When it comes to optimizing your performance on the ice, every detail matters. At Sportszone, we understand the importance of having the right edge for your skates. That's why we proudly offer Pro Sharp Custom Skate Sharpening, a service designed to enhance your skating abilities like never before.

Our skilled technicians are trained to provide radius profiles that are specific to your individual requirements, regardless of the position you play. Whether you're a forward, a defenseman, or a goalie, we tailor the sharpening to suit your unique needs. With Pro Sharp Custom Skate Sharpening, you can expect a multitude of benefits that will take your game to the next level.

Increased Lateral Stability and Movement: Experience enhanced control and agility with our custom skate sharpening. By fine-tuning the edges to match your playing style, we ensure that you have the stability and maneuverability needed to excel in quick turns and tight corners.

Increased Straight Away Speed and Balance: Speed and balance are crucial elements of any skater's game. With Pro Sharp Custom Skate Sharpening, we optimize your skates to provide you with increased speed on straightaways, allowing you to blaze past your opponents with confidence and finesse. Quicker Starts and Stops: Mastering quick starts and stops can give you a competitive edge on the ice. Our custom sharpening technique enables you to accelerate rapidly and come to a controlled stop effortlessly, giving you the advantage in critical moments of the game.

Aggressive Tight Turning, Reduced Muscle Fatigue: Tight turns require precision and strength. With our custom skate sharpening, you'll experience smoother and more aggressive tight turns, allowing you to outmaneuver your opponents with ease. By reducing muscle fatigue, you'll be able to maintain your peak performance for longer durations, leaving you less tired and more focused during crucial gameplay.

Increased Puck Handling and Shooting: Having the ability to handle the puck with finesse and shoot accurately is essential for any player. With Pro Sharp Custom Skate Sharpening, we enhance your puck handling and shooting skills by providing you with the perfect edge, ensuring optimal contact with the ice and increased control over your shots.

But that's not all—Sportszone goes the extra mile to ensure you find your best edge. We offer pre-contoured blades available for demo, featuring the three popular contours: Zuperior, Quad Power, and the all-new Ellipse. This way, you can try out different options and select the contour that suits your playing style and preferences best.

Don't settle for average when it comes to your skating performance. Visit Sportszone today and discover how our Pro Sharp Custom Skate Sharpening service can revolutionize your game. Unlock your full potential on the ice and experience the difference of having the perfect edge. Get ready to dominate the rink like never before.

Trade-In Program: Ready to part ways with your old or used equipment and make room for something shiny and new? Look no further! Step into our store and immerse yourself in our exceptional buyback and trade-in program. With our exclusive 1-for-1 item trading policy, you can trade in your gear and receive cash that will be deducted from the price of your brand-new equipment. Please note that certain items, such as helmets, undergarments, sticks, and baseball equipment, are not eligible for trade-in. Should you have any inquiries about our trade-in program, don't hesitate to reach out to us at 1-888-785-9818 or via email at info@sportszonecanada.com. Junior Skate Buy-Back: Do you have a pair of junior skates (sizes 1-3.5) that you purchased within the last year and wish to upgrade? We've got you covered! Our store presents a fantastic buy-back system specifically designed for junior skates. Bring in your recently purchased pair, and we'll reimburse you with half of the original price to put towards another fantastic pair. Please note that the maximum amount we can offer for your old pair is $125. If you have any questions or need further details about our buy-back program, feel free to give us a call at 1-888-785-9818 or send an email to info@sportszonecanada.com.

When it comes to ice hockey, goaltenders are the last line of defense. The gear they wear plays a crucial role in their performance and confidence on the ice. Bauer has once again raised the bar with their Vapor X5 Pro Goalie Pads. Offering a perfect blend of functionality and style, these pads provide goaltenders with exceptional performance and now a personalized touch with an option to order fully custom for a mid-level price point. This means that goaltenders are able to get any color and any spec they desire without having to buy "top of the line' Bauer understands that goaltenders want their gear promptly. Custom ordering the Vapor X5 Pro Goalie Pads requires an estimated eight-week production time. During this period, Bauer's team of experts will meticulously craft each pad according to the goaltender's specifications, ensuring they get exactly what they ordered. To order the Vapor X5 Pro Goalie Pads, simply go to the Bauer website and utilize the intuitive ordering system or visit us to select your preferred customization options Once the order is confirmed, Bauer's dedicated team will begin the production process, working diligently to deliver the pads within the specified timeframe. On top of this, we have also ordered sets of X5 Pro Pads in select sizes and select custom colors for Wolves, Rangers, Grvphons, and Huskies on the wav. Call or come in store to check availability.

