If seven judges are used, the result is multiplied by .6 to equate to the result from a five judge panel. With a three judge panel no scores are eliminated. FINA has set a table which assigns a difficulty multiplier to each dive. This figure ranges from 1.2 to 3.5 in increments of 0.1. The objective of this is to encourage divers to attempt dives which are more difficult and more spectacular.
Degrees of difficulty do vary between boards in recognition of the varying heights.
A sliding fulcrum is provided to allow adjustment to the whip of the board, thus allowing some compensation for weight and allowance for technique. The board provides lift, which in turn depends upon the diver timing the movement of the board to best effect. Fixed platforms may be made of any material but are usually of concrete. Wider than the springboard, they provide no assistance to the diver on take off, as the higher levels at which they are fixed are sufficient to provide room for the dive. In other words, height does not have to be created by lift form the board.