smu

This sounds great if a consensus can be made on what a 60 flex means as compared to other brands. As was posted, the Bauer has to be the stiffest but what is what? If I could get a proper shaft with "my flex" I would grab it as I have plenty of blades to look through. I suppose though the shafts start with the intermediates. I don't mind that, but I need a shaft that will flex. I never liked the OP variety anyway and I can at least bend the wooden blades or do they make those any more? If not there should be a good selection of blades, that's were it is difficult to match a flex to the blade you want. I will look into the shafts and if I can get a good answer as in flex I am changing as the wooden blades at least will take a hard pass. Thanks again, alan

You are dead on with Bauer as far as the flex goes, it is harder for me to compare other brands as many have been juniors except I have actually tried the Junior Nexus and while I could could flex it on the carpet in the LHS I could not flex it at all on the ice. I know I am small, but something is wrong when I am down to a 40 flex and can't flex it at all. Nothing cut off! Nice and light, but never got a chance to use it except fo one game. My LHS tested it on the floor in the store and agreed with me 100% and I got my money back. The Int 55 flex Warrior is heavy and won't flex. I am using a Junior Graf 40 flex at the moment. That's the one where I cannot take a pass! Alan

Way back in the early 80s I feel I was the only one complaining about the terribly high flex that was out there and popular. Even for my son, who at that point was much larger than me, wanted the silver Gretzky stick. The 100 flex was the stick to buy! At that point there was movement towards manufacturing a lighter weight and flex for women's sticks. I could not wait for them to hit the market, but I had to wait a long, long time. Back to my sticks, here are 2 intermediate that I have given a quick review. If I get something in one I give up something in another. If I included juniors as well I get a different combination, but just can't stop a pass! The 2 intermediate sticks that gave the identical characteristics when cut are as follows: A relatively Cheap Warrior the other the top of the line Bauer TotalOne. I like a short stick so I cannot recall whether the cut height is on my skates or on the concrete floor, but relatively not much in the difference. I have used much shorter sticks at times with the junior sticks as it improves my stickhandling especially around and between my skates Here were 2 sticks that were similar to me, but would be argued by many; 1) The inexpensive Warrior that had a 55 flex and length of length of approximately 63.5" full length. Given the feel on the carpet I was hoping I could cut it to my length and I would have what I need. First of all when cut the stick to about 52" it was a very heavy stick for me. But, it would not flex on the ice for me, the only place it would flex is on the carpet at the LHS floor! It would capture the puck when receiving a pass though and the blade acted like a hefty blade as did the shaft except for the flex! 2) I also have the same size intermediate Bauer TotalOne at a 50 flex. I then cut it to my size, again about 52" when in front of me from floor to just below my nose. The shaft was approximately 50" and I thought that the BAUER with all it's carbon fibre would give me light weight and the ability to flex the stick and capture those hard passes. This stick did give me a superb lightweight feel, but again I could not flex it on the ice once I cut it to my size. I just could not get enough friction from the ice and my weight to come near flexing. The blade was just OK as it felt heavy, but I had no trouble with receiving passes. So, how do I trust knowing what I am getting if I order any stick on-line unless I can be told about the product in relationship to the 2 sticks above? Cheers - Alan

I would hope it is not weight, that's why I am using a junior the most, but have my intermediate TotalOne that I can't flex when I get sick of missing passes that I should have caught, but I need the light weight to compensate for the lack of strength in my shoulder.

This may be off topic, but when i saw "Base" I had to speak up about trying to get a stick for a smaller player. Everyone says they have it, including Base, but not so. I have always had trouble finding a proper stick flex for my very light weight of 130 lbs and 5'5". 2 years ago I recall getting ready to order from Base, being assured that they had so many choices and or combinations that there had to be a stick to fit me. But when you carefully look at the lineup even after you chose your "correct" length etc. Etc. and knowing it could be cut, nothing came near my much needed flex and short length. I find that there is no standard for flex in the whole industry at all thus you can't buy a stick on-line. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I have tried many makes and most all are different when it comes to flex coupled with the correct length. Also, if a junior stick is selected then the blade area can't take a proper pass. The puck will vibrate the shaft, worse the blade seems to disappear when the puck comes near the blade as you think you have the puck, but it has gone straight through! I am told I have to use the top of the line junior for the better carbon fibers, but it does not work with the sticks I have purchased. Sorry for the rant, but Oh my God I wish the manufactured would get on the same page with respect to specs!