Come and experience the ultimate personalized skate fitting at our store! We take pride in offering you a truly unique custom fitting experience. Our team of dedicated experts is equipped with cutting-edge fitting devices that capture every detail of your feet, ensuring a customized fit like no other. No matter if you're a Bauer, CCM, or True skate fan, we've got you covered. Our team of seasoned skate specialists will work their magic will work their magic to transform your chosen brand into skates that are perfectly tailored to match your individual foot shape and skating style. You can expect to hit the ice with unparalleled comfort and precision in no time. We understand that you're eager to start enjoying your new skates, and we aim to deliver with a turnaround time of approximately 4-6 weeks (though this may vary slightly depending on the brand). Rest assured; we'll do everything we can to get you gliding on ice with the utmost satisfaction. If you or someone you know has been struggling with ill-fitting skates or simply wants to upgrade to the best-fitting option available, we invite you to visit our store. Our knowledgeable staff is eager to start a conversation with you, understanding your needs and providing expert guidance. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner, we'll ensure that you walk out with the perfect pair of skates, tailored just for you. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your skating experience to new heights. Join us in-store and embark on a journey towards the most comfortable and high-performing skates you've ever worn. We can't wait to welcome you and help you take your skating to the next level!

DOES INLINE SKATING HELP WITH HOCKEY ?

Yes. There are differences but they are very similar. If you practice with skates off-ice, your on-ice skating will likely improve. The skills aren't 100% transferable but you're using most of the same muscles, improving your balance, and will likely improve shooting ability if you practice shooting in inlines. 

Ice Skating vs Inline Hockey Skating

When it comes to the history of both these sports, ice skating dates thousand years back while rollerblading, which is only a few hundred years old, evolved from ice-skating. While there are many similarities between the two, they also have differences as well like the skating surface and how you stride .

If you look at the ice skates, they have a blade like bottom which slides on the ice whereas, in rollerblades, there is a line of wheels. Both look very similar though! Inline skates don’t slide like Hockey skates do make turning and stopping different.

Here are some more differences between the two different types of skates:

Stopping

The way you stop is probably the main difference between ice skating and inline skating. In inline hockey skates , you need to transition your weight too the back quickly and make sharp turns or you can also drag your back foot.

In ice skating, you have to maintain your weight more towards the middle of the blades. This way, you can use that particular section of blades to shave the ice nicely and finally stop. It is not easy as it may seem because shifting your weight too much on either side will throw you out of balance and you’ll have a hard fall.

Balancing

As mentioned above, inline skates have wider wheelbase which offers a good balance and helps you to learn rollerblading easily. Also, rollerblades have multiple locking systems which secure your feet in place and helps build the confidence to skate.

Whereas in ice skating, there is a thin blade underneath your boot and balancing is quite tough. It takes quite a while to master it and to stop is even harder.

What can I do to practice?

There are a number of drills which can be used  on the ice which transition very well to the rollers. The reason for this is that there are certain strides which is found  to be almost exactly the same whether you are on the ice or inlines. For example, turning maneuvers and some transition moves are almost identical. Again, however, the key to making inline skates work for the ice hockey player is to try to create new habits, or what is referred to as making “perfect practice.” So proper techniques are vital!

The following drill can be used in both arenas and the pavement:

Two-foot crossunders

This drill is designed to keep the feet low while turning and to build up the strength in your inside, crossing-under leg so that it can tug harder to allow you to accelerate better in your turns. Be sure and perform this exercise both forward and backward and in both directions while going in a circle. The techniques:

• Bend the knees so they are 2” over the toes of your skates.

