Radius of Hollow?

[Rusty Blades]

Wondering what RoH various folk use and why.

[Isk8NYC]

My kids use a 1/2" ROH.
I use a 3/8" ROH, mostly out of habit. Last time I went with a 1/2", I found myself sliding on edges.

[Skate@Delaware]

I think mine is 3/8"....i use a pro-filer and I can't remember, just that it isn't 1/2" anymore (i like deeper edges).

[Bill_S]

I use 3/8" ROH. I employ a Pro-Filer to keep them sharp.

I like very secure edges, and a deep ROH gives me that. I've learned over the years to be able to stop well with it, although it took a while to get comfortable with a deep hollow.

If I slip now, it's because the edge of the boot has touched down, that that's usually catastrophic. The blade lifts, and BOOM!

There's a reason hockey skate blades are on such long supports under the boot. :)

[GordonSk8erBoi]

7/16". I started out with 1/2" but after a year or so I talked to my sharpener and he suggested maybe i'd feel more secure with 7/16, so here I am. 3/8" seems way too aggressive for me!

[doubletoe]

I use 1/2" because it seems to be the best of both worlds as far as glide and speed vs. secure edges. I have side-honed blades (MK Gold Star) so I also probably get more bite into the ice on a 1/2" ROH than blades that are not side-honed (like my old MK Professionals). For that reason, I don't think I would want to go any deeper/smaller than a 1/2" ROH. There's a good explanation of the various ROH factors here:
http://www.sharpeningsolutions.com/Skate%20Sharpening%20Information.htm#_What_is_the_ 1

[dbny]

I went from 1/2 to 7/16 for deeper edges. Since there's no pro-filer for 7/16, and I tend to let my blades get very dull anyway, I went back to 1/2, thinking that sharp 1/2 is better than dull 7/16. So now I'm on dull 1/2 :frus:. I think they are really at the point where I have to spend half an hour with the pro-filer or prepare for a splatfest.

[Laura H]

Mine is 3/8" (I use the profiler). Because I don't like falling down, LOL! (I am a lot more secure with sharper edges . . . I was sliding all over the place with the 1/2" that they tried to stick me with before (when the . . . gasp .. .RINK did my sharpenings . . .).

[kander]

1/2 inch for me. 3/8 is too sticky and 5/8 is too dull.

[mikawendy]

I've used 7/16 for about the past 3 years. I had been using 1/2, but a sharpener convinced me to try 7/16. I have never tried 3/8, but I think it would be too "grabby" for me.

[SkatingOnClouds]

I'm on 7/16" and I like sharp edges. 1/2" is not grabby enough for me. Once I got 5/16" by accident, and that was way too sharp, couldn't spin or turn.
You wouldn't think 2/16" would make such a difference.

Planning to get a profiler and go for 3/8" however, as 7/16" isn't available.

[Mrs Redboots]

I think 1/2" as that's my sharpener's default setting. But I am going to have to change sharpener (long story that I don't know the details of), and may use one whose default is 7/16".

[jenlyon60]

I have 7/16" on Ultima Dance blades (the original Ultima dance blades).

When I had MK dance blades (the ones with the super slim line profile), I used a 3/8" grind.

[Rusty Blades]

After skidding on my FXOs at Nationals I decided that the dream of skating on figure skating ice will never happen and that I needed to adjust to skating on "hockey ice" (-18C as opposed to -10C) so I changed my Radius of Hollow on my MK Pros from 3/8" to 5/16" and "took 'em for a test drive" this morning. Many of my perceptions are contrary to what I had expected:

FAST! Compared to 3/8" RoH on the same ice, is was like being on ball bearings - holy mackerel Andy!

Quieter. Not nearly as much "RIP" on hard stroking and fast XOs, dead silent on glides (no more crackle).

Turns more "crisp". Makes sense. 3-turns have to "follow the blade" more, therefore sharper and less speed loss.

Spins were easier to maintain on centre. This I didn't expect! Most people say their spins suffer on sharp edges - I found it easier to maintain the centre - seemed to be better "grip" with the skating foot.

I tried pushing FXOs "to destruction" but couldn't get the blade to skid. I didn't quite have my hip on the ice but was getting WAY down there. Will try to find the limit Thursday.

Stopping wasn't as bad as I feared. It wasn't quite as smooth as 3/8 but not bad. Certainly I can stop faster!

All in all, pretty much what I expected: 5/16 on hockey ice is what I would expect from 3/8 on figure skating ice. I'm sold! (At least until the soft ice of summer school 8-) )

[Skate@Delaware]

I'm on 7/16" and I like sharp edges. 1/2" is not grabby enough for me. Once I got 5/16" by accident, and that was way too sharp, couldn't spin or turn.
You wouldn't think 2/16" would make such a difference.

Planning to get a profiler and go for 3/8" however, as 7/16" isn't available.
Yeah, that's why I got the 3/8"....I was at 7/16" and really liked it.

I liked the pro-filer so much, I got one for my son's hockey skates!!! He likes wicked sharp edges as well!