Blade pitch and radius

[dustwvl 0]

The topic of the pitch holder got me thinking. I am currently skating on Easton Z airs and I am having a couple issues. They are at a 9 ft radius currently and it seems like I am still having a hard time making real tight turns and crossovers. I know A 11 ft does not work for me. Does it make sense to try an even shorter radius like an 8 ft. Also the other problem is hard to explain. It seems like the toe is to high and I cant push off properly especially the first few strides. I don't know if changing the pitch would help with this or not. I know I don't want to much forward lean because my old graf 705's were to much. I wear a 5 easton if that makes a difference. They are the stock razorblade 2 holders.

Any help at all is appreciated.

[wickedwrister 0]

The smaller the radius you have, the less blade is on the ice. You will be able to turn sharper, but in exchange you loose speed when skating in a straight line. Since you say you skate in a size 5 I am going to guess you are a younger person or small in stature. From the people I have spoken to who do blade work, an 8 foot radius is not unheard of for smaller persons, but not highly requested for adults. As far as your "toe being too high", I guess I am not sure what you mean. Are you back on your heels too much? A profile/ pitch adjustment will take care of that.

[jimmy 194]

Blade radius is based on blade length amoung other factors. A 9' radius on a size 5 skate performs like a 11' radius on a size 8 skate. Reducing to a smaller radius will give you better turns for sure. A 7 or 8' radius is more appropriate for that size skate.

[dustwvl 0]

I was wondering if that was the case. Actually I am probably one of the older members on this board, but I am only 5' 6". I asked about the relationship of radius to skate size and the place I get my skates sharpened at and they said it makes no difference what size the skate is.

[ambro 0]

Blade size has nothing to do with blade radius. 9 ft is 9 ft no matter what size the skate is.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

Think about it some more. a 9 ft. circle is always the same size. When you shorten the skate blade the 9 ft. radius doesn't change, putting more blade on the ice. It's pretty simple when you think about it.

[JR Boucicaut 3813]

Exactly. On a shorter blade, there'll be more blade on the ice than a longer blade.

[wickedwrister 0]

Exactly. On a shorter blade, there'll be more blade on the ice than a longer blade.

You mean on a shorter blade, more of that same blade will be on the ice. Like this.

L_l________l__J

L___ l________l____J

Did not come out the way I did it before I posted. The amount in between those lines represent the amount on the ice. They are the same even though the blades on the bottom are bigger.

[ambro 0]

Exactly. On a shorter blade, there'll be more blade on the ice than a longer blade.

Really? I assumed it would be the same as long as the radius is the same...

Or do you mean there will be a higher percentage of the blade on the ice with a shorter blade, but the amount on the ice is the same?

[JR Boucicaut 3813]

The working radius will be the same, but the heel and toe radius will be shorter, hence, the percentage of blade touching the ice on the shorter blade will be more than a longer blade.

Wickedwrister's drawing shows exactly what I mean.

You got it.

[ambro 0]

Still kinda confusing me here JR. Was I right with my last statement that the actual amount of the blade touching is the same?

[dustwvl 0]

So in this case with the smaller skate would it make sense to try the shorter radius?

[JR Boucicaut 3813]

Your second statement was correct. Same 9" radius, but since the blade is shorter, it is actually longer in proportion to the blade, and won't skate the same as a 9" on a longer blade.

[JR Boucicaut 3813]

So in this case with the smaller skate would it make sense to try the shorter radius?

Yes

[dustwvl 0]

Thanks.

[jimmy 194]

Shops that say that the radius doesn't matter generally do not have smaller radius bars than 9', that's why they'll steer you toward 9', or give some other lame excuse like there is no difference. It was/is common for radius machines to come only with 9,11, and 13' bars, and perhaps a 28' for goalies. So if you want/need a 6, 7, 8 or 10', etc, they can't do it.

Having the proper radius based on the length of your blade is very important. Imagine a size 10 youth skate with a 13' radius, that skate would have a lot of blade touching the ice, which gives good speed, but it would be deficient in turning ability. On the other hand, a 9' radius on a senior 13 skate would not give enough speed.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

I was wondering if that was the case. Actually I am probably one of the older members on this board, but I am only 5' 6". I asked about the relationship of radius to skate size and the place I get my skates sharpened at and they said it makes no difference what size the skate is.

I drudged this old post up instead of starting a new one.

Jimmy has been educating me a bit about radiuses (thanks Jimmy!), but all errors below are my own.... I understand that skate size is independent of the radius you put on them. I also understand that the size of the *skater* is one parameter that factors in when selecting a radius. My question is, do skate manufacturers take this into account ? Will the radius on my 6.5 Graf 609s, for instance, be the same out of the box as the radius on the same skates, in size 11 ? Because it seems obvious that the weight of the skater is going to be correlated with the size of the skate.

[cobrAA 0]

i thought the blade length was the ''rocker'' So what the Rocker??

[Gongshow11 1]

rocker is the amount of "U" the blade has, higher rocker, less blade on the ice.

[cobrAA 0]

okay...that what make you feel your blade are more sharp??(exemple: when doing a stop or tight turn)

For 2 year, i thought Medium was the radius

[cobrAA 0]

so To compare with t'blades...M-11-280

280: is the lenght of the holder...

M: is the rocker,the ''U'' make it sharpen or not

11:Radius, how long is the blade touching the ice??

I thought radius was how sharp the blade is...Because IMO 9'' felt more sharpen than 11 and 11 more than 13...and that the 9 was holding the edge maybe 2 game more than a 11...

[Eazy_b97 1]

No.

M is the rocker, how much blade is touching the ice. 11 is the hollow. Hollows are the depth of cut in the steel, what you are calling "sharp".

280 - Holder Length

M- Rocker length

11- Hollow. Normally measures in inches or fractions of them.

[Chadd 916]

To follow up, M is 10" if I remember correctly.

[cobrAA 0]

oh thanks chadd...i got told by a well-know guys(but maybe i misunderstood) that the longer the radius is the best it is...

He show me 5 different skate with 5 different radius on them(9.11.13.15.17) and that 9 is a poor quality and 13 and more is the best...is it true??(i got this answer because we was talking about profile)

By the way,would you say since there is more blade touching the ice...a Long radius would hold a edge more longer?? or this is due with the Hollow?? I'm asking this...because i whant to decide if i do a profile on my F10 ''like t'blades" or i put t'blades and order 15 pair at a discount price! so i wanna make sure:P!

Anywayz, interesting topic!!!

[Chadd 916]

I've never seen a 15 or 17 radius, are you sure he wasn't talking about the hollow in mm, like t'blades?

If it is the radius, 9 is shorter and better for quick cuts. 17 would be much better for flat out speed and stability. It's really a matter of finding what works best for you.