Conclusion So what about all those advertising and editorial claims? They sound good but when compared with the findings from this study, they appear to be all sizzle, no steak. The researchers concluded: “Based on the physics of fin swimming ... it is clear that some fins have better performance (Attack, Apollo) than other fins; however, this cannot be ascribed to a single fin characteristic. The research also made it clear that Venturis, vents, troughs, and splits did not improve the performance of the tested fins.” As a result, they determined, “Further work is needed to develop the optimization of fin characteristics, by lowering drag (kick depth-rigidity) and maximizing efficiency (kick frequency-flexibility), to minimize energy requirement and maximize performance.” So the ultimate fin isn’t here yet.