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I played today and before the game I took a closer look at the heel shims. They seemed to be not as much as I had anticipated. I was using "puckboard" and to me it tended to squish or flatten a bit with the rivets. My game had some of my regular falls, usually turning with backward movements things that I could do at one time like playing with the puck near or between my skates, but I did not really notice much of a difference in the pitch although it really was there, just not much. I have just measured the shims and they were about 2.75 mm and I went and got the material that came off my older Bauers, the first time I had heel lifts and they measure out at 3.25 mm. I can remember with that I did have a better feeling with a forward pitch. The material appears to be from the Ultra High Density plastic and would resist the flattening effect that I experienced today. So, I did not use the original pieces that were on the skate 3 years ago and if I have time I am going to have the better 3.25 mm heel shims installed as it was great with my older Bauers (all the same setup). On another note and looking for some help. Most of my problems have all occurred since my first bad issue with Sciatica in 2007 then another in 2012 that has not left me, so some issues ongoing. I have been told by my first chiropractor that he feels I have about 6 mm or more of right leg shortening even though an X-ray (while standing) showed negative for a short leg! Over the past 5 or 6 games I have had the 6 mm shims under my right skate and did not feel any real difference. Regarding the X-Ray, my Chiropractor says it was supposed to be done while you are laying down to show how your pelvis and spine etc react with out the weight. The Chiropractor was still convinced that I had a "functional" short leg and to order the VH Skate with a 6 mm lift because of the other possible problems all caused by Sciatica. I then get a second opinion from a Podiatrist (specialist from the foot to the sacrum) and he felt my leg length was fine but my observed gait, that appeared to be off, he was convinced that it was all to do with my right hip "reduced internal rotation" that would cause my perceived problem. I thought of both the Leg Length Descrepancy and the hip issue today while skating. I did notice that making very sharp 2 legged turns, as if to shake a checker off, my right (possibly short, real or functional) did not seem to want to dig into the ice and I was relying on my left leg to make for the most part to make the turn!. I believe this is the first time I have had or noticed this problem. Is it my hip or is it the possibility that my spine or pelvis is the problem (causing shorth Leg?). Hard to answer. Before I order skates I would like to get this clear, but the only way as I am told is by a CT scan and months of waiting, while the Chiropractor indicates it should be done by a Scanogram. In any event you are laying down. but there still may be a difference between the 2 pieces of equipment! I am really getting frustrated. I thought I would have the VH Skate by February and here it is approaching May! I was just wondering if anyone has heard of issues like mine. I was a great skater, less so a scorer, but I felt good prior to 2007. Now I am always chasing down problems and have learned a hell of a lot about all types of issues, but can't nail mine down after days and days of research and appointments over the past 9 years!. Yes I have some over pronation in both feet that can be addressed and skates that will fit well. I can see where I can have my pitch corrected so I can still stay with the trusted Bauer LSD holder and perhaps use better steel. VH will do what ever I want, but does it matter very much if my pelvis is pulling my right leg up? If so I would just go with the built in lift, but I cannot take it out, but, perhaps I always could put it on later. My apologies for the long one and my thanks for the help. I will let you know how the increase of the heel lift goes this Thursday. Cheers :) Alan

It was nothing, we could have spent quite of few post on it, but thought, better not. I still feel stupid, but I did think perhaps there might be a new product out there! Also, it's just kidding around. At least I know what to order now; a black male part and a chrome female part, right? Cheers, Alan

Stupid me! Could not understand why they would be different anyway, but... Cheers. Alan

What part?

I have been told by my LHS to get the older Bauer LS2 as they keep the blade more stable and Rob said OK also I am told they will take the Step Steel or the Black Steel. I am not sure if the Lightspeed holder will. I now have about 2.5 mm on my Bauer heels and can't wait until tomorrow to see what they are like, I did have them on my older Bauers about 3 years ago and don't know why I did not put them on the next pair. Rob can give me that lift if I want it so that I can stay with a long lasting LS2 holder, but get the pitch I want. Maybe Rob was thinking of my future order as he just replied on April 1st that he can do what I wanted. Good luck with yours! Alan

Thanks Monty, but I got that part. Why the reference to a female helmet?

