Slap Shot Help

[Maka 0]

So, I've developed a fairly decent wrist shot. I get solid spin on it, no fluttering, and pretty good accuracy. However, my slap shot leaves much to be desired. It just doesn't seem like I'm getting any power behind it, and it's real inconsistent. Now I know I'm supposed to be getting the most out of the flex out of my stick, but when I take my shot I can't tell if my stick is actually flexing or not. I've been told that a lot of the power in a slap shot comes from the rotation of your core (I don't know the validity of this, but whatever). So, any suggestions as to what I need to change?

[Chadd 916]

It's impossible for anyone to know without seeing you shoot. Work on getting the proper motion at reduced power and slowly add strength. finding a local coach or elite player to give you a lesson is the best way to improve.

[gavin 0]

Buy a lotta pucks

Find a fence that you don't have to pay for when it is destroyed

Destroy it by slapping it with pucks.

Other than that, just keep your top hand firm and everything else will come into play, as long as you try to "look cool" while doing it.

[jjtt99 0]

A common mistake is the bottom hand is too high. Try moving it down the shaft a bit.

[Grave77Digger 1]

I defintily have a problem with slapshots, I have yet to score with a slapshot (other than in practice).

[TBLfan 25]

I defintily have a problem with slapshots, I have yet to score with a slapshot (other than in practice).

slap shots rarely score(in comparison to other shots), most goals are from snap shots and wristers simply because of where the shots are normally taken and how long it takes to make the shot.

[End_Of_Line 0]

i have the same issue. i can't pinpoint my wrist shots but 1 out of 50 slapshots actually get off the ground and when it happens i'm so stunned i forget how i did it. haha

[Chadd 916]

I defintily have a problem with slapshots, I have yet to score with a slapshot (other than in practice).

When I take a slapshot from the point, my intent is to create a rebound for the forwards to put in the net. I did manage to put one in last week but I was just trying to keep it away from his glove.

[repus 0]

This is pretty hard to teach, but I will do my best here. The advice is what I find works for me:

Start small. A good slap shot is built from a good snap shot. Most people try and wave their stick above their heads trying to knock it into the parking lot. Anyone can swing the stick hard, but controlling your shot is the key unless your name is Al and you use a wooden stick.

Start with shooting while standing still. The likelyhood of being able to stand still and take a slap/snap shot in a game is low, but it will help with your mechanics.

I like to start facing 90 degree angle from the target. Feet are slightly more than shoulder width apart. Hands are as far apart as the feet. Grip should be firm. You definitely don't want your stick vibrating when you hit the puck. Personally I like to start the puck half way between my back foot and the center of my body.

Now the stick movement. To start, don't raise your stick above your knee when you draw it back. On the follow through you want to start with the face of your stick closed and rotate it to open as it crosses the center of the body. You want your stick to graze the ice just before it hits the puck.

Next part is shifting your weight. As you bring the stick across your body, you will want your weight to shift with it. Weight should start on your back leg and move with it. This should be a nice fluid motion.

I would practice the full monty without a puck and try and see if you are grazing the ice at the same point all of the time. This will help the consistancy with your shot. As you get more confident, increase the speed and so forth.

As this gets easier, start on the move.

Some other hints:

- If you are focusing on accuracy, slow down your shot. The harder you hit it, the harder it is to control

- This takes a LOT of practice

- Bend your knees, unlike some NHL teams, this is not the time to play golf.

[toroytorero 0]

I don't know if this is "proper" or not but it's really worked for me. I skate up to the puck looking at it and start my swing, when I start to bring the blade down I take my eye off the puck and try to find my target.

Couple of things have been happening .. 1. I tend to put the puck where I want it more often then not and 2. I'm getting a lot torque on my shot.. when I would just keep my eye on the puck it seemed like my shot would never get off the ice and didn't have much velocity. But now that I'm not looking at it I must be hitting the ice withing that golden 1-2 inches before and using the flex of my shaft to really send it. Now I just need to work on getting it off quick with little room on the move.

