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June, 2025

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What does the turntable heel on pivots actually do.

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newpooper
Posts: 30 - Karma: 121
I always assumed it somehow contributed to the elasticity of the heel but the s/px lines have the exact same vertical elastic travel of 28mm even though the heel is fixed. And if you think about it the lateral rotation shouldnt really affect the vertical elasticity anyway.

The only difference I can understand is that the turntable doesn't impede the boot from rotating when the toe releases laterally. But how much friction do other heelpieces really impart on the boot when the toe releases. I've had the toe release during a fall on attacks, wardens and other bindings and it never really felt like the fixed heelpiece prevented my foot from rotating out of the binding. Is that the only benefit of the turntable? (Aside from the short mounting pattern which seems more like a function of the way the whole heelpiece is designed and not just the turntable)
a year ago
6 1
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IDK2024
Posts: 33 - Karma: 47
my understanding is that the lateral rotation allows a little bit of play in the heel before release. so if normally the start of a heel rotation would eject your boot from the binding, the pivot instead allows the boot to rotate a little but keeps you in the binding.
a year ago
2 0
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turntable
Posts: 2742 - Karma: 872
it's the only heel piece that rotates around the tib/fib on a release. normal heel pieces only release directly upwards. the screw pattern being underneath the heel lug, is extremely unique and creates the shorter mount pattern we all love to ski because of the ski feel.
a year ago
3 0
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 780 - Karma: 6,776
newpooperThe only difference I can understand is that the turntable doesn't impede the boot from rotating when the toe releases laterally.


That's pretty much the gist of it. Turntable heels used to be more popular and were actually introduced in the 1960's, you can also find old Marker bindings with turntable heels. I'm not entirely sure why the industry moved away from that design (presumably the reduced friction in lateral toe release didn't matter much). Look in the 2000's even gave up on them but ended up bringing the design back when they failed to create a better replacement.

Kinda the epitome of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" at this point

If anyone is interested in this type of stuff Pugski has an interesting video about the history of them: https://www.skitalk.com/ams/the-history-of-the-look-pivot.270/
a year ago
10 0
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Juviticus
Posts: 465 - Karma: 2,301
IsaacNW82That's pretty much the gist of it. Turntable heels used to be more popular and were actually introduced in the 1960's, you can also find old Marker bindings with turntable heels. I'm not entirely sure why the industry moved away from that design (presumably the reduced friction in lateral toe release didn't matter much). Look in the 2000's even gave up on them but ended up bringing the design back when they failed to create a better replacement.

Kinda the epitome of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" at this point

If anyone is interested in this type of stuff Pugski has an interesting video about the history of them: https://www.skitalk.com/ams/the-history-of-the-look-pivot.270/

More moving parts = more durability problems. Pivots by far are the binding I see the most (aside from the shift, same problem tho) where I'm replacing broken parts. Also imo the super tight and forward hole pattern negatively impacts really aggressive carving because the tail isn't stiffened by the long hole pattern on traditional bindings. Also they're a bitch to get back on in pow. I think Look kept the design for the same reason K2 keeps the FT shell design. They practically sell themselves because of the dedicated consumer following, especially in the freestyle world where there's more benefits from the way they ride
a year ago
5 3
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Sully_Lynn
Posts: 81 - Karma: 212
newpooperI always assumed it somehow contributed to the elasticity of the heel but the s/px lines have the exact same vertical elastic travel of 28mm even though the heel is fixed. And if you think about it the lateral rotation shouldnt really affect the vertical elasticity anyway.

The only difference I can understand is that the turntable doesn't impede the boot from rotating when the toe releases laterally. But how much friction do other heelpieces really impart on the boot when the toe releases. I've had the toe release during a fall on attacks, wardens and other bindings and it never really felt like the fixed heelpiece prevented my foot from rotating out of the binding. Is that the only benefit of the turntable? (Aside from the short mounting pattern which seems more like a function of the way the whole heelpiece is designed and not just the turntable)


🤓^^
a year ago
1 4
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FakeKalmar
Posts: 2563 - Karma: 21,149
turn???
a year ago
0 0
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newpooper
Posts: 30 - Karma: 121
IsaacNW82That's pretty much the gist of it. Turntable heels used to be more popular and were actually introduced in the 1960's, you can also find old Marker bindings with turntable heels. I'm not entirely sure why the industry moved away from that design (presumably the reduced friction in lateral toe release didn't matter much). Look in the 2000's even gave up on them but ended up bringing the design back when they failed to create a better replacement.

Kinda the epitome of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" at this point

If anyone is interested in this type of stuff Pugski has an interesting video about the history of them: https://www.skitalk.com/ams/the-history-of-the-look-pivot.270/


Thanks for the answer. Out of curiosity i turned the dins all the way down on the attacks and tried to twist my boot out. The only pressure i really feel on my knee is when twisting against the toe wings. Once the toe releases the amount of lateral friction that the heel piece adds is really minimal. I can rotate my boot all around with the heelpiece still clicked in with really little effort and theres no pressure on my knee. Havent tried pivots so i cant say for sure but it seems like the turntable might be the least important part of the design.
a year ago
0 0
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SupremeChairlift
Posts: 312 - Karma: 4,014
It's so the ski can spin around like a propeller when the heel piece is stuck up your ass
a year ago
6 1
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trash_pandaaa5
Posts: 80 - Karma: 483
so when ur getting hella steezy and jibby and land hell back seat and low u get a little taste of getting fucked in the butt by henrik harluat. So then you lock in and do dub cork 12 and start barking.
a year ago
1 1
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