Inside Edge vs. Outside Edge: Why Hockey Players Need to Master Both

Skating is the foundation of nearly everything a hockey player does. Shooting, passing, defending, creating separation, and winning races all become more effective when a player can move efficiently on their skates.

One of the biggest differences between an average skater and an advanced skater is edge control.

Every skate blade has two edges: an inside edge and an outside edge. Although players begin using both almost immediately when they learn to skate, truly understanding how to control each edge can dramatically improve balance, speed, agility, and overall confidence on the ice.

What Is the Inside Edge?

The inside edge is the side of the skate blade closest to the player's other foot.

For example, the inside edge of your right skate is the left side of that blade.

Inside edges are often the first edges young players become comfortable using because they are involved in many basic skating movements.

Players rely heavily on their inside edges when:

• Accelerating

• Performing hockey stops

• Executing forward crossovers

• Pushing during powerful skating strides

• Making tight turns

• Changing directions

• Maintaining balance during contact

The inside edge allows a player to dig into the ice and generate force.

When a player bends their knees, leans appropriately, and applies pressure through the inside edge, the blade grips the ice and allows the player to push powerfully in another direction.

What Is the Outside Edge?

The outside edge is the side of the skate blade farther away from the player's other foot.

On the right skate, the outside edge is the right side of the blade.

Outside edges are often more difficult for developing players because using them requires greater balance, ankle stability, and confidence.

Players use outside edges during movements such as:

• Crossovers

• Tight turns

• Edge transitions

• Pivots

• Deceptive skating movements

• Lateral cuts

• Escaping pressure

• Maintaining speed through direction changes

A player who becomes comfortable trusting an outside edge gains many more options when moving around the ice.

Why the Outside Edge Often Feels More Difficult

Many developing players naturally feel safer on their inside edges.

When using an inside edge, the player's body is often positioned between both skates, creating a wider and more comfortable base of support.

Using an outside edge can require the player to shift more of their body weight over one skate.

That can initially feel uncomfortable.

Young players will sometimes avoid this position by standing too upright, widening their feet, or quickly transferring their weight back to the other skate.

The result is limited edge control.

Learning to trust the outside edge allows a player to stay balanced while moving through much more aggressive skating positions.

Great Skaters Constantly Transition Between Edges

Advanced skating is rarely about holding one edge for a long period of time.

Instead, elite skaters are constantly transitioning from one edge to another.

A player might move from:

Inside edge → outside edge → inside edge

within a fraction of a second.

These transitions allow players to manipulate their direction while maintaining speed.

Think about a forward attacking a defenseman one-on-one.

The forward may lean toward the middle using one edge, quickly transition to another edge, and explode toward the outside.

The puck may barely move.

The player's edges create the deception.

Edge Control Makes Players Faster

Speed in hockey isn't simply about skating in a straight line as fast as possible.

Players rarely get long stretches of open ice where they can skate straight ahead.

Instead, hockey requires constant:

• Accelerations

• Stops

• Turns

• Crossovers

• Pivots

• Lateral movements

• Direction changes

The better a player's edge control becomes, the less speed they lose during these movements.

A player with poor edges may have to slow down dramatically before changing direction.

A player with excellent edges can make the same directional change while maintaining momentum.

Over the course of a game, that difference is enormous.

Strong Edges Improve Balance

Edge control also plays a major role in a player's ability to stay strong on the puck.

Hockey players constantly deal with pressure from opponents.

A player may be:

• Leaning into a defender

• Protecting the puck

• Fighting through a stick check

• Absorbing contact

• Cutting toward the net

• Battling along the boards

Players who understand how to distribute their weight across their inside and outside edges can maintain stronger body positions.

Instead of simply trying not to fall, they can continue skating and making plays while under pressure.

Edge Control Creates Deception

Some of the most difficult players to defend aren't always the fastest players in a straight line.

They're the players who can change their skating angle without giving away where they're going.

Strong edge control allows players to manipulate defenders with their shoulders, hips, feet, and body weight.

A player can lean toward one direction, load an edge, and suddenly attack another area of the ice.

That ability creates hesitation from defenders.

Even a small hesitation can create the space needed to make a pass, release a shot, or attack the net.

Defensemen Depend Heavily on Both Edges

Edge control is especially important for defensemen.

Defensemen constantly transition between forward, backward, and lateral skating.

A defenseman may need to:

• Skate backward while maintaining gap control

• Pivot to retrieve a puck

• Open their hips to receive a pass

• Walk the blue line

• Escape a forechecker

• Change direction quickly after a turnover

Strong inside and outside edges allow defensemen to make these movements smoothly without losing balance or speed.

A defenseman who struggles with one edge will often develop predictable movement patterns because they naturally avoid uncomfortable positions.

Forwards Need Both Edges to Attack

Forwards also benefit enormously from strong edge control.

Offensive players frequently need to create separation in extremely small spaces.

Strong edges allow forwards to:

• Cut inside on a defender

• Attack around the outside

• Change direction below the goal line

• Escape pressure along the boards

• Protect the puck

• Create better shooting angles

• Delay and wait for teammates to enter the play

The better a forward controls their edges, the more difficult they become to contain.

How Players Can Improve Their Edges

Edge development begins with repetition.

Players need opportunities to become comfortable placing their body weight over different parts of the skate blade.

Useful edge-control exercises include:

• Inside-edge holds

• Outside-edge holds

• One-foot glides

• C-cuts

• Slalom skating

• Forward and backward crossovers

• Tight turns

• Figure-eight patterns

• Mohawk or open-hip movements

• One-foot edge transitions

Players should focus on quality before speed.

The goal isn't simply to complete the drill as quickly as possible.

Players should concentrate on knee bend, body positioning, balance, and feeling the blade grip the ice.

As control improves, speed can gradually be added.

Don't Only Train Your Comfortable Edge

Most players have one side or one edge that feels stronger than another.

That is completely normal.

The mistake is allowing the stronger side to do all the work.

Players should deliberately spend extra time training movements that feel uncomfortable.

If an outside edge feels weak, work on it.

If turning one direction feels awkward, practice that direction.

If one crossover side is significantly stronger, spend more repetitions developing the weaker side.

A player becomes much harder to defend when they can move equally well in either direction.

Mastering Your Edges Unlocks Your Skating

Inside and outside edges aren't separate skating skills.

Together, they form the foundation of almost every advanced skating movement in hockey.

Players who develop both edges gain better:

• Balance

• Acceleration

• Agility

• Direction changes

• Puck protection

• Deception

• Defensive mobility

• Offensive creativity

The goal isn't simply to become comfortable skating on both edges.

The goal is to reach the point where players don't have to think about which edge they're using at all.

When edge control becomes instinctive, players can focus on reading the game, handling the puck, and making decisions.

That's when skating stops becoming something a player has to think about—and starts becoming a tool they can use to control the game.