slap shot problem

[dpark 0]

okay, yesterday, I went to stick & puck (you basically shoot pucks around, just like free hockey or open hockey.) I fired couple of slapshot (around 6 or 8) but I felt pain on my wrist. Well.... I sometimes felt pain but did not know why it happened. Especially yesterday, I felt so much pain on my right wrist(slightly left too, but I'm righty though). Does any one have experienced such thing or know why it happened?

[Chadd 916]

Sounds like bad form

[B Neal 0]

Any past wrist injuries? I broke my wrist in June and it bothers me a bit every once in awhile

[All Torhs Team 0]

I dont know an exact answer but if I guessed I would say because your not being firm enough with your wrist's. When you shoot you need your wrists to stay firm and in the same spot so: A)you get a good shot, B)you dont hurt your wrist

Just what I think

[mack 44]

Too much stick, not enough man.

[chikinpotpie 137]

I broke my wrist a year or so ago and now if I use a stiff stick, my wrist hurts from slapshots. What flex are you using?

[dpark 0]

Neither I have previous wrist injuries nor I don't use stiff flex stick. Maybe I guess I hit the ice too hard. I don't know the exact reason though.

[kosydar 0]

You should work on some at home wrist exercises.

[DamnLocust 0]

How are the shots coming off? maybe you're hitting the ice too soon before striking the puck. (This could be an issue with form, length of stick, or just where you hold the stick.) If it seems that the shots are wild and hard to control, it could be this.

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

How long is the stick and what flex?

[Dante2004 0]

I used to use a 100 flex (Easton), then I suffered a wrist injury to my left wrist (Left hand shot). Since then I find that I get the same pain you mentioned. I stepped down to an 85 flex and I am fine. Might be bad form, might be a weak wrist...I don't know. I have adjusted to the softer flex and now I actually have a better shot (control).

Stiff flex does not equal power

Form = Power

Just look at Brett Hull. He used a 75 flex or something crazy like that.

[mack 44]

That's an isolated case though because that would require a different technique. I'm an advocate of the stiffer flex = power, just assuming they're using something they can handle.

[Chadd 916]

That's an isolated case though because that would require a different technique. I'm an advocate of the stiffer flex = power, just assuming they're using something they can handle.

The added length you need in a stick may skew that a bit too. Your form will dictate what flex works best for you. Changing your form can require a change in flex to retain max velocity on a slapper.

[chk hrd 164]

check how you are swinging the stick. If you are swinging to steep than you are probably hitting the ice pretty hard. Beside creating alot impact and vibration in the stick you are also loosing alot of the power i your shot.

don't grip the stick to tight. Tight grip = tense muscles. That means your not getting full power into the shot or able to do it correctly. If everything is tense than any hard vibrations through the shaft are tranfered very hard to your body.

[dpark 0]

check how you are swinging the stick. If you are swinging to steep than you are probably hitting the ice pretty hard. Beside creating alot impact and vibration in the stick you are also loosing alot of the power i your shot.

don't grip the stick to tight. Tight grip = tense muscles. That means your not getting full power into the shot or able to do it correctly. If everything is tense than any hard vibrations through the shaft are tranfered very hard to your body.

thanks everyone.

But there is still one thing.

I use non-grip stick so if I don't grap the stick very tight, the puck doesn't go properly (the way I want). I once swithched into synergy grip one back in almost 2 years, but I don't like it.

I think I hit the ice too far before I actually hit the ice. So, I think I couldn't put much power into the puck. Meanwhile, my wrist hurts (of course) I guess.

[DamnLocust 0]

you mean you hit the ice too far before the puck?

try experimenting with the puck in different locations on the ice in relation to you, as well as holding the stick in different spots. If this doesn't work, try a shorter stick.

Most people like the puck pretty much right between the legs or a little behind that midpoint. You don't want the puck to be too far ahead of you when shooting, as you won't get full power into it.

[xMenace 0]

check how you are swinging the stick. If you are swinging to steep than you are probably hitting the ice pretty hard. Beside creating alot impact and vibration in the stick you are also loosing alot of the power i your shot.

don't grip the stick to tight. Tight grip = tense muscles. That means your not getting full power into the shot or able to do it correctly. If everything is tense than any hard vibrations through the shaft are tranfered very hard to your body.

thanks everyone.