• Keep both skates touching the ground or ice at all times.

• Make a half-moon cut (C-cut) with the outside foot, maintaining it on an inside edge.

• The inside foot should cross under forming a letter “y” but again never leaving the surface (this leg is actually performing a half-moon cut on an outside edge.

• Put 100% body weight over each push.

• Don’t get frustrated. This is a difficult exercise in the beginning. Keep trying it and it will begin to sink in.

Not always a two-way street

One of the major problems I see involves body weight and getting it adjusted to new skate. The reason for this is that you have a much more solid grip when digging an edge into the ice than you do when trying to dig in on an edge on inlines. Therefore it is natural for you to feel awkward when it comes to how long to keep your weight over a push. Do not worry, because everyone feels this slight instability when leaving the inline for the ice. This will be corrected the more often you get on the ice.

In this article, we are going to discuss why Sports Zone is your expert equipment store for all things softball Waterloo.

Whether you're looking for bats, gloves, cleats, batting gloves, catcher equipment, balls, helmets, training aids, or even umpire products, Sports Zone has you covered - check out our softball section today!

Now let's dig in and take a look at why Sports Zone is the best store for all things softball Waterloo can offer.

Softball Waterloo - Sports Zone Is Your Expert Equipment Store

The Sports Zone difference is our personalized level of service.

We pledge to offer the customer a personal, small-store service experience but with all the sports equipment and apparel athletes need to excel at their sport. 

As Waterloo's largest independent sports retailer, we've provided thousands of athletes like you with the high-performance sports gear that helped them excel in their chosen sport and we can do the same for you.

Sports Zone is located at 92 Lodge Street in Waterloo, ON.

Hours:

• MON TO FRI 10AM TO 8PM
  
• SAT 9AM - 5PM
 
• SUN 11AM - 5PM

What we offer

Sports Zone has a tremendous selection of softball equipment and related products. That includes:

• Softball bats
• Softball gloves
• Catcher's mitts
• Helmets
• Batting gloves
• Adult cleats
• Youth cleats
• And more!

We carry all the top brands like Rawlings, Wilson, Louisville, Easton, Mizuno and Miken.

Sports Zone has the best selection of softball equipment and related products

In fact, Sports Zone was selected to carry the re-release of the popular Freak 30 USSSA Softball Bat. This model was limited to 1500 in quantity, with each one laser engraved numerically!

Check out this video for help with choosing the best softball bat!

Softball Waterloo - Where You Can Play

The City of Waterloo runs co-ed and men's summer leagues for people aged 18+. There are multiple league options in which you can play one game per week from May into September.

Softball Waterloo games are played at RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex, Hillside Park and Waterloo Park diamonds. Registration closes April 6 and all leagues fill up quickly.

• Monday/Wednesday co-ed: register as a team or as a free agent
• Tuesday/Thursday co-ed: register as a team or as a free agent
• Friday co-ed: register as a team or as a free agent *note only 14 games
• Sunday men's: register as a team or as a free agent
  

Other options include the Waterloo Recreational Co-Ed Slo-Pitch League and the Waterloo Softball Association, which includes a women's-only league option. 

Softball Waterloo - Trust The Sports Zone Difference

Like the major chain sporting retailers, we carry all the major brands you need to play your best.

Click on the images below to see our selection of softball bats and gloves:

Sports Zone has all the softball gear you need at the best price, guaranteed!

Visit us today to get the best sports equipment you need to compete and take advantage of our in-store services. Or you can order online if you're outside the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

What Sports Zone customers are saying:

"Best sporting goods store in town. Mostly hockey and baseball. Quality equipment. No junk."

- Matthew Fries

In this article, we will discuss batting cages Kitchener-Waterloo and how Sports Zone's is a hidden gem.

Whether you're looking for baseball bats, baseball gloves, cleats, batting gloves, catcher equipment, baseballs, helmets, training aids, umpire products or batting cages in Kitchener-Waterloo, Sports Zone has you covered - check out our baseball section today!

Now let's dig in and take a look at why Sports Zone is the best baseball store Kitchener residents can visit.

If you're looking for batting cages in Kitchener-Waterloo, stop by today!

