First set of pads

casos92 · Peewee Joined: 10 Apr 2010 Posts: 5

Now that I have my leg pad size down (36 - by the way what do +1" and +2" mean?) I want to get a set of pads. My friend has this set of pads and after his letting me use them a few times I found out I really don't like them. I cant get into a butterfly at all so just about everything down low gets through. I was thinking about the Nike Bauer One55's, the DR X5's or these cheap pair of Sherwood 9990's. This is a roller hockey league that uses a puck instead of a ball so I'm looking for ice hockey pads for the extra protection and flexibility, and I want a set that will make the butterfly as comfortable and secure as possible.

Returning2MyNet · Minors Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 379

odd, the RBK is a butterfly pad. what do you mean you could not get into a butterfly..describe what it looked like, how the pads felt and how you had them strapped.
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casos92 · Peewee Joined: 10 Apr 2010 Posts: 5

Maybe I just need to work on my flexibility, but every time I try to go down, both my leg pads end up just face down on the ground, instead of facing the puck/skater. Do you have pictures of what your legs should look like in a butterfly without the pads on?

Returning2MyNet · Minors Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 379

There is nothing special about going down in the Bfly, no mystery, you are literaly just doping on to your knees, from your stance. That is it. The pads need to be straped loosely so that they can rotate, the straps really do not hold the pads on your leg, the knee lock does, and now with the 11 nhl pads thigh wrap, those also hold the pad to the leg. the boot strap should also be worn loose, no more than snug, toe ties need have about an inch of knots to allow the toe to drop down to the ice and remove pressure on the knee.
If you are in a proper stance, any where from legs shoulder width to a barn door beyond should width and you drop to your knees, your pads will rotate, your knee will land on the knee stack and you are in a butter fly.
thi simage of miller shows a butter fly, in this image his feet are pretty far forward, giving him a
wide butterfly, his knees are not together, the further apart they are is the depth increases in both are achieved through the rigors of stretching routines and or yoga.

This image shows miller in a very wide and deep butterfly (on his way into a Russina splits, one leg to either side, square to the shoulders, toe forward and ideally feet nearly flat on the surface

Narrow butterflies your feet may be right behind you. the size of the ^ depends on the goaltenders abilities.
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casos92 · Peewee Joined: 10 Apr 2010 Posts: 5

Thanks for the help. I knew they were supposed to be loose, but I didn't know specific ones were supposed to be loose. I'll have to get you a picture of the pack of my pads, but basically I'm confused on which straps are supposed to be tight and which ones are supposed to be loose. My current pads (Reebok Street hockey pads) have 5 straps from top to bottom, but I'm confused on which is the knee lock, thigh lock, boot tie and toe tie.

Returning2MyNet · Minors Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 379

The knee lock is the velcro elastic strap that goes behind your knee.
Starting at the bottom, the toe tie or strap is that which is at the toe and attaches to teh front of the skate.
The boot strap is that which runs either down and through the middle of the skate (under your arch of foot) or through the heel of skate. The next strap up is the ankle strap, then mid calf, upper calf, then knee straps. All of those are worn LOOSE
An easy way to determin a starting point is put eact stap on its loosest setting and get in your butterfly, adjust the straps to a point where they are near snug, then back off a few holes. Go into and out of your blf a few times, there should be no pressure from any strap on your legs. If your pads are twisting, you likly have the boot strap or toe tie to tight. you can use the ankle strap to tighten the pad to your leg and to have the pad follow your legs more(more hybrid goalies go tighter here
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