Sharpening 101

Sharpening 101

The complete, in-depth guide to skate sharpening — traditional ROH, FBV, goalie-specific tuning, recommendation matrices, and a troubleshooting encyclopedia so you can stop guessing and start skating on the right cut.

ROH + FBV explained Skaters + goalies covered Matrices + troubleshooting Built for real-world ice
Start Here

The 60-second decision box

New to sharpening? Use these fast starters, then refine using the matrices and troubleshooting below.

If you don’t know your cut

Start with a proven baseline, then adjust based on feel.

Youth baseline: 1/2" ROH Adult baseline: 5/8" ROH

If you keep slipping in turns

You likely need more bite, or you have a leveling/finish issue.

Go deeper: one rung at a time Example: 5/8 → 9/16

If you feel “stuck” or legs burn fast

You likely have too much drag for your pressure + ice.

Go shallower: one rung at a time Example: 1/2 → 9/16 → 5/8

If you want to try FBV

FBV is often chosen to improve glide while keeping edge confidence under load.

Start near: 90/75 neighborhood Then refine from there

Important: “Same cut” doesn’t always feel the same. Level edges, centering, and finishing quality can change everything — even if the number is correct.
Foundation

The 3 things people confuse

These are the reasons people bounce between hollows and never feel “locked in.”

  1. Sharpening = the shape across the bottom (ROH or FBV) that creates your two edges.
  2. Profiling = the shape along the length (rocker/contact). Same hollow can feel totally different on a different profile.
  3. Level edges + finishing = the hidden driver. If edges aren’t level or the finish is inconsistent, the cut can feel wrong no matter what number you choose.

Bottom line: Sharpening isn’t a number. It’s a result — and the result must be repeatable.

Traditional

ROH (Radius of Hollow): what it is and why it feels the way it feels

ROH is the traditional “hollow” system. Deeper hollows typically increase bite; shallower hollows typically increase glide.

The ROH ladder (bite → glide)

3/8"→ 7/16"→ 1/2"→ 9/16"→ 5/8"→ 11/16"→ 3/4"→ 7/8"→ 1"
Reality: the “right” cut isn’t universal. It depends on your pressure (weight/strength), your mechanics, and your ice. Use the matrices below to get into the right neighborhood quickly.

Two elite examples (reference points, not targets)

  • Alex Ovechkin: 5/8" ROH
  • Cale Makar: 7/8" ROH

Pros can succeed on shallower cuts because they generate pressure and have elite edge control — but that doesn’t mean everyone should copy them.

Alternative geometry

FBV (Flat Bottom V): glide-focused geometry with controlled edge engagement

FBV is often chosen by players who want more glide without feeling like they gave up edge confidence when they load the blade.

FBV in one sentence: Many skaters describe it as “less drag with edges that still show up when you lean.”

When FBV is a smart move

  • You want more glide but don’t want to feel washed out on turns.
  • You get fatigue/leg burn on deeper ROH cuts.
  • You skate on softer ice and want to reduce the “stuck” feeling.

When to stay ROH (for now)

  • You’re still building edge fundamentals and need simpler tuning steps.
  • Your access to consistent FBV sharpening is limited.
Goalies

Goalies: why your needs are different

Goalies load edges differently than skaters. Shuffles/T-pushes reward glide; butterfly pushes demand bite under heavy lateral load.

Developing goalies

Prioritize smooth, predictable movement for shuffles and T-pushes.

Common range: 3/4"–1" ROH

Butterfly-driven / advanced goalies

As butterfly pushing becomes more powerful, many goalies trend deeper for stronger bite.

Common range: 1/2"–3/4" ROH
Goalie rule of thumb: If shuffles feel sticky → go shallower. If butterfly pushes feel weak/slippy → go slightly deeper.
Matrix

ROH recommendation matrix — skaters

Desktop shows the grid. Mobile shows clean “cards” so it’s easy to read.

Skater Weight Beginner / learning edges Intermediate Advanced / efficiency focus
< 80 lb 3/8–7/16 7/16–1/2 1/2–9/16
80–120 lb 7/16–1/2 1/2–9/16 9/16–5/8
120–160 lb 1/2–9/16 9/16–5/8 5/8–11/16
160–200 lb 9/16–5/8 5/8–11/16 11/16–3/4
200–240 lb 5/8–11/16 11/16–3/4 3/4–7/8
240+ lb 11/16–3/4 3/4–7/8 7/8–1
Modifiers: Hard/cold ice → one rung deeper. Soft/wet/snowy ice → one rung shallower. Heavy stop/turn style → one rung deeper. Speed/endurance style → one rung shallower.
Matrix

ROH recommendation matrix — goalies

Mobile-friendly card view makes it easy to compare goalie stages without scrolling sideways.

Goalie Weight Developing (shuffle/T-push) Intermediate (mixed) Advanced (power butterfly)
< 100 lb 3/4–1 5/8–3/4 1/2–5/8
100–160 lb 3/4–1 5/8–3/4 1/2–5/8
160–210 lb 3/4–1 5/8–3/4 9/16–5/8
210+ lb 7/8–1 3/4–7/8 5/8–3/4
Goalie modifiers: Sticky shuffles → one rung shallower. Weak butterfly pushes → one rung deeper. Hard ice → one rung deeper. Soft ice → one rung shallower.
Matrix

FBV translation + recommendation

FBV is best approached as a “feel neighborhood” mapped from ROH, then refined based on your goal.

