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View Full Version : Opinions on MK Phantom blade?


doubletoe
03-03-2009, 01:00 PM
Seeing as no-one else seems to have switched to MK Phantom specifically from MK Gold Star, does anyone have any feedback on the MK Phantom after switching from any other blade, such as Wilson Gold Seal, MK Professional, etc? Did the different rocker shape affect your spins or jumps? Thanks! :)

flo
03-03-2009, 01:16 PM
I had comets (8 1/2) and went to Phantoms (7). I really like them and have been staying with them for years. It has been a while since I changed, but remember liking the ability to get a really deep edge.

hanca
03-03-2009, 02:32 PM
I have Phantoms and love them. But I have always had rocker 7, so not sure how it would affect you.

TreSk8sAZ
03-03-2009, 02:40 PM
I've gone from Ace to Vision to Phantoms. I LOVE my phantoms! I feel more controlled on deep edges and am generating more speed. I would say it helped my axel, but since my Visions were dead I'm pretty sure going from virtually nothing to new blades is actually what did that. The only thing I didn't like is it took me a few sessions to find the "sweet spot" when spinning, but spins have never been my strong suit.

katz in boots
03-03-2009, 04:41 PM
This probably isn't much help to you. I went the other way, from Phantoms (old, 20 years +) to Ultima Freestyle 8'.

That made a big difference in something - whether it be rocker, profile, pick angle - which affects my edge jumps. When rolling up to the pick to jump, the pick doesn't grab at the same moment, and I am still struggling 9 months later with basic waltz jumps, loops & salchows.

Spins, well, I am not a strong spinner anyway, so I blame any problems on me rather than blades. :roll:

I still pine for my Phantoms and wish I'd never changed from 7' rocker. Probably cos I'd had them forever, jumping was so much easier. When I have the money I plan to get Phantom Specials.

doubletoe
03-03-2009, 07:46 PM
I have Phantoms and love them. But I have always had rocker 7, so not sure how it would affect you.

Hanca, which 7' blades did you have before the Phantoms? My current blades have a 7' rocker, but the rocker has a slightly different shape than the Phantom, which is why I'm concerned about the adjustment. My current blade is the MK Gold Star, which has the rocker slightly rounder and fuller toward the front of the blade, whereas the Phantom's "sweet spot" seems to be farther back and less round right behind the toepick.

This probably isn't much help to you. I went the other way, from Phantoms (old, 20 years +) to Ultima Freestyle 8'.

That made a big difference in something - whether it be rocker, profile, pick angle - which affects my edge jumps. When rolling up to the pick to jump, the pick doesn't grab at the same moment, and I am still struggling 9 months later with basic waltz jumps, loops & salchows.

Spins, well, I am not a strong spinner anyway, so I blame any problems on me rather than blades. :roll:

I still pine for my Phantoms and wish I'd never changed from 7' rocker. Probably cos I'd had them forever, jumping was so much easier. When I have the money I plan to get Phantom Specials.

Your jump timing adjustments are exactly the type of difference I'm concerned about, especially on axel takeoffs. On the Gold Stars I need to really roll all the way up to the pick and point my toes hard on takeoff , but I think on the Phantom I might hit the pick sooner, without rolling up so far, which could make the feel and timing different.

vesperholly
03-03-2009, 08:31 PM
Your jump timing adjustments are exactly the type of difference I'm concerned about, especially on axel takeoffs. On the Gold Stars I need to really roll all the way up to the pick and point my toes hard on takeoff , but I think on the Phantom I might hit the pick sooner, without rolling up so far, which could make the feel and timing different.
I think the Phantoms actually helped me get my axel. I started rotating it fully after about six months on the Phantoms, and I landed it for the first time two months after that.

doubletoe
03-04-2009, 02:11 PM
I think the Phantoms actually helped me get my axel. I started rotating it fully after about six months on the Phantoms, and I landed it for the first time two months after that.

Cool! What blades were you using before you switched to the Phantoms?

vesperholly
03-04-2009, 03:26 PM
Cool! What blades were you using before you switched to the Phantoms?
Gold Seals.

I went back and looked at some old video of axel attempts on Gold Seals and axel attempts on Phantoms. The jump actually improved right away. I'm sure a good deal of improvement was due to the new boots also, but still.

I got new boots and Phantoms in November 05, started rotating the axel in May 06, and landed it clean the first time in September 06. I only skate for 3-4 hours a week, so that's pretty good progress, I think.

hanca
03-04-2009, 03:31 PM
Hanca, which 7' blades did you have before the Phantoms? My current blades have a 7' rocker, but the rocker has a slightly different shape than the Phantom, which is why I'm concerned about the adjustment. My current blade is the MK Gold Star, which has the rocker slightly rounder and fuller toward the front of the blade, whereas the Phantom's "sweet spot" seems to be farther back and less round right behind the toepick.

I had MarkIV. It was some cheap beginner's blade which together with boots cost about £100, so they were not great quality. I am not even certain that they were rocker 7, but I was told so by some people at the rink (I wouldn't know if the info is correct though).

