whether you're chasing ocean-like turns, effortless glide, or aggressive responsiveness.

The Ahi – Known for its powerful drive and aggressive carving, the Ahi delivers a true ocean-surf feel behind the boat.

The Doctor – Built with bigger riders in mind, the Doctor offers unmatched speed and effortless glide without sacrificing control.

The Phantom Stealth – Everything you love about the Phantom, now even better—sleeker, faster, and more responsive than ever.

Hybrid styles

Phase 5’s hybrid boards blend the carving power of surf-style shapes with the spin-friendly feel of skim boards, giving riders the best of both worlds. The Trident, Model X, and Hypsta each bring a unique balance of stability, speed, and versatility. These standouts made our top list because they cater to a wide range of riders—from those wanting more surface tricks to bigger riders looking for responsive glide—making hybrid styles some of the most well-rounded boards in the lineup.

The Trident – Specifically designed for larger riders, the Trident features a long, drawn-out rail line and a speedy bat tail, delivering fast, smooth rides and giant carves across the wave.

The Model X – A versatile hybrid board that combines a wide outline with a gradual rocker and a single wing swallow tail, offering stability, speed, and maneuverability for riders of all skill levels.

The Hypsta – Shorter and wider than typical boards, the Hypsta's full width and squared swallowtail design provide increased speed, stability, and maneuverability, making it suitable for riders of all sizes.

Skim styles

Skim-style wakesurf boards are built for agility, quick spins, and advanced tricks. With thinner profiles and minimal rocker, they’re perfect for riders focused on technical performance. Phase 5 is a leader in this space, and our top skim picks—the Matrix Payne Pro, Key, and Hammerhead—deliver the speed, pop, and control needed to progress. Whether you’re spinning 360s, landing shuvs, or riding revert, these boards are made to perform.

The Matrix Payne Pro – Built with precision in mind, the Matrix Payne Pro delivers ultra-quick response and a featherlight feel—perfect for riders looking to throw technical tricks with ease.

The Key – Designed with input from John Akerman, the Key brings extra width and pop, making it easier to lock in tricks without sacrificing that classic skim-style agility.

The Hammerhead – A true staple in the skim world, the Hammerhead features a blunt nose design for maximum surface area, delivering unmatched consistency, stability, and pop off the lip.

Ladies picks

Phase 5 offers a few boards specifically designed for women, built to deliver the right balance of performance, comfort, and style. The Mindset, designed with Danielle Kaminski, is a lightweight skim-style board made for fast, technical riding in a compact shape. The Diamond Luv brings added stability and a smooth feel, inspired by the popular Diamond but tailored for lighter riders. These top picks give female riders the tools to ride confidently and progress on the water.

Mindset – Designed with Danielle Kaminski, the Mindset is a high-performance skim-style board built for smaller riders who want quick response, smooth spins, and easy control.

Diamond Luv – Modeled after the Diamond, the Diamond Luv features a slightly scaled-down shape and added stability, making it a forgiving yet capable board for riders looking to progress confidently.

Kids boards

Our top kids board

Phase 5 Scamp is our best-selling kids’ board, designed to give young riders a stable, easy-to-control platform to build their skills. With a lightweight feel and tri-fin setup, it’s the perfect starter board for learning spins, carves, and boosting confidence on the water. It’s best suited for riders up to 120 lbs. Each scamp has it's own hand painted design on it making it unique to your boat.

The Best Phase 5 Boards

Use this guide to help you pick out your phase 5 boards. Our team backs each of these boards and wants you to be able to enjoy your ride to the best of your ability! Reach out for if you have any questions about these boards or any other boards!