The idea of having the It seems to be beneficial to have the lace locks, but what is meant by the female helmet parts. I may sound like an idiot asking now, but I don't to sound like one when I go to the LHS. Thanks, Alan

Yea, I really did not know what it was about and I see how it is done now thanks for the trouble. Alan

MC, now I have no idea. I don't have Oakley visors, may sound easy and not blocking the lace, I am just lacking in what is involved. I have seen your eyelet in the your photo I believe, but that does not tell the tale. Alan

As you can see I am quoting MC88s post "You installed them through the eyelet or had to remove the eyelet before installing?" If these can be fitted into the eyelet hole would it not make it more narrow? However, I don't know the product. By the way the above quote was written I was confused. I should have sent the reply to mc88. My apologies. Alan

If they are installed in the eyelet you must have little room getting the lace through, if you remove eyelet does it fasten well enough not to compromise the skate? Alan

That's exactly what I have just asked Rob if I can do, somehow the LightSpeed Edge has no pitch or a -1 pitch. From experience I needed that 2 or 3 mm in the heel, lest I am trying a tight reverse maneuver and land on my tailbone and at time hitting the helmet. I will go for the LS2 holder as I am told by my LHS that they are better than the LightSpeed keeping the blade more secure and that's a go. Getting back to the pitch it all comes down to the skaters skeletal build I guess, I can't use the flatness of the Bauer, always needing to bring my blades up in pith to compensate. The hell lift as I had in my last skate was the way to go for me, I could feel the difference in the Bauer I have now as I did not replace the lifts. Alan Sheppard

Once again, Rob from VH has told me that I am correct. If you get a proper fitting your center of gravity is placed over your blades and you should not need any shims. That's what their fitting is all about - to get you over your blades. Then it does not matter about pronation issues. Alan This is what it is all about, thanks for the input. Rob from VH indicated the numbers of skates they have made versus any issues and there were very little! Alan

Thanks for the info, I think that's a good idea for me! Alan

You have no idea how much the Tuuk blades make me feel like I am constantly falling backwards. I had an in store fitting at one point with a fitter that knew what he was doing and placed me on a board with skates on and he said your body style needs a lift in the heel or we grind off your blade. I took the heel lift and felt a great difference immediately. It is too bad that this guy sold his shop to "The Source" and now I can no longer get his advice. I had to travel 2.5 hours each way to get get service, but it was the best I could do from a Halifax NS perspective.

I have found the Tuuk blade to be flat and I have the tendency of falling backwards on 180-360º turns. A number of years ago it was suggested to add 2-3 mm under both heels and what a difference it made giving me some forward pitch. I went away from that with my last Bauer/Tuuk the problem came back. I want to stay with the tuuk holders, but don't want to conture them to death. I don't want the Easton or Graf holders. Before ordering the VH skate I have just again added the extra heel height on my skates to see if I can get the better forward feeling. I won't know until my next game this coming Tuesday. Alan

Sounds good, perhaps I should include the package. I got a hard glancing hit last week that I can still feel, although it would be considered minor, but the bruising was sure to be there as if I took a good hit. Alan

Supposedly if your center of gravity is directly over your blades then you could be over pronated or Supinated and you should still not need to shim your skates. That's why I am saying we are shimming our skates to get us to that COG point. The more we play with inside medial heel shims or outside lateral shims it gets our center of gravity close to that sweet spot!. VH tells me that they have had very very few problems with the remote fitting (unless they have not been told), but they have hardly had any involvement with issues out of 4000 pairs of skates! I need more feed back people as I hope to order next week and I am having the older LS2 holder (LHS indicated a better holder) installed with the ability to put step steel in or the the other more expensive Black Steel. I also want two heel shims to compensate for the low pitch on the Bauer and I may ask for an added 2-3 mm heel lifts to get that forward feeling. VH has been very accommodating to me! Are there any light players out there? I want to add their protection package but I am only 130 lbs and 5'5' tall? Will this be too strong for me, as well I will be ordering the suggested second tongue. Alan

