Quick Guide
SKATE SHARPENING
The hollow ground into your blade changes everything — speed, grip, fatigue, and edge control. Here's how to pick the right one.
What Is Skate Sharpening?
Every time you sharpen your skates, a stone cuts a concave groove — the hollow — into the bottom of the blade. This creates two sharp edges that grip the ice. The depth of that groove determines how much the blade bites into the ice. A deeper hollow gives you more grip and sharper turns, but also more friction and fatigue. A shallower hollow gives you more glide and speed, but less bite.
Key Terminology
Radius of Hollow (ROH)
The concave U-shaped groove ground into the bottom of your blade. Measured in inches. A smaller number = deeper groove = more grip.
Bite
How aggressively the edges dig into the ice. Deeper hollow = more bite = sharper turns, but more friction.
Glide
How easily the skate slides on the ice. Shallower hollow = more glide = more speed and less fatigue.
Edges
The two sharp ridges on either side of the hollow — inside edge (toward body) and outside edge (away from body).
Flat Bottom
A sharpening style that flattens the bottom of the hollow while keeping sharp edges. Combines glide with bite.
Radius of Hollow
Each blade below shows the actual hollow cut into the steel. As you move right, the hollow gets deeper — more bite into the ice, but more friction and less glide.
Hollow Comparison Chart
| Hollow | Grip Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | Minimal bite | Heavy players (200+ lbs), max speed |
| 7/8" | Low bite | Heavier players, lots of glide |
| 3/4" | Balanced | All-around, defensemen |
| 5/8" | Good grip | Balanced players (170-200 lbs) |
| 1/2" | Strong bite | Most common, avg weight (150-190 lbs) |
| 7/16" | Aggressive | Lighter players, sharp turns |
| 3/8" | Max bite | Light players (under 150 lbs), goalies |
Quick Tip
Most players land between 1/2" and 5/8". If you're heavier, go shallower (less friction). If you're lighter, go deeper (more bite). When in doubt, start at 1/2" — it's the industry standard — and adjust from there.