Seems since the vast majority of boards bought by the masses are machine
shaped, the new market hype is know your volume for the best ride.
Now I get the ‘science’ of volume. if I tell my shaper that I want that 7’8 step-up 2 7/8" thick, keep a lotta beef from knees to chest and across the middle 2/3, then foil the nose and tail and break the center foil to medium rails, that would certainly be expressed in volume on a shaping program. I get that with a ‘magic’ 7’6, one component of it’s mojo could be perfect volume, so know to repeat.
And I get the big box shapers hype. Gotta sell the advantages of machine shaping, so sell it as ‘science’ vs. ‘art’, right?
But it’s just one variable, not a magic bean. Different shape plans require different volume
just by the nature of their outlines alone. And obviously it’s volume
placement as much as volume itself. So when I glance at detailed discussions of “maybe you should try that model with 28.5L instead of the 29.5L” as if there will be a magical performance breakthrough with a liter of volume change, can’t help but think someone is trying to sell ice cubes to Eskimos again…
or are their advocates on Sway’s that can explain why this has become an absolutely valid criteria instead of just a good general referrence point, like knowing all the dim’s on your rides.
And to be clear, have no problem at all with machine shaping. Among it’s other positive qualities, it’s let many older shapers having health problems continue shaping when they just can’t stand on their feet grinding foam all day any longer.