How to use this: start in the suggested neighborhood, then refine based on glide vs bite and your ice conditions.

Traditional ROH FBV starting neighborhood When to choose it
3/8 100/75 Maximum bite/aggression and quick-cut skating
7/16 95/1 (chart neighborhood) High bite with a touch more glide
1/2 100/50 Bite-focused baseline with glide improvement goals
9/16 92/75 Balanced control + glide for many competitive skaters
3/4 90/75 Glide-forward feel while keeping edge-ready confidence
7/8–1 90-family glide neighborhood High-glide preference; refine toward more glide or more bite as needed
Goal-based refinement: Want more glide → refine toward the glide end of your neighborhood. Want more bite → refine toward the bite end. If you’re not sure, start near 90/75 and test from there.
FBV “equivalency” is a starting map, not a perfect conversion. Pressure, ice, profile, and finishing still matter.
Process

How to change cuts safely

Cut changes should be controlled. One variable at a time, one step at a time.

  • Change one variable at a time: don’t change hollow, profile, steel, and sharpening method all at once.
  • Small steps only: ROH changes should move one rung at a time (e.g., 5/8 → 11/16 → 3/4).
  • Give your body time: the first skate can feel “weird” even if it’s correct — unless it’s unsafe (can’t stop).
  • Use symptoms as signals: slipping = more bite or leveling; stuck/fatigue = less drag.
Sharpening Dude

Your Sharpening Dude profile

No cut log sheets needed — we track it for you.

Every customer at The Sharpening Dude gets a customer profile so your results stay consistent over time. We track your visits, your cut (ROH or FBV), and notes about what you like — so you never have to guess or remember.

Why it matters: consistency is performance. When your edges feel the same every time, you can focus on skating — not adapting.
Methods

Traditional sharpening vs automated vs The Sharpening Dude

Not all “sharpening” is the same. The difference is the process, the finishing, and the quality control.

Traditional (pro shop machine)

Great results when the operator is skilled and consistent.

  • Can correct edge leveling and centering issues
  • Finishing quality can be excellent
  • Quality varies by technician/process

Automated / home sharpening

Convenient and repeatable — but it can’t replace diagnostic QC.

  • Great for convenience and routine maintenance
  • Still requires discipline and checks for best results
  • Can’t “think” through why a skate feels off

The Sharpening Dude

Craft + consistency + finishing discipline. That’s the difference.

  • Level edges + centering focus
  • Repeatable process (every time)
  • Your history tracked for consistency
What customers usually notice most: predictable edges and confidence under load — not just “sharp.”
Fix it

Troubleshooting encyclopedia

Find your symptom, identify the likely cause, and apply the smallest effective change first.

Not enough bite (slipping / washing out) +

Most common root causes: too shallow for your pressure/ice, or edge leveling/finishing issues.

  • Washes out in turns: go one rung deeper (e.g., 5/8 → 9/16) and verify level edges.
  • Stops feel sketchy/long: deepen one rung or sharpen sooner; inspect for dulling.
  • Outside edge slips: check for uneven edges/centering; correct before changing ROH.
  • Hard pivots feel unsafe: deepen one rung and confirm finishing quality.
Too much drag (stuck / heavy legs / no glide) +

Most common root causes: too deep for your pressure/ice, or soft/wet ice creating extra drag.

  • Feels stuck: go one rung shallower (e.g., 1/2 → 9/16 → 5/8).
  • Legs burn fast: reduce drag (shallower) or explore FBV glide neighborhood.
  • Unexpected “grab”: inspect for burr/finishing issues and correct before changing cut again.
One skate feels different than the other +

This is often a leveling/centering/finishing issue — not “you need a different hollow.”

  • Left feels grippier than right: verify edges are level and hollow is centered.
  • One skate chatters: inspect the finish; re-finish if needed.
  • Skates feel different every sharpen: process consistency and QC must tighten up.
Damage, nicks, rust, and sudden slips +

Edge damage can make a perfect cut feel terrible. Solve the damage first.

  • Sudden slip after contact: check for a nick; sharpen if you can feel it.
  • “Bumpy” glide: micro-nicks; inspect under bright light.
  • Rust spots: dry your steel after skating; rust/pitting changes edge feel.
Goalie-specific (shuffle glide vs butterfly bite) +

Goalies must tune for both glide and bite — depending on stage and style.

  • Sticky shuffles: go shallower (often toward 3/4–1 range).
  • Weak butterfly pushes: go slightly deeper (one rung at a time).
  • Recoveries unstable: check for uneven edges; consider slightly shallower.
If you want, we can expand this into a full “symptom index” with 30–60 more entries and mini-anchor links.
Reference

Glossary

Key terms you’ll hear in pro shops — explained in plain English.

Term Meaning
ROH Radius of Hollow — the traditional concave “U” cut.
FBV Flat Bottom V — geometry often chosen to reduce drag while keeping edge confidence under load.
Bite How strongly your edges resist lateral slip when you load them.
Glide How efficiently the blade moves on ice (drag/friction feel).
Level edges Inside and outside edges are the same height — critical for consistent feel.
Deburr / finish Controlled removal of burrs after sharpening; huge impact on feel.
Profile The rocker/contact shape along the length of the steel (separate from sharpening).

Ready to get your cut dialed in?

Book a sharpening, tell us your current cut, your ice, and what you want to improve — we’ll get you into the right neighborhood fast.

Book now Call/Text Start Here