Heavily taping ankle area

[Jake 0]

Wasn't sure if this should go in the equipment forum or General Hockey, but anyway..

I see a lot of guys in the NHL that heavily tape their ankles, and that includes going around their shin guards and their tendon guard. Wouldn't that severely inhibit forward flex? Or does it allow a player to stay in more of a seated position, rather than falling over top of themselves?

Here's some examples:

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/se...40316&cdi=0

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/se...32074&cdi=0

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/se...57617&cdi=0

Anyone here do this? What are the benefits?

[blueliner27 12]

I do that! But my shin pad goes in front of my skate.

I hate if my ankle's losen. Actually, it might affect you turning around, for me, no prob.

[Vapor 0]

the benefits are that your mom dosent have to embarrass you in the locker room by lacing up your boots.

[Storm 0]

Taping the top of your skates is a personal choice. Not everyone tapes the same way either. It provides support and can protect against sprains. Care has to be taken not to loose too much forward flex.

When I grew up taping your skates was the norm. Now its the exception. I have recently begun taping them again and the area where my tendon guard and counter (heel) meet is showing some damage. I miss the mobility but feel safer taping my skates.

Models with very stiff tendon guards would make it hard to tape.

[Monty22 831]

Taping over the tendon guards may offer some more support, but it tends to destroy that part of your boot.

[biff44 0]

I am not sure, but if the NHL guys are doing it there must be a good reason. Maybe it keepsthe pads in place enough so that you can not easily get slashed on your achiles tendon.

[willy0314 0]

Personally I can't stand taping my skates to my ankles. It dosen't give you much of a benifit, and it seems to have at least some effect on your kneed bend. The same thing with guys who wrap their laces around the back of the boot. A coach told me once, "if you go into the boards at the wrong angle, either the tape or the bones in your ankle are going to have to give, and you dont want a broken ankle because of some bad habit." I think of that everytime I see someone with a crapload of tape or super long laces around their skates because they have worn out boots or weak ankles.

That being said, maybe it just comes down to personal preference. Im not gonna question guys in the NHL that do it.

[KYHockey3 0]

couldnt the wrapped around laces just be due to too long of laces?

a guy on my team has a very weak ankle, like he usually wears a braces when not playing hockey. he tapes this part of his skates to give him extra support.

[DamnLocust 0]

couldnt the wrapped around laces just be due to too long of laces?

That could be the original reason, but we're a superstitious lot, and once we start doing something one way, it's hard for us to kick that habit. I mean, laces cost all of $4, if they're too long, you could just buy another set, or cut off the excess lace.

I like extra long laces, but only so I can make a pretty bow with them.

[KYHockey3 0]

i allwayts have wrapped mine around because tehy are too long. i dunno why, but i prefer it

[Chadd 916]

couldnt the wrapped around laces just be due to too long of laces?

That could be the original reason, but we're a superstitious lot, and once we start doing something one way, it's hard for us to kick that habit. I mean, laces cost all of $4, if they're too long, you could just buy another set, or cut off the excess lace.

I like extra long laces, but only so I can make a pretty bow with them.

I have 84s on my custom S500s. The extra depth makes the lacing distance pretty narrow.

[DamnLocust 0]

what size skate do you wear?

I'd think 84s would be for Jr. skates :D

I've got 120s on my 10.5 L7s, but they aren't quite as deep as they could (should) be, and they're a high cut boot. And a big size. I actually wish I could find longer laces to make a bigger bow. I kinda like it when the bow flops around when I skate. Yeah, I'm frickin' lame.

[Fury of One 6]

I actually wish I could find longer laces to make a bigger bow.

I actually use 130s. Bauer makes 'em. I use wax but I think I saw them as unwaxed as well.

[KYHockey3 0]

I actually wish I could find longer laces to make a bigger bow.

I actually use 130s. Bauer makes 'em. I use wax but I think I saw them as unwaxed as well.

