How Does An Ice Hockey Skate Work?

Hockey skates allow a skater to move, turn, and stop quickly on ice. The skate is designed for these moves with a curved shape and a hollow in the center of the blade. These features allow the skate to move on a thin film of water atop the ice, increasing speed and agility.

Blade Anatomy: The Rocker

Look at a hockey skate blade, and you'll notice it's curved from front to back. This curve is known as the "radius," "rocker" or "profile" of the blade. The rocker allows the skater to move in large curves on the ice and places the skater's weight over a one- to two-inch portion of the blade near the ball of the foot, known as the "sweet spot." The sweet spot aids in quick turning.

Blade Anatomy: The Hollow

The bottom of a hockey skate blade is grooved down the middle, creating two separate edges. This groove is known as the "hollow." The depth of the hollow determines how hard the skate grips the ice. A deeper hollow gives a better grip and greater control, but it slows the skater down. Most hockey players prefer their hollow to be between 3/8-inch and 5/8-inch deep.

Moving

Hockey skates actually glide over a thin film of water between the edge of the blade and the ice surface. Because of the "sweet spot" under the rocker, only one to two inches of the blade are touching the ice surface at any time. The weight of the skater pressing down on this small surface area melts the top layer of water molecules on the ice, allowing the skater to pass over the water in a move known as "hydroplaning."

Turning

Quick turns can be made on hockey skates by using the sweet spots on the blades. In a one-foot turn, the skater pivots over the sweet spot on the turning foot. In a two-foot turn, the skater transfers his weight from the sweet spot on one foot to the sweet spot on the other.

Stopping

Hockey skaters can stop quickly by using friction. In a traditional two-footed hockey stop, the skater turns his lower body so that the skate blades are at a right angle to the direction of travel. The blades scrape the top layer off the ice and stop the skater. Stops can be made so quickly on hockey skates that some hockey coaches train their players to stop and then start in a new direction, instead of turning.