Considering the price of the blade boot set I had, I think it was quite a low quality blade so anything would be massive improvement. Maybe that's why I love my Phantoms now. :)

aussieskater
03-04-2009, 04:06 PM
I had MarkIV. It was some cheap beginner's blade which together with boots cost about £100, so they were not great quality. I am not even certain that they were rocker 7, but I was told so by some people at the rink (I wouldn't know if the info is correct though).

I'm pretty sure that Mark IVs are 8' rocker radius.

katz in boots
03-04-2009, 04:25 PM
Your jump timing adjustments are exactly the type of difference I'm concerned about, especially on axel takeoffs. On the Gold Stars I need to really roll all the way up to the pick and point my toes hard on takeoff , but I think on the Phantom I might hit the pick sooner, without rolling up so far, which could make the feel and timing different.

I've never skated on Gold Stars, Visions or Professionals, so can't comment on the difference between them, and I can't do axels.

My experience is that hitting the pick earlier on the roll up is a good thing. More immediate spring = more power because less is wasted on the roll. IMO, if you feel you're spending too long rolling up, then maybe the change might help. Yes, the difference in timing would take adjustment, but whether it would be better for you is going to be a personal thing.

I never had problems with take-off for waltz jumps in Phantoms. In Freestyles I have ongoing problems taking off. I just don't get rolled up onto the pick fast enough. After 9 months I would've thought I would have adjusted, but even last night I struggled with waltzes. No way am I going to get an axel on these blades (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :lol:)

doubletoe
03-04-2009, 10:13 PM
Gold Seals.

I went back and looked at some old video of axel attempts on Gold Seals and axel attempts on Phantoms. The jump actually improved right away. I'm sure a good deal of improvement was due to the new boots also, but still.

I got new boots and Phantoms in November 05, started rotating the axel in May 06, and landed it clean the first time in September 06. I only skate for 3-4 hours a week, so that's pretty good progress, I think.

Very interesting!

sk8star2010
05-25-2009, 01:41 PM
Ok, so I'm currently working on double jumps now, and I need new boots and blades. Lots of people tell me that mk phantoms are great. Also, people are telling me that pattern 99 are excellent as well.
For boots I'm thinking about getting the ls2010 Riedell boot. The boots I'm in now are Jacksons, but they are so heavy!
Does anyone have any input or opinions on this? Thanks much! :)

Virtualsk8r
05-25-2009, 02:08 PM
The Riedell 2010's are indeed a lighter boot, however, if you have any weight at all - I think the boots would break down very quickly. My dd tried on a pair and they were creasing in the store....The Riedell 1500 was not much heavier, as it has a cork sole, and had more support. I like the 1500 because it has 'heel hugger' eyelets that actually keep the heel in the boot and it looks great on the feet. The 2010 has that beige material that kind of looks funny.

sk8tmum
05-25-2009, 04:46 PM
That beige stuff on the Riedells actually looks neat on the ice IMHO - it blends right into the tights, and it looks like you've nearly nothing on your feet. It's supposed to be nice and comfy too, and the skaters who have switched have all told me it helped with toe point ...

twokidsskatemom
05-26-2009, 12:00 AM
That beige stuff on the Riedells actually looks neat on the ice IMHO - it blends right into the tights, and it looks like you've nearly nothing on your feet. It's supposed to be nice and comfy too, and the skaters who have switched have all told me it helped with toe point ...
Both my skaters have the 1310s and love love them. The padding goes all the way to the toes, and no break in period. They come already punched at the ankle and you can get nice ankle bend/toe point.

katz in boots
05-26-2009, 03:22 AM
Very interesting!

So doubletoe, did you make the leap, or still thinking about it?

doubletoe
05-28-2009, 12:12 PM
So doubletoe, did you make the leap, or still thinking about it?

Oh, I ended up buying a third pair of the same blades (MK Gold Star). The reason I was interested in the Phantoms was because I wanted to try the parabolics and Phantoms are available in parabolic (Gold Stars are not, unless you want to special order and wait up to 6 months). But once I figured in the adjustment that might be required for the different rocker shape between the Gold Star and the Phantom, I figured it might not be worth the experiment.

doubletoe
05-28-2009, 12:15 PM
Ok, so I'm currently working on double jumps now, and I need new boots and blades. Lots of people tell me that mk phantoms are great. Also, people are telling me that pattern 99 are excellent as well.
For boots I'm thinking about getting the ls2010 Riedell boot. The boots I'm in now are Jacksons, but they are so heavy!
Does anyone have any input or opinions on this? Thanks much! :)

Sk8star2010, MK Phantoms and Wilson Pattern 99's are really the equivalent level and style of blade, so either one would be good. It just depends on what blade you are using now. If you are using an MK blade now, you should stick with MK and get the Phantoms. If you are using Wilson blades now, you should get the Pattern 99's. That's because the rocker shape within each brand of blade tends to be more consistent so you don't have as much adjusting to do if you stay within the same brand.