DANG!!!

what size skate do you wear?

i use 96 inch laces and wrap them around

[DamnLocust 0]

sweet. I love bauer waxed laces. I'll pretty much only use bauer/graf laces as others (A&R, etc.) are just too thin and don't seem to have the same quality. I'll have to see if my LHS stocks them, and if not I'll try to hunt down a set.

thanks

[Konig von Kuhlem 0]

For years I used to tape up my ankles, mainly to protect my Achilles tendon (and because Pavel Bure used to do it :) ). But a couple years back I got fed up with the amount of tape I was going through each game, so I decided not tape my ankles. It was a strange sensation at first, but after I got used to all the extra freedom I found that my turning and overall skating skills improved dramatically. Now to protect my Achilles tendon I just leave the bottoms of my socks (which have been stretched by so much use) over the tendon guards.

[Fury of One 6]

sweet. I love bauer waxed laces. I'll pretty much only use bauer/graf laces as others (A&R, etc.) are just too thin and don't seem to have the same quality. I'll have to see if my LHS stocks them, and if not I'll try to hunt down a set.

thanks

You're welcome. I used to use Grafs but they only go up to 120 and yeah A & R are absolute sh*t. I guess it's one of my pet peeves, I just don't like to take my laces out of the eyelets when I'm done and have to put 'em back in.

[Quintin 16]

I find it for more added support. I figured if the skate's closer to my foot, it'd be much more easier to skate.

[srv2miker 0]

I was told by my power skating instructor never to do it. I notice Mario used a little tape, while Yzerman must've used two whole rolls around his. I get the feeling its an "old-school" thing from a time when skates weren't as stiff, but I'm just guessing there.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

It gives more stability and it gives more power to every moves you make like quick turns or fast start. I talk as my own experience, it doesn't mean everyone will feel the same.

[Rustpot 1]

I wear my shins under the tongue, and wrap 6-7 times around the tongue and tendon guard.

Without the tape I can't even walk to get to the ice (let alone skate) without my ankles flopping sideways.

I tape it such that the tendon is flat against my leg and the tongue is out a ways, it keeps the forward flex, but adds stability side to side.

I also wear a shinguard that is 1-2" shorter than how most people would wear theirs such that then end of the shin isn't going into the skate too far on the forward flex, but still keeping overlap of the shin/tongue

[willy0314 0]

Without the tape I can't even walk to get to the ice (let alone skate) without my ankles flopping sideways.

Maybe its time for a new pair of skates? The boot should give you more support then that. But you might just have really weak ankles or bad form too. Even when I was wearing a really soft skate before my 1500's, I never had any kind of "ankle flopping over" problems.

[pody37 3]

I tape my skates to give extra support. Im wearing tours which are a bit too low cut for me so the tape helps give more support and stability. But since i got a few £££ i have new skates on the way :D

[Rustpot 1]

Without the tape I can't even walk to get to the ice (let alone skate) without my ankles flopping sideways.

Maybe its time for a new pair of skates? The boot should give you more support then that. But you might just have really weak ankles or bad form too. Even when I was wearing a really soft skate before my 1500's, I never had any kind of "ankle flopping over" problems.

I'm a BIG guy, and I can't support my whole body on a skinny blade. I've only been skating for a few months, so I know my ankle strength is quite bad, but the guy who had me tape them like that does the same thing and he's been playing for 10+ years

I probably didn't get a deep enough skate, but I couldn't afford the Grafs that fit the best, and I couldn't find another skate that gave me enough depth/support

[RadioGaGa 162]

Without the tape I can't even walk to get to the ice (let alone skate) without my ankles flopping sideways.

Maybe its time for a new pair of skates? The boot should give you more support then that. But you might just have really weak ankles or bad form too. Even when I was wearing a really soft skate before my 1500's, I never had any kind of "ankle flopping over" problems.

I'm a BIG guy, and I can't support my whole body on a skinny blade. I've only been skating for a few months, so I know my ankle strength is quite bad, but the guy who had me tape them like that does the same thing and he's been playing for 10+ years

I probably didn't get a deep enough skate, but I couldn't afford the Grafs that fit the best, and I couldn't find another skate that gave me enough depth/support

Would there be any benefit to taping your ankles inside your skate...similar to how football players do? It would add stability and strength until you develop stronger ankles/skating.