Top eyelet

[tehbui 0]

Hey just wondering how many of you don't do up all the eyelids and leave the first one or two undone. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this? I've heard from people leaving the last one undone gives you more forward flex and will help you skate faster but when I look at pictures of really fast guys like bure or gaborik I see that they actually tape around their skates

Thanks

[Chadd 916]

most people only have two pair of eye lids. If you're talking about skates, the term is eyelets

If your ankle is strong enough, try it. I used to do it all the time before I started skating .in a boot with a softer ankle

[lere2001 0]

I personally wouldn't do it because even though it might give you more forward flex, it's compromising the ankle support of the skate and could lead to more injuries. Plus, it slightly takes away some of the advantage that having a stiff skate boot will give you. (better energy transfer to the ice = better glide)

[Deerok 3]

For the most part I agree with Lere, however if you have a pair of really stiff skates that fit close to your ankles (and are supportive) you could drop down one or two eyelets and gain quite a bit of speed/quickness by giving you more forward flex. I felt that there was plenty of energy transfer and much quicker response. As Lere mentioned you do compromise a bit of stablity (if you are fighting for position in front of the net or digging in the corners you will be at a disadvantage). It really depends on your ability and your skates.

I

[AnthonyJTa 0]

most people only have two pair of eye lids. If you're talking about skates, the term is eyelets

I woke up feeling crummy this morning, and working from home... this made my day.

FWIW on topic, I've toyed with leaving the first eyelet free.. I'm coming from a previous low cut boot, so what I'm in now is a little high. I'll get used to it though..

[mxpowder 1]

I leave my top eyelets undone. I think as I've gotten into stiffer skates, it alllows much more forward flex. When I lace all the way up, feels like I'm on my heels?

[farhanshak 1]

I leave my top eyelets undone. I think as I've gotten into stiffer skates, it alllows much more forward flex. When I lace all the way up, feels like I'm on my heels?

i had the exact same issue, I went from a pair of 703 graf skates with tuuks (profiled) to a pair of ccm U+ pros (profiled) and i felt as though i was back on my heels, my balance was off and i couldnt get proper flexion in my ankles. I undid the top eyelet and voila...all the above problems solved, and i felt as though it was much under for me to get "on top my skate" with my balance. I now leave it undone, the boot feels as though it goes much higher up and is much stiffer than my old graf boot. I always left the top eyelet on my vapor xxxx skates undone as well.

However, when I do decide to put on the grafs I do them all the way up without an issue.

it comes down to what feels more comfortable for you..

[5 Minute Major 1]

I stopped using the top eyelets on my x7.0's. They feel so much more comfortable now.

[Hradsky 1]

My S17s are a pretty tall boot, I leave the top eyelet unlaced. If I lace up all the way I feel like I can't move at all.

[SolarWind 23]

this has been discussed so many times - with polls etc

just search, i'm surprised this thread isn't being merged or locked?

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s-8MniVPb0

All I can say is this, working with all the guys Barb teaches skating too this summer there isn't one that doesn't do his all the way up. I have seen here many mentions of the skate feeling like it is on the heel. Well from what I have found is even if the blade was profiled in most cases the center point of the profile was off.

Almost all new skates that came with the players from the teams (not profiled by them just sharpened) were off "for that particular player". Once the center point was discovered and altered for there particular skating style they all felt more comfortable and were able to take what Barb was teaching them and excel at their games!

[Jarick 5]

I skipped the top eyelet on my Vapors but in my Grafs which are lower cut lace them all the way up.

[SnakeHockey 0]

Recently tried skipping an eyelet on my APX and liked it a lot. I've always liked a supportive skate, so I thought I might not like it, but I didn't lose any support, just gained a lot more forward flex.

[Chadd 916]

I skipped the top eyelet on my Vapors but in my Grafs which are lower cut lace them all the way up.

I skipped the top in my Kors, as much as two or three at times in the shift 2. With my Mission S500s and Fuel120s, I always went all the way up because of the lower cut and softer ankles. I don't think the stiffness above the ankle really adds anything for the vast majority of players. Once the foot and ankle are supported, you're fine.

[Vulcan7905 88]

I as well skip the first eyelet. I was skating with it a few times in my x60s but it didnt feel right. Now that I have it undone I can feel a major difference in my skating.