It's good to hear people are paying attention to this. Years ago an old-timer suggested , that they use a figure skating wheel which has a much deeper cut on a blade. I love the extra performance it gave me making tight and hard turns. I did not notice much in Lost in speed, but I was 135 pounder.

a ton of NHL players use 5/8s or shallower cuts. A few use 1/2 but I believe the majority are using shallower hollows some even 1" or more.

@calgary2800

3 ай бұрын

My local shops just 1/2 as standard cut. Even for beginners. Which I feel is too sharp for rookies. Been using 5/8 or 9/16th.

@2119rocky

3 ай бұрын

More of the NHL players are now using a 3/4 hollow radius. I use a 1/2 hollow radius im 215lbs

I use the 9/16

I’m 5’ 10” and just under 12 stone or 168 pounds. I’ve been taking skating lessons for a year, before that I was self taught. Before the lessons I was on 7/16”, then moved to 1/2” and finally tried 5/8”. I did get more glide, and at first it was less tiring. But as my skating improved, I found I could skate with less effort. I’ve gone back to 7/16” as I like the grip, and don’t mind less glide. I’ll probably try 3/8” just to see, and 1/2” again, it would be nice to have more glide but I suspect I’ll still find grip lacking with 1/2”. You forgot to mention that hard ice needs a deeper hollow to maintain the same level of grip. Ice in rinks is often harder (colder) during the hockey season. Like you I have a Sparx machine. 👍🏻

@SeenByYosh

3 жыл бұрын

Very good point. Most of the ice I skate on is the first slot of the day so it's always set, and hard in the winter. At our rink any other slot is usually let on too early... so by men's league time its awfully wet.

I recently moved to True TF9 skates and had to go down to a 1” hollow. These skates are insane, they have so much grip, I could go to a shallower hollow but I don’t want to buy another Sparx wheel.

@SeenByYosh

3 ай бұрын

I'm not familiar, do they have special steel that sharpens differently? I'd love to try 1" just for fun sometime.

I'm 6" 170lbs. I skate on a 1 1/8. Love the glide!

@SeenByYosh

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, never known anyone to use over an 1"... you must be flying out there!

@treygray2817

3 жыл бұрын

@@SeenByYosh lol good stamina but i have some speed! Paul Coffey skated on a 1" to 2"!

@SeenByYosh

3 жыл бұрын

@@treygray2817 2"?? 🤯🤯

@treygray2817

3 жыл бұрын

@@SeenByYosh "Personally, I recommend using the shallowest hollow that the player is comfortable with. Some examples of ROH used by current and former NHL players are: Wayne Gretzky - 1/2"Sidney Crosby - 9/16" Joe Sakic - 5/8"Evgeni Malkin - 11/16" Chris Pronger - 7/8"Jordan Staal - 5/8" Mark Messier - 1"Sergei Gonchar - 1-1/4" Paul Coffey - 1" to 2"Alex Ovechkin - 1/2""

I'm 6'0.5" at 230+, so currently I use 5/8 due to my weight and strength and that the ice here is usually pretty soft. Years ago I used to use 3/8, but I was lighter than and lived in a different region

@ffryan

2 жыл бұрын

I'm similar sized to you (5-10, 240). I tried using 5/8 on an outdoor rink and even with a fresh edge I was slipping and sliding all over the place. Hardness of ice is such a huge determining factor. After some experimentation I use 1/2 on outdoor rinks and 5/8 on indoor rinks as they are typically softer. It's crazy how much comes into play when deciding on a hollow.

@SeenByYosh

2 жыл бұрын

It is, I remember skating on the pond one day last year when it was warming up, and it felt like I was stuck in mud after a few days outside when it was real cold

@HT-sm9dm

2 жыл бұрын

So I’m about 5’11” and most of my adult life I’ve been about 180 pounds. I’ve always used a 1/2 and was able to skate, turn and stop without even thinking about it. Over the last 4-5 years I’ve gradually put on weight and now sit at about 230. Over this time I’ve noticed my skating ability going to absolute dog s***! I initially figured it was maybe because I’m out of shape but I don’t think that’s it. I’m constantly having to think about my skating now and I’m falling several times a game, whereas I would almost never fall when I was at 180ish pounds. If it was just a case of being out of shape I’d just get tired faster not have trouble turning. I get major chattering when turning and stopping especially in the corners. I’ve been skating since I was 5 and I’m 34 now so I have a hard time believing that I just lost my skating ability. Any suggestions?

