Explaining Skate Hallows

January 15, 2021 10:00 am Published by

Understanding skate sharpening and skate hallows can be confusing to understand. In the most simple terms: the sharper the blade the easier it is to turn and accelerate, while the duller the blade the easier it is to glide and stride. The standard skate hallow is 1/2”, but let’s breakdown different types of hallows to understand the difference between them, and what might be best for you!​

Some players prefer a sharper hallow, at either 3/8” or even 1/4”. This hallow makes it easier for the skate two to cut into the ice in turn making accelerating and moving in tight spaces easier. While a sharper hallow does make turning and accelerating easier, your blade is digging deeper into the ice, making gliding and striding more difficult and require more energy.

Some players prefer a more dull hallow at 5/8”, 3/4”, or even 1”. With the blade cutting less into the ice it is easier for a player to push off their blade in order to reach top speed. But, the duller the blade the more difficult it will be for your edges to hold while making those tight turns!

Skate hallow is definitely something worth experimenting with. If you’re a forward who needs to gain the extra step out of a turn, try a sharper hallow. If you’re a defenseman who needs to make sure they’re getting all they can out of their stride, try a more dull hallow!

Understanding Blade Curves

January 1, 2021 4:52 pm Published by

When looking for a new stick one of the most important features of the stick to be considered is the curve of the blade. The curve of the blade is what helps a player control the puck while stickhandling, and shooting according to their playing style. There are many varieties of curves, but the three most common curve types are the heal curve, toe curve, and the mid-heal curve. Each type of curve helps a player within different aspects of puck handling and shooting. If a player’s curve does not align with their playing style, it can be more difficult for them to handle the puck where they need to and when they need to. Let’s talk through some of the most popular stick curves and understand how they work:

A blade with a heal curve is a blade in which the curve begins near the base of the blade on the heal. With the curve starting at the base of the heal of the blade, the curve will begin to flatten out towards the middle of the blade and be completely flat at the toe. This curve mainly helps out defensive players who need to have more powerful and accurate snapshots and slap shots, as well as control bouncing pucks.

A blade with a toe curve is a blade which the curve is very prominent at the toe of the blade. This type of curve is completely flat at the heal, with the curve beginning towards the middle of the blade, and being very prominent towards the toe of the blade. This curve is mainly for forwards who need to shot the puck quickly, and control the puck in very tight spaces. 

A blade with a mid-heal curve is the most general and popular curve type. This curve type is the most balanced of the three main curve types, as the largest depth of the curve is right in the middle of the blade. This type of curve is used by players who tend to stickhandle and pass the puck more. This curve is also great for backhand shots as well!

Now when you go and buy a stick, make sure you check out what kind of curve the blade has and which type of curve is best for YOUR game!