But there is still one thing.

I use non-grip stick so if I don't grap the stick very tight, the puck doesn't go properly (the way I want). I once swithched into synergy grip one back in almost 2 years, but I don't like it.

I think I hit the ice too far before I actually hit the ice. So, I think I couldn't put much power into the puck. Meanwhile, my wrist hurts (of course) I guess.

Where's your bottom hand? It could be too high.

[xMenace 0]

you mean you hit the ice too far before the puck?

try experimenting with the puck in different locations on the ice in relation to you, as well as holding the stick in different spots. If this doesn't work, try a shorter stick.

Most people like the puck pretty much right between the legs or a little behind that midpoint. You don't want the puck to be too far ahead of you when shooting, as you won't get full power into it.

If you look you'll find that most hit it equal to the ball of the plant foot, and most hit the ice 4-6 inches behind the puck.

Another suggestion is examine how you strike the ice. It should be toe first (middle of blade hits puck of course). Hitting with too fat a blade causes resisence and possible wrist pain.

Check your angle of decent too: nice and round, not too top down.

[DamnLocust 0]

I guess i've never really paid attention to this, but I feel that I strike the ice heel-first. Since i'm using a modano curve/clones, I also strike the puck a bit closer to the heel than the direct middle of the blade.

I'll play around with this tomorrow night.

[chk hrd 164]

I guess i've never really paid attention to this, but I feel that I strike the ice heel-first. Since i'm using a modano curve/clones, I also strike the puck a bit closer to the heel than the direct middle of the blade.

I'll play around with this tomorrow night.

If you hit toe first it causes the stick to twist. I hit at about mid heal, power thru and end with the blade rolled over.

[xMenace 0]

I guess i've never really paid attention to this, but I feel that I strike the ice heel-first.  Since i'm using a modano curve/clones, I also strike the puck a bit closer to the heel than the direct middle of the blade. 

I'll play around with this tomorrow night.

If you hit toe first it causes the stick to twist. I hit at about mid heal, power thru and end with the blade rolled over.

You still need a good grip to keep from twisting. It's much easier though to hit toe first than heel first.

Simple physics also tells us toe first stores more energy as you are bending the entire stick including the blade. Hitting towards the heel looses energy as you aren't flexing the last few inches.

[Duder84 0]

I guess i've never really paid attention to this, but I feel that I strike the ice heel-first.  Since i'm using a modano curve/clones, I also strike the puck a bit closer to the heel than the direct middle of the blade. 

I'll play around with this tomorrow night.

If you hit toe first it causes the stick to twist. I hit at about mid heal, power thru and end with the blade rolled over.

You still need a good grip to keep from twisting. It's much easier though to hit toe first than heel first.

Simple physics also tells us toe first stores more energy as you are bending the entire stick including the blade. Hitting towards the heel looses energy as you aren't flexing the last few inches.

wouldn't hitting it toe first mean there's actually less of an area for the puck to roll, thereby making it less momentum than hitting it heel first?

[chk hrd 164]

I guess i've never really paid attention to this, but I feel that I strike the ice heel-first.  Since i'm using a modano curve/clones, I also strike the puck a bit closer to the heel than the direct middle of the blade. 

I'll play around with this tomorrow night.

If you hit toe first it causes the stick to twist. I hit at about mid heal, power thru and end with the blade rolled over.

You still need a good grip to keep from twisting. It's much easier though to hit toe first than heel first.

Simple physics also tells us toe first stores more energy as you are bending the entire stick including the blade. Hitting towards the heel looses energy as you aren't flexing the last few inches.

simple physics tells you that if you hit the toe of the stick you are applying torsion to the shaft causing it to twist at the blade shaft connection via leverage. You will not get maximum flex from the shaft because energy is lost in twisting the shaft. You would also loose some spin on the puck as it is not able to roll along the blade.

[dpark 0]

Where's your bottom hand? It could be too high.

humm... I'll try to put my hand lower. thanks

[dpark 0]

Oh, quick question. When you hit the puck (from bottom heel), do you still hold the stick hard? or do you loose your grip?

I use heel curved blade (Easton Pro stock; Lacavalier but less open)