@ericgreenwood7979

2 жыл бұрын

@@HT-sm9dm Typically if you are getting too much chatter it is because your skates are over sharpened. The additional weight will cause you to cut in more and catch your edges more often, possibly leading to the increased number of times you fall. I would try going up to 5/8 or 9/16 and see how that feels and what the results are.

@HT-sm9dm

2 жыл бұрын

@@ericgreenwood7979 thanks I’ll definitely have to try that. I didn’t even know much about this stuff until the past few days where I’ve been researching like crazy. Learned a lot, and a 5/8 cut keeps coming up as the best thing for my issue. I’m super glad I found your comment. I’ll let ya know how it works out!

Great video 👍👍 you mentioned chattering on the ice I’ve actually seen my daughter (9yrs) right skate chatter on the ice why is that? I also purchased a Sparx sharpener now I’m going to try fire 1/2 and to try regular hollow 1/2 or 5/8 for my daughters what do you think? Thanks 🙏

@SeenByYosh

3 жыл бұрын

Could be a few things - if she is just starting out, it's probably that she hasn't mastered the feel or have the muscle memory/strength to make sure to keep the pressure on that edge throughout the stop. If she's already a solid skater and has a good feel for the edges then it might just be a bit too deep (for example, I don't think I would have the strength to stop on a 3/8" quickly without chattering). And finally, worst case scenario, it's possible the edges are really uneven and she might have one edge much higher than the other. Maybe try bumping her up a 1/16" of an inch if it seems like it is happening often and go from there.

@eddiearriaga3800

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your feedback. I have a starting point on what to look for now. We just purchased Sparx sharpener I will definitely be trying different cuts for my daughters skates. Thanks 🙏

@SeenByYosh

3 жыл бұрын

Of course, thanks for the comments!

I use a 1 best decision ever 5-7 145 pounds best overall. There's still some edge but you don't have to move your feet as much

Hey I’m 180 lbs and 6 Ft. I like to use my edges and speed a lot. What do you recommend? I have been using 1/2 inch my entire life and I wanan shake it up!

@SeenByYosh

3 жыл бұрын

I would see if you can live with the amount of grip 5/8" gets ya, or maybe try a 1/2" FBV equivalent. You might find that 1/2" is still perfect but if 5/8" works your legs may thank you 🤣

Hey, I weigh 120 pounds and I'm about 6 ft tall. I'm a dynamic player and need much bite because im quite light. Which profile and hollow would you recommend?

@SeenByYosh

3 жыл бұрын

You might want to give 7/16" or 3/8" a try if you've used 1/2" and that doesn't feel like quite enough, especially if you are skating on harder ice. As far as profiles, I don't have anything custom myself. I believe most newer Bauer steel comes with a 10' radius of profile.

@blablablablablabla6656

3 жыл бұрын

@@SeenByYosh Thanks! I,ll give them a try!

Please explain how a deeper or shallower hole makes a difference? The same amount of steel is in contact with the ice no matter what?

@SeenByYosh

2 жыл бұрын

So you actually answered it yourself in the question 🙂 it is about surface area, it's just that the deeper hollows do in fact make more contact with the ice. If you imagine exaggerated examples it is a bit easier to conceptualize - a nearly flat hollow creates a distance across the two edges that approximates a straight line. A very deep one will result in a steep curve. And the curve is longer than the straight line.

@WhistlesToAnimals

2 жыл бұрын

To say it simpler. Deep hollows bite into the ice more, and at a more aggressive angle turning or stopping.. Flatter doesn't bite as much, and glides over the ice more.

@SeenByYosh

2 жыл бұрын

@@WhistlesToAnimals This is the best way to think about it ^^ 👌 without needing to relate directly back to surface area

will a deeper radius of hollow allow me to spray higher when stopping

@SeenByYosh

3 жыл бұрын

I’m not sure but if you are able to keep the same speed and pressure on the edges then probably. But if you start to chatter in the stop and you can’t apply enough force to keep the edges from chattering, it will likely take away from the amount of ice being removed. So at some point you’ll hit a sweet spot

For God's sake, guys how in the Earth can you make smooth stops without chattering the ice with 1/2"?.. I've been skating with a stock 10-feet radius on CCM blades and use 20mm ROH, so 1/2" ROH literally frightens and puzzles me at the same time :-)

@SeenByYosh

3 жыл бұрын

haha it helps that I'm relatively small

@calgary2800

3 ай бұрын

5/8 or 9/16 works best for me. 1/2 too sharp. Felt like the skate owns me.

The less sharp you can go the better