Nailing back-truck grinds like Feeble and Smith in Skate 4 is all about timing, approach, and a steady lock-in. However, they don’t just “snap into the grind” — they demand a lot more from you.
So, dive in with me below as I walk you through performing both the grinds and landing them consistently like a skating amateur (or at least in video games).
Setting Up The Grind
Hunt out a low, flat, or mellow down rail. Begin with a normal pace (several pushes) and approach leaning slightly towards the rail. Next, perform a clean Ollie and try to lock your back truck touching first, almost like you’re launching into a controlled 5-0 grind.
If you keep ending up in Crooks, Overcooks, or straight to 5-0s, you’re not alone. Everyone runs into that. Skate 4 loves to make you earn these tricks, so reduce Grind Assist if it continues auto-locking into the wrong moves. That’s way better for precision.
The Lock-In
You land first, then “tell” the board what grind it’s going to be. Meaning, you don’t really define the grind in the air — a big change from previous Skate titles. However, timing the inputs right before you land does matter.
Catch the Rhythm
Pop – Lock back-truck – Tiny pause – Front-truck dip
Don’t underestimate the tiny pause. That’s where decisions get made. If you rush the next move, you’ll end up in a Crook or an Overcrook. Wait too long and you’ll find yourself holding a default 5-0.
Smith
Back-truck sits on the rail with the front-truck (nose) hooked underneath the rail. The nose tucks low beside the rail — almost like you’re pinning the front end.
Controls input: Hold the Right Stick down (inside diagonal) and slightly towards the rail to dip into the Smith grind. Almost like a scoop-up motion.
Feeble
Same approach — the back-truck sits on the rail, except this time, the front-truck hangs over the top or opposite side of the rail. The difference is the approach angle and positioning, that’s it.
Controls input: hold the Right stick down and away from the rail (outside diagonal).
Note: Skate 4 loves committing to angles, so lean into it a bit more if you find yourself rolling into botched 5-0’s instead. One last thing, don’t flick the stick. Smooth and steady stick control correctly locks you more often than not.
Tips
- Before you look for that one “lucky” line, remember that there’s no luck involved. These grinds reward timing, angle, and commitment.
- Locking your back-truck perfectly should be the foundation of your Feeble & Smith, not just an animation trigger.
- Once you get the hang of it: Feeble down a rail -> into a manual -> then Smith on a ledge — One of the cleanest style lines in Skate 4 that’ll surely turn a few heads.