Looking Good! Alan

That's why my minimal 1-2 mm shims work so well in the heel area and don't take up much room. Cheers, Alan

I have only 2 paragraphs at the end of these quotes so it should not be too long ;) #1 Here is a quote from OpyimusReim, a post or two ago. Below is my older post #2 #3 A recent quote from MC88 "Placing anything underneath the insole will offset the heel from the heel pocket. Not only that, it'll place your foot slightly forward and higher, which can cause lace bite (depends on how much room you'll have between the top eyelets and your foot, but from having ordered 2 sets of VH skates, I can say that the margin is rather slim). This is why it's been very hard for me to find and use custom insoles--since most are thicker from heel to toe than the stock insole." =================== REPLY - SMU It seems that OptimusReim and myself are on the same page for minor heel increments. If you have been using Superfeet there is a a substantial thickness increase over the regular in-soles. You will note that on the medial side of Superfeet they are higher, measure it. Regardless, the height difference is not that significant. but what the Superfeet do is to turn you ankle so that the heel tendon is straighter reducing pronation. This is the major stage of correcting pronation in skates. Superfeet do have a bit of arch support, but press down on it and you will find there is really not that much as opposed to orthotics in shoes. Getting back to my point I could easily add 1 or 2 mm "pieces" medially under my Superfeet and I suppose if needed have them re-backed. I as I have said it is better to have a game where your not concerned about standing up and/or slipping rather than being able to play a whole game and enjoying it! Interesting you mentioned that I have been using my Superfeet with the original in-soles removed. I thought it would go without saying! Alan

I can see your concern. Superfeet add a bit of a height and do try and straiten up the tendon/ankle with its higher medial side (same as an orthotic), but they have been fine for me after re-baking. Would a 1 mm shim change things that much if you needed it. Having a 1 mm shim would be far better than having your skates feel as if the blades are not sharp and slipping out from under you and having a lousy game because of it. Alan

Thanks for the reply and info and comment. It was too long though and I should have realized it looking at the time I spent on it. All VH topics, but should have been broken down, reduced and posted separately if that was possible. Cheers, Alan

OptimusReim OK I goofed again, I will be shorter on my subject matter, but there is some good information in that long post. I could go back and do one at time as individual posts, but before I get to that, as it took me quite awhile to put that information together, I would like to let the members know I have a great method of helping with pronation that will do wonders and not hard to do. I don't know what your acronyms were, but not good I take it. All issues tied into VH Skate I believe, but I ask you what is tye best thing to do given that it took me some time to post this in good faith. But, I needed to learn a lesson and that has been done. If someone typed in pronation my personal experience would come up showing away to compensate pronation from the heel area where if corrected proper will fix most problems. I don't think I have the energy to reduce and redo that post. Cheers, Alan

1) Finnish a topic on Pitch and Heel lifts 2) I have some interesting news from VH and I am surprised! Without being there to be fitted your Center of Gravity by their remote fitting may be off somewhat. 3) If you need a over-pronation fix 4) My order Sorry for the long post, I would read #3 at least and #2 after that if you can! I will try and keep any further posts short and to the point. Thanks for pointing this out. Alan