[fatwabbit 93]

Dont worry too much about getting a real good slapshot... I never really got my slapper working until the 3rd or 4th year that I was playing hockey, and that's cause I found my wrist and snappers to be more effective.

Also, it all depends on the person and how they line up the shot... if I recall correctly, Cam Neely had a little 'twitch' in his wrists just before he released the slappers... for me, my lower hand doesnt change position regardless of the kinda shots I take... so its all about preference... practice your weight transfer though, I've had a lot of problems when I first started out with the slappers, I kept falling down...

[SB39 2]

For me, often times swing speed has either no relationship or an inverse one to shot speed and accuracy. Put your weight into the shot, a tight grip is a must, and don't be shy to bend that shaft.

[Maka 0]

Dont worry too much about getting a real good slapshot... I never really got my slapper working until the 3rd or 4th year that I was playing hockey, and that's cause I found my wrist and snappers to be more effective.

That's mildly unsettling. Because this is my 9th year playing. :o But thanks for all the help so far guys. I think part of my problem was that I had too loose of a bottom hand, and it felt like I was almost slicing at the puck instead of getting a good flex behind my shaft.

[Megamandan 0]

I use a hammer type shot. I follow through and start my hand by the blade and slide it like you would at a carnival game to hit the metal ball to the bell. I slide it to get power and just before I hit the puck I stop my hand. It's a weird technique but I've been doing it since I started a slap shot. That may help, do what you feel comfortable with and make sure you hit the ice before the puck about 4-5 inches before the puck. Don't swing at it like a golf club.

[gavin 0]

I defintily have a problem with slapshots, I have yet to score with a slapshot (other than in practice).

slap shots rarely score(in comparison to other shots), most goals are from snap shots and wristers simply because of where the shots are normally taken and how long it takes to make the shot.

Many times the purpose of the slapshot is not to score, it's to get a really hard shot on net to give up a BIG JUICY rebound. This is why you don't slap the puck on a rush, usually no one can pick up the rebound. But if you're set up in the zone (like in a PP), it's a good idea to slap it from the point or from the circles. You should check the stats on how many guys get assists because they made a nice slapper from the point. Pretty sure Pronger is coming to mind right now.

[freestyla 0]

Mega bump. repus said to have a firm grip. How firm would you say? I assume not too hard where you're squeezing it. I've had issues getting the puck off the ground and the best I can figure right now (until I can film myself) is that I am not gripping firm enough so I'm not flexing the shaft at all. Not sure if that is a valid conclusion. I have a game tonight so I'll be practicing pre-game.

[hampshirepuck 2]

Before last October my slapshot was atrocious. here are some tips for guys that are puzzled on how to get a good, hard and accurate slapshot..... some of this might sound rhetorical to my last posts but here we go. Find the kick point(flex) of the stick, now you see alot of guys hold their stick about half way down the shaft, I usually hold it a little further like 3/4 the way down,and keep a visual note where that place is, like on my sherwood 5030 i find kickpoint to be right above the made in canada label. as mentioned above about grip, i really don't hold it softly but kind of at a medium strength. also the follow through is important as well, i find the higher you follow through the higher your shot will be and as you follow through roll your wrist so you don't send the puck flying way off target.

[Chadd 916]

Mega bump. repus said to have a firm grip. How firm would you say? I assume not too hard where you're squeezing it. I've had issues getting the puck off the ground and the best I can figure right now (until I can film myself) is that I am not gripping firm enough so I'm not flexing the shaft at all. Not sure if that is a valid conclusion. I have a game tonight so I'll be practicing pre-game.

Your grip has nothing to do with getting the puck off the ground or flexing the stick. That's your overall technique and form, not your grip. Grip problems would be things like the shaft twisting in your hands. The vast majority of people I know that have problems lifting the puck with slapshots are having problems because they're trying to lift the puck too much and have poor form. Work on having a good, hard shot and then work on shot placement once you learn how to shoot consistently.