FINIS Backstroke Start Wedge

The Backstroke Start Wedge made by FINIS is a backstroke start device: a foot wedge that hangs from a starting block on two straps and gives a backstroke swimmer a non-slip foothold on the wall at the start of a race. The swimmer sets the wedge height by moving a hook between five numbered settings on the straps. It is a manual device with no retraction mechanism, in contrast to self-retracting designs such as the CTS Backstroke Start Device.¹² FINIS introduced the wedge in March 2018, developed in collaboration with Vince Harris of WEDG Swim Start Systems (County Cork, Ireland), an engineer who had begun building wedges for his daughter’s swim team after finding existing devices expensive.²³

FINIS markets the wedge on cost: the company describes it as about one-fifth the price of automatic wedge systems, with setup in under two minutes, and states that it is FINA-compliant under rule FR 2.10 and usable in both training and competition.²⁴ That rule number comes from an older edition of the rulebook; in the 2021–2025 FINA Facilities Rules the backstroke ledge specification is FR 2.1.11.⁵ An independent reviewer in 2018 judged the price (then US$249.99, listed at US$270 as of 2026) high in absolute terms but well below other devices.⁶ The regulatory status of ledges by governing body, the history of the equipment, and the foot-placement rule that governs its use are covered in the backstroke start devices overview.

Design and components¶

The wedge itself is an injection-molded thermoplastic rubber (TPR) bar finished with a self-adhesive grip tape for foot placement.⁴ Internal hardware comprises rods of 316 stainless steel and a Q235 steel insert plate.⁷ The wedge hangs from two wedge straps threaded through its body, each ending in a Z hook; two numbered block straps loop around the block and receive the Z hooks at one of five settings. An optional S hook attaches the assembly to a block edge instead, and a keeper secures excess strap. The wedge has inside and outside strap routings: the inside routing suits attachment to a block’s hand grips and the outside routing suits attachment to its posts.¹

The device has no powered or spring-driven parts. The reviewer noted the simple construction as a durability advantage, since there is little that can malfunction.⁶

Installation and mounting¶

The block straps loop around whatever structure the starting block offers: the single post of a single-post block, both posts of a two-post block, the back two posts of a four-post block, or the backstroke hand grips. On a large-base block with no accessible posts, the S hook attaches to the block’s edge instead.¹

To set the wedge up, the straps are attached to the block, the Z hooks are secured at the 0 setting, and the wedge strap length is adjusted until the top of the wedge sits at water level.¹ The straps stretch slightly the first time the assembly is wetted and are stable afterward, so the initial setting is best checked in the water.⁶

Operation¶

The wedge is made to be adjusted by the swimmer. From the baseline setup, the swimmer moves each Z hook among the five settings, numbered −4 to +4, to raise or lower the wedge to preference; the 0 setting places the top of the wedge at water level.¹ This range corresponds to the World Aquatics facilities rule, which allows a backstroke ledge to be adjusted 4 cm above or below the water level.⁵ After the start the wedge stays on the wall; it has no retraction mechanism and is repositioned or removed by hand.¹²

Care and maintenance¶

FINIS’s care guidance centers on the grip tape, whose adhesive can delaminate with regular use and with large temperature swings. The company advises checking the tape for peeling before first use and reactivating the adhesive with a heat gun or hair dryer if needed, sealing the tape edges with a silicone caulk rated for plastic, not leaving the wedge in the pool, and storing it in a cool, dry place. Peeling tape can be replaced: the old tape is removed, the surface cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, and the replacement tape applied with heat and pressure.⁴ FINIS sells the grip tape, straps, and hooks as replacement parts.⁷

Specifications¶

Part number	1.30.031
Wedge material	Injection-molded thermoplastic rubber with self-adhesive grip tape
Hardware	316 stainless steel rods; Q235 steel insert plate
Weight	3.88 lb (1.76 kg)
Attachment	Two block straps to posts or hand grips; S hook option for a block edge
Height settings	Five, numbered −4 to +4; top of wedge at water level at 0
Retraction	None (manual; repositioned by hand)
Replacement parts	Block strap 1.30.047, wedge strap 1.30.049, S hook 1.30.050, Z hook 1.30.051, grip tape 1.30.052
Introduced	March 2018

See also¶

• Backstroke start devices: the category overview, history, and rules
• CTS Backstroke Start Device: a self-retracting device in the same class
• Omega OBL2 Pro Backstroke Ledge: a platform-mounted device in the same class
• FINIS: the manufacturer
• Equipment: the equipment reference

References¶

Footnotes¶

1. FINIS, Backstroke Start Wedge Instructions (parts, assembly, settings, and block attachments). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

2. Swimming World, FINIS Creates New Backstroke Start Wedge (28 March 2018; published in conjunction with FINIS). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

3. FINIS, Backstroke Start Wedge (product page; SKU and price). ↩

4. FINIS, Backstroke Start Wedge FAQ (materials, care instructions, and compliance statement). ↩ ↩² ↩³

5. World Aquatics, Facilities Rules 2021–2025, FR 2.1.11 (backstroke ledge). ↩ ↩²

6. The Swimming Wizard, Product Review: FINIS Backstroke Start Wedge (independent review, 18 December 2018). ↩ ↩² ↩³

7. FINIS, Backstroke Start Wedge Tech Sheet (materials and replacement parts). ↩ ↩²