A hockey balance board is a versatile and fun piece of off-ice training equipment. There are a variety of drills and exercises you can do on your hockey balance board. These will help improve your skating, conditioning, core and leg strength, and stickhandling. If you’re ready to compete with the best, training on a hockey balance board off the ice will help get you there on the ice.
Table of Contents
What is a hockey balance board?
A hockey balance board takes an age-old concept and puts a modern spin on it. This piece of training equipment consists of two parts. There is the board itself, which looks like a large skateboard (only with no wheels) and a long, thick roller cylinder. To use the board, you lean it on the roller to form a “T”. With your outside foot, step on the end on the floor. Then, carefully put your other foot on the end in the air and gently push down. The idea is to keep the board balanced only on the roller for as long as you can.
How are hockey balance boards built?
If you’re thinking about taking a piece of wood and propping it on a roller cylinder at home, that may not be a great idea. Hockey balance boards are specifically designed and manufactured for hockey-related exercises, drills, and for safety. Here are a few of the specific ways that hockey balance boards are built to be the ultimate off-ice training tool.
The material
The board is made out of heavy-duty wood that is engineered for strength. This strength means it is durable and safe and also that it won’t bow when in use. This will give you the truest balance board workout. And, although the board is very strong, it is also lightweight. This makes the board easy to store when not in use and easy to take with you to a friend’s house, to the rink, or even to a travel tournament.
Top of the board
The top of the board is covered with special grip tape. This tacky, sandy surface allows your sneaker treads to grip the board better when you are balancing. It helps reduce slippage and prevent injuries when using the board. It also makes it easier to do drills on the board knowing your feet won’t slip when moving side to side.
Bottom of the board
The underside of the board features strips that run down the center of the board. These strips keep in close contact with the roller and will help keep you centered when balancing on the roller. There are also two catch pieces on either end. Many of the drills you’ll do with a hockey balance board involve rolling side to side. These catch pieces will make sure you don’t roll too far and go off the roller. For a more advanced training session, you can use the board with this side up.
The roller
The roller cylinder is designed with a special synthetic material that makes it both easy to roll on but tacky enough that the board stays on top. The best thing about the roller is that it is completely safe to use on almost any surface and won’t leave scuff marks.
Conclusion
Hockey balance boards are built specifically with hockey players and their training needs in mind. They offer an amazing range of drills and workouts to strengthen everything from your core to your dekes. Check out this fantastic product and all the rest of the best off-ice training equipment in the game at snipersedgehockey.com.
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