Can anyone get back to me about my last comment about VH Skates and the use of shims? With the fitting remote or not they try and get your center of gravity over your edges so it is not necessary to shim their skates unless the remote fitting was off. Does anyone want to comment as I am ordering mine to do away with any over pronation issues or at least as much as possible. The remote fitting is not as good as being there, but their goal is to get you in the skate molded so you are ready to go. Thanks, Alan Sheppard

Thanks, I think you are right and I did post in another thread, but I went into other areas than just VH so let's leave it there. I believe it was on one of the "shims" (to a VH skate) thread. Alan

I thought I had posted on this thread, but my question is with regards to VH Skates. My understanding is that if you have a good remote fitting your center of gravity is directly over your blades, therefore no need to have any shims at all. By trying to shim the skate medially inside or laterally outside you are just trying to create your weight to be distributed over the blades. With VH they try and put you there with the remote fitting, thus eliminating the need of any shims. I am going to give Rob as much information as I can to get my center of gravity over my blades. I do hope my remote fitting will be close and with that all I will need is a pair of SuperFeet. It would be best if I was there in person and that would guarantee a perfect center of gravity, but I am on the East Coast of Canada. If money were no object, I would fly out and be fitted! Alan

Did I miss something, perhaps? If VH does your remote fitting properly you should have your center of gravity over your blades thus there is no need to have shims. This is why I am going with VH and I hope to get the remote fitting as best I can with the information I give them. It is all about being directly over your edges and you don't need any correction once there. Normally you need shims if you have an over pronation problem or your skates came off the assembly line not quite right causing a pronation problem and not putting you over the center of gravity of that particular skate blade. Alan

I have not been on the site for awhile and not to far up on these post you can see me complaining! I still have pronation problems and the doctors tell me that I do not have flat feet or to any real degree. Yet I went to a foot specialist that does orthotics (I have had them and they work for a while) and he said my arches are fine I don't need orthotics but took out my superfeet that happend to be in my skates at that time and inserted a shaven wedge on the heel and stuffed some dense foam under the arch part of the footpad. I tried to ask has this got anything to do with my sciatica and thus pelvis problems as I think they do, but I did not get a good answer. I tried the skates and my fixed skate was great and had to go back for him to adjust the left superfeet insole. That did not help. Now back to having the blade placed so that my center of gravity is directly over the blade. I decided to do this last year and picked out a pair of Baur skates and then the guy that was going to do the blade alignment said he could not do it as there was not enough room to move the back of the holder. What can I do or which skate can I get so I can make an adjustement. I have gone all this year switching orthotics and placing plastic strips inside the skates near the heel to give me a slant. I can't get properly balanced and find it hard to get footing when I go to pass or when around the net standing nearly still my balance sucks. There have been a few games that I have had all the confidence in the world as my skates were in sync. Do orthoyics wear out that fast or is my pelvis constantly changing? When I am told I have no pronation problem I am standing. But, I have learnded that when I have my skates on (in the house experimenting with insoleses etc) and loosley tied my rear tendon guards fall inwards when I start to squat, meaning I do overpronate when I am plaing hockey with knees bent. I am in Halifax NS and if anyone can give me some help I would really appreciate it. I am 66 and have had this yo-yo of a problem for about 6 years now and I am getting sick of it. I lost almost all of last year, with this year not too much different. I have a few more good years left in me but I want to enjoy them playing hockey. Sorry for the rant, but I am frustrated. Someone please help, I know I can play hockey a hell of a lot better than I do, yet guys say I skate really well, but also see me falling often and they are used to seeing me before I had the problem but don't understand it. Thanks - Alan