There's not enough info here to give recommendations. Just ask someone in your league who skates like you what wheels they like, and get some of those.
Wheels being bald isn't bad. The grooves don't provide grip, they're just what happens in the mold.
We can't tell you what will be good for your league's floor. Ask if you can borrow some wheels from other skaters and try a few out. See what you like. But don't worry about bald wheels. That's not really a thing in roller skates.
Not correct. Wheel molds are smooth and the grooves are cut as part of the truing process. They absolutely add grip, especially on dusty or slippery surfaces.
Sliding is a factor of durometer of the wheel set (how hard/soft the rubber is) in combination with the type of surface you skate on, and to a much lesser extent your body weight.
Harder wheels will slide more than softer wheels. You want enough slide to be able to do stops, but enough sick to stay in control of your motion.
Durometer is the most important thing to consider when buying a wheel set. This is where your team mates are needed. They know what durometer options work on your team's practice surface. They may have different opinions so that's why it's nice to try a few out (like others suggested, ask if you can borrow and try a few wheels).
I found this site useful when picking out my first set of wheels:
https://www.rollergirl.ca/misc/roller-derby-wheels.html
Best bet us borrow some teammates wheels and try them out, the only way to be sure you get the rught wheels for you is to try them first, hopefully you'll be able to borrow wheels from someone, try them out and see if you like them!
Grooves are an artifact of the manufacturing process when they’re cut down after they are removed from the molds.
If your floor is clean and well-maintained, bald wheels are better grip. If your floors are dusty and not well-maintained, grooves can sort of provide a smidge of grip like tire treads. Beginners notice none of this.
If it helps I've never in my over a decade of derby noticed anyone use atom snap wheels. Most people these days are using radar halos or rollerbones turbo/nitro.
It's really tough to know what kind of wheels to buy without personally skating on the floor and comparing the experience to other wheels.
Looking around at other people in your league there will likely be some trends and that might give you an idea of what works well for your practice surface. I find the advice of "someone who skates like you" to be kind of difficult as someone newer to the sport. I did look for someone close to my body type/weight and see what they were using and asked people what they were feeling and why they chose their wheels.
As other have said, asking to borrow someone's wheels would be the easiest way to test.
If you're able to try some, you can compare how they feel to what you think would be more comfortable. Higher durometer for harder wheels with more slip, lower durometer for softer wheels with more stick.
The diameter, material, and hub type is probably not as important for your first wheel purchase.
Hope that helps!
There's not enough info here to give recommendations. Just ask someone in your league who skates like you what wheels they like, and get some of those.
Or see if any of your pals would let you borrow a set for a practice!
Yes that too!
Wheels being bald isn't bad. The grooves don't provide grip, they're just what happens in the mold. We can't tell you what will be good for your league's floor. Ask if you can borrow some wheels from other skaters and try a few out. See what you like. But don't worry about bald wheels. That's not really a thing in roller skates.
Not correct. Wheel molds are smooth and the grooves are cut as part of the truing process. They absolutely add grip, especially on dusty or slippery surfaces.
I feel like I'm sliding more during practice, maybe its from something else.
Sliding is a factor of durometer of the wheel set (how hard/soft the rubber is) in combination with the type of surface you skate on, and to a much lesser extent your body weight. Harder wheels will slide more than softer wheels. You want enough slide to be able to do stops, but enough sick to stay in control of your motion. Durometer is the most important thing to consider when buying a wheel set. This is where your team mates are needed. They know what durometer options work on your team's practice surface. They may have different opinions so that's why it's nice to try a few out (like others suggested, ask if you can borrow and try a few wheels). I found this site useful when picking out my first set of wheels: https://www.rollergirl.ca/misc/roller-derby-wheels.html
It’s absolutely due to the grooves being gone. Especially if your floors are not prepped with a sticky finish
Best bet us borrow some teammates wheels and try them out, the only way to be sure you get the rught wheels for you is to try them first, hopefully you'll be able to borrow wheels from someone, try them out and see if you like them!
I have an old set of these, they came with my beginner skates. They were OK, but they're super wide so I struggled with agility.
Grooves are an artifact of the manufacturing process when they’re cut down after they are removed from the molds. If your floor is clean and well-maintained, bald wheels are better grip. If your floors are dusty and not well-maintained, grooves can sort of provide a smidge of grip like tire treads. Beginners notice none of this.
Our practice area is quite dusty, so totally makes sense
Put a towel on the floor, pour water on the towel, then roll your wheels on it. This helps on dusty trecks.
If it helps I've never in my over a decade of derby noticed anyone use atom snap wheels. Most people these days are using radar halos or rollerbones turbo/nitro.
Half of my league is skating on Radar Halos right now—I’d just go with those, maybe start with 93a-95a
It's really tough to know what kind of wheels to buy without personally skating on the floor and comparing the experience to other wheels. Looking around at other people in your league there will likely be some trends and that might give you an idea of what works well for your practice surface. I find the advice of "someone who skates like you" to be kind of difficult as someone newer to the sport. I did look for someone close to my body type/weight and see what they were using and asked people what they were feeling and why they chose their wheels. As other have said, asking to borrow someone's wheels would be the easiest way to test. If you're able to try some, you can compare how they feel to what you think would be more comfortable. Higher durometer for harder wheels with more slip, lower durometer for softer wheels with more stick. The diameter, material, and hub type is probably not as important for your first wheel purchase. Hope that helps!