Bauer Supreme S190 Intermediate Goalie Leg Pads
New for 2016 is the Bauer Supreme S190 Intermediate Goalie Leg Pads. The intermediate goalie leg pad market is very particular, goalies are looking for a high quality pad that can take the abuse of playing with players that are now faster and stronger. The Bauer S190 intermediate pad is a maximum coverage style pad that is best suited for a goalie of this style – commonly referred to as a butterfly style goalie. The flat face design is meant to provide coverage and also kick rebounds out as far as possible. Rebounds will direct off the S190 intermediate pad at such a rate that the goalie will have plenty of time to recover and get ready for the next shot. The XRD foam used in the Bauer S190 intermediate pad provides shock absorption when the goalie is going down in the butterfly technique. We feel this is important for the intermediate goalie in the 11 to 14 year age bracket. In this growth period, a young goalies body is changing and growing rapidly. These young goalies generally go through periods of growth pain so it is important to have a pad that help eliminate as much extra pain as possible.
Bauer Supreme S190 Intermediate Goalie Leg Pads
- XRD® Foam knee landing
- AKL – Adjustable Knee Lock
- Digitally printed graphics
- REACTOR knee guard included
- Custom Rotation System (CRS) strapping
- Triangular vertical rolls
Bauer Goalie Leg Pad Sizing
Bauer goalie has introduced a sizing system – Small, Medium, Large, X-Large. For most goalies that have played for any length of time, this can seem confusing or odd. Bauer is basically trying to make this easier on the casual goalie or parent by simplifying the definitions. Here is a simple explanation of how these sizes work:
- Small = 30+1in. Pad
- Medium = 31+1in. Pad
- Large = 32+1in. Pad
Bauer Supreme (1S, S190, S170, S150) Vs. Bauer Reactor Series
Understanding the differences in goalie pads can be a huge advantage when purchasing new pads. Bauer makes a hybrid style pad and a coverage style pad. The hybrid series for Bauer is the Reactor series. This series is made for the hybrid style goalie, Bauer has used the tern “Battlefly” in the past to describe this goalie. Essentially the hybrid goalie makes a large variety of saves and are very active and likes to move around. These goalies need a leg pad that will move and twist with them and that is how the Bauer Reactor leg pads perform, lots of flex and movement with the goalie. The other style pad Bauer has is the Supreme series. The Supreme (1S, S190, S170, S150) are built for a goalie that likes to stay controlled and play very big. The term used is “Butterfly” style goalie, we do not like this term as it seems to limit the goalie to one save technique. In reality the goalie will still make other save selections however the preferred method of save selection is the butterfly technique. Hopefully this can give you an idea of what type of pad best suits your style of play.
Choosing The Correct Intermediate Goalie Leg Pads
Parents have a difficult job when purchasing new goalie pads for a younger goalie. They want to get the best gear they can to help their child fulfill their potential. They also don’t want gear that the goalie will grow out of right away. Finding that balance can be very difficult, however the goalie manufactures do a very nice job keeping most youth, junior and intermediate goalie pads on par with each other price wise and generally quality wise. You will not see wildly different price ranges in these three younger categories. The decision of what goalie pad to buy really comes down to what type of goalie they are and their particular style of play. Most hybrid goalies – meaning goalies that tend to make saves with several different methods and techniques generally like goalie pads with extra breaks and knee rolls on the face of the pad. This allows the pad to be more flexible and move with the goalie easier in these different motions. Most butterfly oriented goalies tend to like flat face pads which tend to be more stiff and help utilize the butterfly technique. Although the butterfly is not a style of play but rather a technique, goalies are generally categorized as a butterfly goalie if they use this method on the majority of saves they make. These simple suggestions can go a long way in determining what type of pad to purchase for a young goalie.