TO DO: 1) Finnish my topic/experience on Pitch and Heel lifts 2) I have some interesting news from VH, I am surprised! Without being there to be fitted your Center of Gravity by their remote fitting may be off somewhat. 3) If you need a good and quick over-pronation fix. Also IMHO the new Bauer Skates with moldable insoles may not work for Over Pronation. 4) My intended order 1) Take step back for a moment to finish another topic. This is regarding my attempt at changing my pitch by placing heel shims of just over 3 mm did not seem to make the difference I was looking for. Since the Bauer holders have zero pitch and I know my body, I need something as I always feel as I am falling backwards. I will inexplicably fall doing various maneuvers especially playing with the puck and not moving fast. Up and down the ice I can go like mad, even cut behind the defense in a near 90º left or right angle and I am OK. Give me the puck just to play with it slowly to try and make a simple play and I am on my ass! 2) Back to VH and COG: I am ready to order and look at the older paperwork that I had to trace your foot and I notice that they are using the tracing of your foot with all of its bumps etc, which is going to be great, but the line projected from the heel to between the big toe and the one next to it, appears to method the that it is done normally with skaters without an over pronation problem. Maybe that line should move towards the the smaller toes to some degree in my opinion to transfer the center of gravity towards the big toe and medial side?! We are supposed to give photos of of our feet so they can work with these and our comments to give you what they think you need. There is no true positives that you will be directly over your blades, thus we have other members that are looking to put shims in the VH skates. Let VH know what the problem is and I am sure they will help, but it means sending them back unless you can get the work done yourself. Back a few post ago I had quoted Rob's email that out of X number of skates made only Y ever had a problems (small number, can't go back and see while I am posting) that came back to them. So that means they are really close or nobody is getting back to them indicating you are still pronating. I would imagine that they would ask for your skates back and wedges would be inserted. Back to my order, I am going to have as much material to give them as is warranted in particular the pronation issue. If I get a perfectly made skate except for the placement of the blade I can live with it. I can have VH adjust it or do it myself. 3) For any over-pronation issues, in the short term use Superfeet, they work well and if you have not already noticed they have SLIGHTLY HIGHER POSTS ON THE MEDIAL SIDE, SIMILAR TO WHAT I DO TO OVERCOME OVER_PRONATION, but are hard to recognize. If pronation is an issue go a step further by still using Superfeet, but adding the 1 or 2 mm thickness wedges inside the skates below the Superfeet on the medial side in the heel area only. If you need more than 1 piece use electrical tape to keep more them together and if you can trust them not moving fine, but thin 2 sided tape will work, but you will be adding a bit of height that may make a difference. With Superfeet you may only need 0.5 or 1 mm, some will need 2 or 3 mm etc. I just make sure they were on the proper side (arch side) and I push my Superfeet down hard on the pieces and they "generally" stayed in place. Using this method you can quickly have your boot off and back on within a minutes to add or remove a wedges and then do it again, but bring something so you don't have to fight getting the insole out. I have played with my skates 3 times during 1 game until I had the blades from sliding out as if they had not been sharpened properly to wher they felt I could do anything I wanted and literally saved my game!. Bring a smal bab of cut pieces of plastic, electrical tape a flat screwdriver to get your Superfeet ou in case your fingers are too cold or are too large! The size would be just less than half the width (1/2) of the heel pocket and about 2.5" long or approximately the flat part of the heel area. Round the end somewhat just to fit against the heel pocket (remember, if a shim is placed inside the boot it is always on the medial or nearest other leg - the same side of you problematic arch. If it is an outside wedge, between the boot and the holder, then the wedge will be thicker from my experience and is placed laterally on far outside of your boot under each end of the holder and make it the same length. The width of mine was about 1.5" shaped to match the exterior of the boot and straight under the holder. Mine was made with a slight bevel slight with the full thickness on the outside tapering as it went inwards, but not tapered to a point and this time opposite your sagging arch. This wedge was made by guy that owned a hockey shop, but has since sold unfortunately. What he was doing for me was then thought to be far - nearly 3 hour drive. I only wish Rob of VH was that close. For those that have issues with their VH skates why not email Rob back to give you some help. 4) With recent emails from Rob he says that they will try hard getting my blades shifted medially so I will have a better chance of being very close to my COG, perhaps at that point if there is a problem all I will need is a that quick fix of a small piece of the plastic they call "puckboard" placed under my Superfeet, the way I have my skates are done now by me. I will get the full package, but change out the Bauer holder to the LS2 Bauer (holds the blade tighter and longer than the quick change method) as it is better and I may go with the Step Steel, these two will be about the same price. LS3 and Black Steel at $50 do cost more. I understand that if I am really concerned about getting my pronation right VH can send a "Impression Box" for $80 all inclusive. IMHO from here on - This is entirely different than the New $1,000 Bauer Skates with moldable footbeds or the old Graf footbed done the same way. I believe these two footbeds are heated and then they are inserted into the skate and you stand on it making and exact copy of your fallen arch, what is the good of that, you are no further ahead! Don't believe anything until they come out with a device that puts you in skates and on a board where it can tell where your center of gravity really is. It would also measure whether you should have more or less pitch. That will come eventually! Until that happens VH is there to help as much as they can and seem to know what they are doing as long as you explain it well and give them lots of information. The Impression Box will hopefully take an impression showing what your arches need to put them back to normalcy as they are without squashing the insole flat. I have had the non weight bearing Impression Box used when I got my first orthotics and it worked well. When I got my orthotics I could stand on them on the floor and feel your arches push up as it should be. The Graf I had did nothing. There is another step in making the orthotic and is at the heel area. It is similar to what I am doing with the pieces I add under the heel, read above if you have missed that. I have noticed this twist of the tendon area like a lot of you and I make this straighten out by adding my shims in the heel area and my heel straightens up and in turn my over pronation just about disappears. I am not sure how VH's box works, but if it looks after both the arch and twist of the tendon, great at least I know what to do if the "Box" is not all that it should be. I do want to ask more about the "Box", but I think I will go for it. What is another $80! Alan