Batting Cages Kitchener-Waterloo

A batting cage is an area for batting practice and testing baseball or softball bats that is enclosed by fencing or netting.

Sports Zone is home to one of the batting cages Kitchener-Waterloo has to offer. We are located at 92 Lodge Street in Waterloo, ON. 

Come on by and take some swings with any of our baseball bats or softball bats.

Hours:

• MON TO FRI 10AM TO 8PM
  
• SAT 9AM - 5PM
 
• SUN 11AM - 5PM

Tips For Batting Cages Kitchener-Waterloo

Practice makes perfect, so the best thing is to hit the batting cages as often as possible.

Once there, here's how you can imporve your swing:

• Stand comfortably beside the plate. Check that you’re in the right place by standing in the batter’s box and trying to touch the opposite side of the plate with your bat. If so, you should be able to hit the ball anywhere in the box. 
• As the ball approaches, shift your weight to your back foot. Your front foot should move toward the ball while staying in line with your back foot. 
• At this point you should be balanced and positioned in such a way that you’re ready to absorb the energy of the hit and direct it back outward through your swing. 

Be sure to also keep your hard still and concentrate on hitting through the ball, maintaining power and speed so that both are peaking just before the moment of contact

Watch this video for more tips prior to visiting batting cages in Kitchener-Waterloo

What Else We Offer

Sports Zone has a tremendous selection of baseball equipment and related products.

That includes:

Baseball bats:

Baseball gloves

Helmets

As well as:

• Catcher's mitts
• Batting gloves
• Adult cleats
• Youth cleats
• And more!

We carry all the top brands like Rawlings, Wilson, Louisville, Easton, Mizuno and Miken.

Watch this video to get the most out of coin operated batting cages Kitchener-Waterloo.

Trust The Sports Zone Difference

Like the major chain sporting retailers, we carry all the major brands you need to play your best.The Sports Zone difference, however, is our personalized level of service.

As a family run business, we offer a personal, small-store service experience but with all the sports equipment and apparel athletes need to excel at their sport.

Click to visit our extensive baseball section

As Waterloo's largest independent sports retailer, we've provided thousands of athletes like you with the high-performance sports gear that helped them excel in their chosen sport and we can do the same for you.

Sports Zone has all the baseball gear you need at the best price, guaranteed!

Visit us today to get the best "baseball equipment near me." Take advantage of our in-store services. Or you can order online if you're outside the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

What Sports Zone customers are saying:

"The owners, staff, and products are second to none at sports zone. The customer service and family owned feel provide a great platform for their customers. Highly recommend! " 

- Nick Erb

In this article, we will present to you our softball bat sizing/baseball bat sizing guide.

Sports Zone is committed to providing baseball and softball enthusiasts with the highest quality equipment and apparel available, all at unbeatable prices. Visit us today to get your next bat.

Now let's dig in and take a deeper look at softball bat sizing/baseball bat sizing guide and how to find the best bat for you!

Softball Bat Sizing/Baseball Bat Sizing Guide - Pro Tips

Baseball bat sizing

When looking for the perfect baseball bat, it's important to take height and weight into consideration.

Ultimately, you should go with what feels most comfortable, but here's a general sizing guide you can use as a reference when assessing length:

WEIGHT/HEIGHT	3'5"- 3'8"	3'9" - 4'	4'1"- 4'4"	4'5"- 4'-8"	4'9"- 5'	5'1"- 5'-4"	5'5"- 5'-8"	5'9"- 6'	6'1"- OVER'
Under 60 lbs	27"	28"	29"	29"
61 - 70 lbs	27"	28"	29"	30"	30"
71 - 80 lbs	28"	28"	29"	30"	30"	31"
81 - 90 lbs	28"	29"	29"	30"	30"	31"
91 - 100 lbs	29"	29"	30"	30"	31"	31"	31"
101 - 110 lbs	29"	29"	30"	30"	31"	31"	32"
111 - 120 lbs	29"	29"	30"	30"	31"	31"	32"
121 - 130 lbs		30"	30"	30"	31"	32"	32"	33"
131 - 140 lbs		30"	30"	30"	31"	32"	32"	33"	33"
141 - 150 lbs		30"	30"	31"	31"	32"	33"	33"	33"
151 - 160 lbs		30"	31"	31"	31"	32"	33"	33"	34"
161 - 170 lbs			31"	31"	32"	32"	33"	33"	34"
171 - 180 lbs				31"	32"	32"	33"	34"	34"
Over 180 lbs						33"	33"	34"	34"

