If you're just getting started as a skater, you may want to consider the knock-on impact of a slower or faster skate wheel spin. A little knowledge in this area can support your growing development as a newer roller skater. If you're just starting out with learning the foundation skills, skatewheel spin can and does play a huge role in how you and your roller skates feel and perform.
Let's walk through step-by-step how to get more or less spin from your wheels and why you might want to have them adjusted at this early stage in your journey. Think of it as a key element in optimising your skate set-up to match your level of confidence and skate style.
Why Skate Wheel Spin Matters
The amount of skate wheel spin you have affects how you're able to control and enjoy your roll. A freely spinning wheel can make skating feel a lot smoother, way more responsive, and [for some] even more fun!
However, on the flip side, a slightly slowed-down spin can give you that [sometimes much-needed] extra bit of control when you're just starting out—something many beginners appreciate as they establish their ability to balance and develop core skills.
Getting your skate wheel spin just right is a matter of personal preference, but it’s easy to manage at home with just a skate tool [there super cheap to buy] and a little bit of know-how.
When Slower Spin Helps: Adding Control to Your Skate Flow
There are times when you don’t want maximum spin—especially when you're in the earlier stages of learning to balance, stop, turn or jump without feeling out of control. Slowing things down can help you build confidence and find your footing (literally), it can give you the breathing space you need to focus on learning the fundamentals [without having to fight your forward roll before you've learnt how]. This can be particularly important for anxious skaters—especially when learning on a fast smooth indoor polished surface or outdoor polished concrete surfaces.
1. Tighten the Axle Nut Slightly
Turning the nut clockwise just a bit can slow the spin and add a slight drag, which may feel more stable for beginners. A memorable phrase to remember which direction does what is; leftie loosie [to loosen the bolts] and rightie tightie [to tighten them up]. Don’t overdo it—tightening too much can crush the bearings or stop the wheels from turning properly.
When tightening your bolts, tighten them all the way first. If they stop spinning, loosen them in tiny increments until the wheel begins to spin more freely. See how they feel and go from there. If they still feel like they're rolling too fast for you, tighten all of the bolts evenly and re-try. You may need to tweak the bolts several times before you get the right amount of bolt tension.
2. Remove the Wheel Spacers
If you’re using them and still feel like you’re picking up too much speed and losing control, removing the spacers can help to reduce the smoothness of the wheel spin slightly and slow them down a bit—just enough to help you feel more solid on your 8s. The wheel spacers are located between each bearing set in the centre of the wheel. You'll have to remove the bearings to access them. Most experienced skaters can do this, so enlist some help from another skater or take them to your local skate shop if you need to. Remove all 8 spacers before re-testing how they roll.
3. Try Slower Bearings
Lower-rated bearings (like ABEC-3 or ABEC-5) or less “free-rolling” brands can offer a bit more friction and consequently less speed. They’re great for beginners working on building up strength, control, and confidence. Bear in mind that you'll need a set of X16 for your pair of skates [X2 bearings per wheel]. Change the whole set so they all maintain a similar degree of wear or freshness.
4. Soft Wheels
If you recently bought yourself a new pair of skates, chances are that they'll be kitted out with a nice new soft wheelset [as most new skates are set up for beginners]. However, you may have bought yourself a snazzy pre-loved pair and are unknowingly running on so harder wheels [which are potentially much more slippery and difficult for the average beginner to manage well].
How to Get More Spin: For Smoothness & Flowy Moves
If your wheels stop spinning too quickly when you flick them [within a second or 2]. They might be running too slow for you! Run a quick test by holding your skate in one hand on its side and giving the wheel a firm flick or push with your finger. If they're bearly spinning, AND you find that you have to work quite hard to maintain any forward roll whilst skating, they may be running too slow. Here are a few ways to unlock them to enhance their spin smoothness and speed:
1. Loosen the Axle Nut (Just a Bit!)
Using your skate tool, turn the nut holding each wheel anti-clockwise [remember lefty loosie righty tightie!] just a quarter-turn at a time between each re-test. You want to loosen it just enough so the wheel spins freely but doesn’t rattle or wiggle side-to-side [essentially, you shouldn't be able to push or pull the wheel along the length of the axel. They should fit snuggly]. Too loose, and you could risk the wheel wobbling or coming off—so check regularly and tighten them a touch if needed.
2. Check Your Bearings
Good bearings = good skate wheel spin. Clean, high-quality bearings will spin longer and smoother. Beginner-friendly options like Bones Reds or Wicked ABEC-7s are a solid choice. If your current ones feel gritty or sticky, it might be time for a clean or an upgrade. Also, if you skate in wet [outdoor] conditions often, you might want to remove and dry your skate bearings [soon afterwards] to prevent the likelihood of rusting. Rust is the enemy of maintaining a nice smooth [and fast] skatewheel spin.
3. Use Wheel Spacers
These small metal tubes sit between your bearings on the inner part of each wheel. They help the bearings stay aligned and reduce friction as they turn—giving your wheels that sweet [smooth] continuous spin. If you don’t have spacers in place, consider adding them. Karen [a student of mine] felt the wheel spin on her new street skate set-up was too fast. After removing the spacers from each of the wheels, her wheels spun noticeably slower [but still fast enough to allow her to skate at a good pace].
4. Keep It Clean and Lubed
Dirt and moisture slow everything down! They lead to rust and increased friction. Cleaning your bearings and reapplying a small amount of bearing oil or grease will help to maintain optimum wheel spin. It’s worth doing every couple of months if you’re skating regularly. I’ve heard my wheels squeaking and grinding [when the dust and grit from repeated outdoor skating has built up in and around my wheels]. The build-up can slow your wheels down to a halt!
How to Keep Your Perfect Skate Wheel Spin Going
Once you find your sweet spot, skate maintenance is key. Here’s how to keep things rolling:
Check your wheels and bearings every couple of weeks for dirt, wear, or excess looseness. I know skaters who meticulously carry out routine maintenance on their skates after each and every skate. Too much maintenance is never a problem [I wish I was that disciplined!].
Give your bearings a clean when they feel sticky, make weird noises when the wheel turns, or don’t spin as freely as they used to.
Reapply bearing lube or grease regularly to maintain that satisfying spin. Don't overdo it though, too much grease collects dirt and dust and can cause your wheel nuts to become looser more easily. Wipe off the excess folks!
Adjust tightness as needed—weather, terrain, and wear can all affect spin over time, so check your wheels often.
Final Thoughts: It’s Your Unique Skate Flow
As an adult beginner stepping into this new and exciting world of roller skating, it’s empowering to know that you can tune your wheel set-up accordingly. Anything can change in your perfect set-up as you skate and you need to be ready and willing to make the necessary adjustments [in ways that work for you]. Wheels get loose, stiffen up and caked in dirt, dust and debris! Get familiar with your equipment for the small things and you'll be well prepared to troubleshoot when the unexpected happens.
Kelly
Cranial Osteopath | Wellbeing Coach | Roller Skate Instructor
Do you have something useful to share on adjusting your skatewheel spin? Let us know in the comments below.
