The normal range for this is ⅜” to ¾”, although higher or lower hollows are occasionally seen. Typically, skate shops will do 1/2”, 5/8”, or 7/16” hollow as a default if they aren't given any specific instructions.

What is the most common skate sharpening radius?

The most common radius of hollow cuts are ½” and 5/8” for skate sharpening shops because it provides the best balance between edge depth and glide speed.

What is the most common skate sharpening?

The most common skate sharpening radius we see for ice hockey players is a 1/2″ inch or 5/8″ inch cut.

How much should I sharpen my skates?

Generally skates should be sharpened every 20-40 skating hours. This depends on a few different factors such as how many times a week a skater is on the ice, which elements the skater is working on, and the build of the skater.

What is the difference between 5/8 and 1/2 skate sharpening?

Glide and bite are determined by the amount of blade cutting into the ice. 1/2 inch is our standard hollow, a 3/8 would provide more bite, a 5/8 would provide less bite.

Is 5/8 a good skate sharpening?

5/8 (Shallow) grind is what most figure skaters skate on. This gives you a good flowing edge and has little friction on the ice.

What skate sharpening does Connor McDavid use?

Connor McDavid uses custom Tydan Performance Blades. Connor McDavid runs a 10' profile. We sell Tydan Performance Blades.

Do skates need to be sharpened?

Skates should typically be sharpened after 8-10 hours of use on an indoor rink. This timeframe shrinks when skating outdoors. If you find yourself struggling to skate smoothly or falling down doing a typical skill you'd be comfortable with it is a sign that you may need to get your blades checked.

Can you sharpen rusty skates?

Fortunately, most minor rusting can be removed using elbow grease and a professional skate sharpener. Examine the blades. If the only rust is along the U-shaped groove at the base of the blade, take the skates to your local skate shop for sharpening.

How do pro hockey players sharpen their skates?

They sharpen every skate in the afternoon before every game, a process that takes them about an hour, each manager with their own sharpening machine.

What does 1/2 inch skate sharpening mean?

The 1/2” hollow offers a respectable mix of glide and control for most players but adjusting the depth of the hollow can offer several benefits when done correctly. For example, a lighter player can benefit from a deeper hollow (7/16" or 3/8") by providing them with the ability to cut deeper into the ice.

What skate sharpening Do pros use?

What skate sharpening Do pros use? The majority of pros use something with a shallower hollow, but preference does widely vary. I used a 5/8ths hollow, but as I got older and heavier, I switched to the less sharp 3/4ths.

Are new ice skates already sharpened?

New skates are not sharpened, so you will need to get them sharpened by a trained sharpener, and then re-sharpened every 15-20 hours of ice time – to keep them in tip top condition by removing knicks and deformaties in the metal edge.

Do K2 ice skates come sharpened?

K2 ice skate blades come pre-sharpened from the factory, though for best performance skates should be sharpened by a professional skate technician prior to first use. After time on the ice, blades will become dull and require sharpening to maintain proper performance.

What happens if your skates are dull?

If you have dull blades, your ice skates will not be able to form a powerful grip with the ice. Therefore, you could keep falling over while skating at the rink. If you have nicks in your blades, this could require you to sharpen your ice skates as well.

Can skates be too sharp?

While your skates can never be too sharp, they can certainly be too dull and that can take a whole lot of fun out of the game. For those skaters who do feel their skates are too sharp at times, we recommend reviewing our post on selecting an ROH. You should experiment with a slightly shallower radius.

Why do you sharpen ice skates?

The Importance of Sharpening

Better grip: Sharper blades grip the ice better than dull ones. This means a sharp blade can help you stick figure skate landings and make sharper turns. Consistent performance: Regularly sharpening your skates allows you to find the sharpness that helps you perform best.

Do skates go dull over time?

Blades do wear down by sharpening. And they have a limited lifetime. My daughters sharpener (yes we have a special guy) is pretty conservative with grinding and very consistent so newly sharpened blades don't take much time to get used to. My skaters like a freshly sharpened blade because of this.

What do NHL players get their skates sharpened at?

You can get your skates sharpened anywhere from 1/8th of an inch to one inch. 1/8th would be the sharpest, and one inch would be the least sharp. The majority of pros use something with a shallower hollow, but preference does widely vary.

What Hollow does Crosby use?

Around 3:44, he mentions that Crosby used to prefer a deeper hollow, but now uses a 1/2" hollow.

How often do professional hockey players sharpen their skates?

Some players will sharpen very frequently, such as every 2-3 hours of ice time, while others go for an entire season without sharpening. If you're unsure of where to start, try getting them sharpened after 10 hours of ice time, and then adjust as you feel is necessary.

What skate radius do NHL players use?

Most skates are sharpened by cutting an arc in between the two edges, known as the radius of hollow (ROH). This is measured in inches. Hockey player and goalie skates are often sharpened with a ROH from 3/8” up to 1-1/2”.