I tried 3.25 mm as a heel lift today, up from 2.75 mm and prior the normal pitch, nothing added. On a straight away skate I did not do so badly. I shoot right, but prefer left and get far more chances scoring, although I usually pass. I am a right handed shot and scored a wrist shot from just left of the has marks, Two between the 5 hole again from right to left and another instead of the 5 hole I went far enough that the goalie (not too good) allowed me to stretch him out and I slid the puck on the ice back to the left towards his outstretched leg. I had a lucky day with a couple more. I have to say that I did have some falling again while playing with the puck and turning backwards. I don't trust any backward turning although once I was good at it. I did not like the 3.5 mm lifts that I had installed and will go back to no heel lifts tomorrow for our games next week. It cost me almost nothing as I have the lifts and all is needed is to install. Pro Hockey Life in Nova Scotia have been quite accommodating for me! Then order the skates! I did not feel comfortable in the 3.25 mm except for straight away and and not so hard turns. In fact one of our guys went into the boards hard and we thought he was hurt, seriously. As it turned he was not, but I was kneeling beside him and went to get up I had lost my balance. I fell almost on top of him and I feel it was do to to my pitch. I also had some trouble with quick starts using the right over the left, Left over the right was fine. This could be a factor with my tight right abductor muscles in my hip or perhaps a better fitting skate like a new VH may fix a lot of my problems. I will take the heel shims the 3.25 shims and see what the difference is with playing with all types in a short time frame. As said by one of the members just order the new boot and fix it later. With the Bauer LS2 holder and perhaps Black Steel and work with that as I certainly know my Bauer X90 are not doing any good. Loose fit, left foot narrow and over-pronation, that's enough to buy. If I want heel lifts or whatever I can do it after I get a great skate. Alan

Supposedly no, not really offering!

Good point, but I am adding a 3.25 mm heel wedge today to try tomorrow just to see how that goes. I think you are right after that, just order the skates. I would need VH's special T-nuts (I am having them use these all around) in a longer length to add a full lift plus through the heel lifts. Does anyone know if they can be sourced at any particular place. Perhaps VH will sell then to me or can advise where they can be purchased. Thanks for your "push" Alan

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