Here are some additional tips for choosing your best bat option:

• Place the bat to your side and as long as your palm reaches the handle, you have the right sized bat
• Then put the knob of the bat at the center of your chest with the bat facing outward - if you can reach your arm out and grab the barrel of the bat, it’s the right size.

Watch this video for more detailed info on baseball bat sizing

When it comes to baseball bats for kids, a good rule of thumb is that if they are between 3’ and 3’4”, you should begin with a 26-inch bat and increase the bat size 1 inch for every 4-to-5 inches that they grow. 

Measure with baseball cleats on. Stand a bat next to your child and compare them to the bat. The bat should reach, but not exceed, your child’s hip.

Your height and weight are big considerations in baseball bat sizing

Softball bat sizing

When looking for a softball bat, you want to pick one that is:

• A comfortable weight
• The correct length for your size
• The right weight distribution for your ability level

Here's a step by step guide to working through the decision process.

1. Select a bat that you can hold outstretched for 30 seconds: You need a bat that is an appropriate weight because this allows you to increase the power in your hits. 

Hold the bat in your dominant hand and try to hold it out in front of you at a 90-degree angle for 30 seconds. If your arm starts shaking or even begins to drop, the bat is too heavy. 

Repeat this process until you feel comfortable with the weight.

2. Pick a bat that is an appropriate length for your height: Here's a general idea of what length you should use based on your height.

• For 5 - 10 yr old children, try bats that are between 24 inches (61 cm) - 29 inches (74 cm)
• For 11 - 18 yr olds, try using a bat that is between 30 inches (76 cm) - 34 inches (86 cm)
• If you are 5ft 5in (1.65m) - 5ft 8in (1.72m), opt for a 32 inches (81 cm) or 33 inches (84 cm) bat
• If you are over 5 ft 9 in (1.75m), opt for a bat that is 34 inches (86 cm)

3. Balanced or end loaded?

Balanced bats feature equal weighting at both ends. This makes it feel lighter and allows you to swing the bat more quickly. These bats also have a larger sweet spot and are a great choice for beginners.

End-loaded bats have the majority of their weight at the tip. This allows you to gain momentum on your swing and helps to create a powerful hit.

These bats work best for experienced players since the small sweet spot at the end of the bat takes a while to get used to.

The right softball bat will help you perfect your swing

Softball bat sizing/baseball bat sizing: Choosing the right material

Wood bats are used by professionals or maybe for practice.

There's a variety of non-wood bat options, though, and choosing a material can feel overwhelming.

Use the chart below as a quick cheat sheet:

Image Source: Baseball Monkey

The Sports Zone advantage for softball bat sizing/baseball bat sizing

Like the major chain sporting retailers, we carry all the major sports brands you need to play your best.

CCM's newest iteration of their premier style goalie gear, the Axis series, releases this April of 2020. Here are some things to expect from the newest elite goalie pad tech that CCM's bringing froward for 2020.

Browse & Shop Axis Goalie Gear

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Brand new for 2020 are the CCM Axis Pro Senior Goalie Pads. The CCM Axis replaces CCM’s past Premier II Pro model, and brings revolutionary improvements in terms of weight reduction, stability, and responsiveness. 

Starting off with the internals of the pad, the Axis Pro comes with CCM’s newly designed LiteXcore internal core. The LiteXcore is CCM’s thinnest and lightest core yet, and provides the goaltender with more speed in all areas of the crease. Also, the Axis Pro comes equipped with Max Rebound+ technology, which is an insert in the face of the pad that gives the pad a hard explosive rebound so the goalie can get the puck far away from the crease and avoid that easy rebound. The external material found on the Axis Pro will be CCM’s Speedskin material which was so popular with the P2’s. Speedskin is a top end synthetic material that has incredible sliding qualities and will allow the goaltender to get from point a to point b quickly even in rough, late game ice.

The Axis Pro Pads come with a single, pre-curved internal break. This internal break will provide the goalie with a decent amount of flexibility without compromising the pads stiffer design and allowing for maximum coverage while down in the butterfly. The pads come stock with no break in the outer roll, but it is a customizable option (refer to images to find Axis Pads with outer roll breaks)The boot is another area of change with the new Axis Pro Pads. A 90 degree toe taper as well as a flexible, near 90 degree boot angle have been used on the Axis. This new toe taper allows for great ice seal, while the flat boot angle allows the pad to sit more flush with the goalie's skates and allow the goaltender to get into a lower stance. The 3D Grip/Injection Molded EPP Foam Knee raiser featured on the Axis is similar to past models. This knee raiser provides a comfortable landing for going down into the butterfly, and grooves to keep that knee locked when moving around down low. The knee strap is removable, or can be attached lower depending on preference for knee movement. The velcro Quick Motion Strapping System from the P2’s are used on the Axis Pads. This strapping system is quick, durable, and versatile. Comes with Bungee Toe Ties.

In this article, we are going to show why Sports Zone is a great choice when looking for the best baseball store Kitchener has to offer.

Whether you're looking for baseball bats, baseball gloves, cleats, batting gloves, catcher equipment, baseballs, helmets, training aids, or even umpire products, Sports Zone has you covered - check out our baseball section today!

Now let's dig in and take a look at why Sports Zone is the best baseball store Kitchener residents can visit.

Baseball Store Kitchener - Sportzone Is A Great Choice

Sports Zone is located at 92 Lodge Street in Waterloo, ON.

Hours:

• MON TO FRI 10AM TO 8PM
  
• SAT 9AM - 5PM
 
• SUN 11AM - 5PM

What we offer

Sports Zone has a tremendous selection of baseball equipment and related products. That includes:

• Wood bats
• Softball bats
• Baseball gloves
• Softball gloves
• Catcher's mitts
• Helmets
• Batting gloves
• Adult cleats
• Youth cleats
• And more!

We carry all the top brands like Rawlings, Wilson, Louisville, Easton, Mizuno and Miken.

Sports Zone has the best selection of baseball equipment and related products

In fact, Sports Zone was selected to carry the re-release of the popular Freak 30 USSSA Softball Bat. This model was limited to 1500 in quantity, with each one laser engraved numerically!

Check out this video to see the best bats for 2020!

Baseball Store Kitchener - Where you can play!

The Kitchener-Waterloo area is home to several baseball and softball leagues for players of all ages.

Young players can learn the game through Kitchener-Waterloo House League Baseball, and if you are a KW House League player looking for extra reps, more game time, and a higher level of competition, you can take a look at Panthers Select Kitchener Minor Baseball.

From there, Tri-Cities Baseball is an adult league playing games out of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. This league is open to individuals 18+ from all levels of baseball.

There's no shortage of baseball diamonds around Kitchener on which to play and practice on your own as well!

Sports Zone features a batting cage where you can test out the latest in bats. We also offer team wear options to make sure your squad looks good while excelling on the field.

Whatever level you play, Sorts Zone can make sure you get the best possible equipment

Baseball Store Kitchener - Trust The Sports Zone Difference

Like the major chain sporting retailers, we carry all the major brands you need to play your best.

The Sports Zone difference, however, is our personalized level of service. We pledge to offer the customer a personal, small-store service experience but with all the sports equipment and apparel athletes need to excel at their sport.

As Waterloo's largest independent sports retailer, we've provided thousands of athletes like you with the high-performance sports gear that helped them excel in their chosen sport and we can do the same for you.

Sports Zone has all the baseball gear you need at the best price, guaranteed!

Visit us today to get the best sports equipment you need to compete and take advantage of our in-store services. Or you can order online if you're outside the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

What Sports Zone customers are saying:

"A good selection of equipment, good prices, helpful staff. Best choice in KW for hockey or baseball."

- David Archibald