Best hockey training tool you've invested in.

[TBLfan 25]

don't shoot the ball into a wall, you can crack them with a decent wrist shot. It's a weighted rubber-ish ball with a plastic shell.

I'm a big fan or "juggling" the ball. Basically you pick up the ball and bounce it on the blade of your stick and then when you get better you catch the ball on the blade... This isn't just for showing off, it definitely teaches you a few things about your stick as well as helps your hand-eye coordination.

By bouncing the ball on the blade you learn where your blade is... sounds stupid huh? Try deflecting a puck, if you hit it flat on the blade it will stop and fall down but if you turn the blade a certain way it will deflect where good things can happen. Catching the ball on the blade also helps, not only does it work on giving you those "soft hands" a lot of us talk about(easier to recieve passes) but it also let's you get a feel for the curve of the blade. By rolling the ball along the face of the blade you learn where the blade does what, if that makes sense. This might not work for everyone but I can definitely tell a difference from when I started doing this and now. Deflecting pucks has become second nature, instead of being happy for deflecting a puck I'm upset if I don't get the puck or I didn't deflect it where I wanted.

[Chadd 916]

What was the best thing you've invested in?

A private lesson with a former minor league pro or a small group session with an NHL head coach. The first one helped my shot, the second helped my approach to all aspects of the game.

[Sven 1]

What was the best thing you've invested in?

A private lesson with a former minor league pro or a small group session with an NHL head coach. The first one helped my shot, the second helped my approach to all aspects of the game.

It was so obvious that you or JR would destroy us all with something pretty awesome <_< (Im jealous).

I'm a big fan or "juggling" the ball. Basically you pick up the ball and bounce it on the blade of your stick and then when you get better you catch the ball on the blade...

By bouncing the ball on the blade you learn where your blade is... sounds stupid huh? Try deflecting a puck, if you hit it flat on the blade it will stop and fall down but if you turn the blade a certain way it will deflect where good things can happen. Catching the ball on the blade also helps, not only does it work on giving you those "soft hands" a lot of us talk about(easier to recieve passes) but it also let's you get a feel for the curve of the blade. Deflecting pucks has become second nature, instead of being happy for deflecting a puck I'm upset if I don't get the puck or I didn't deflect it where I wanted.

Well, thats what i love as well, but how come that i cant "juggle" the puck on the blade. Its kinda easy with the smarthockey ball, but i cant do it hardly with a puck.

[nni 0]

huron hockey camp.

[TBLfan 25]

^^I couldn't really do it either until I started focusing on how the puck is landing, if you catch it flat or on end it will go back up where you can get it again... if you hit a corner it can go just about anywhere. It's definitely harder than juggling a ball, I can juggle a ball until my arms get tired... with a puck it's a matter of 5-10 times(average) before I mess up.

[Jarick 5]

The hockey ball is really durable until you decide it's a puck. It will break. Just shoot a puck if you want to shoot a puck.

I have no idea what the plastic sheet is called, it's a sheet of smooth white plastic about 2' by 3' or so. It cost $30 at my LHS.

[davezilla 0]

I have no idea what the plastic sheet is called, it's a sheet of smooth white plastic about 2' by 3' or so. It cost $30 at my LHS.

we have a similar product at my LHS... $90. <_<

[Sven 1]

I have no idea what the plastic sheet is called, it's a sheet of smooth white plastic about 2' by 3' or so. It cost $30 at my LHS.

we have a similar product at my LHS... $90. <_<

Are you serious?

I went into a DIY store and i got me a plexiglass-pane and cost about $5.

(I got this pic off Ebay, mine is wider and longer.)

[Lfntn10 0]

I have no idea what the plastic sheet is called, it's a sheet of smooth white plastic about 2' by 3' or so. It cost $30 at my LHS.

we have a similar product at my LHS... $90. <_<

Are you serious?

I went into a DIY store and i got me a plexiglass-pane and cost about $5.

(I got this pic off Ebay, mine is wider and longer.)

How is it? like compared to an ice surface. does the puck wobble and such?

[Sven 1]

I have no idea what the plastic sheet is called, it's a sheet of smooth white plastic about 2' by 3' or so. It cost $30 at my LHS.

we have a similar product at my LHS... $90. <_<

Are you serious?

I went into a DIY store and i got me a plexiglass-pane and cost about $5.

(I got this pic off Ebay, mine is wider and longer.)

How is it? like compared to an ice surface. does the puck wobble and such?

Its brilliant. The puck is flat and its actually like ice. Of course, who thinks you can skate on it isn't smart, but shooting is awesome. When its wet (or moistly) its even better... Was some kind of a coinkidink, it started raining and it was pretty cool.

[B Neal 0]

I have no idea what the plastic sheet is called, it's a sheet of smooth white plastic about 2' by 3' or so. It cost $30 at my LHS.

we have a similar product at my LHS... $90. <_<

Are you serious?

I went into a DIY store and i got me a plexiglass-pane and cost about $5.

(I got this pic off Ebay, mine is wider and longer.)

How is it? like compared to an ice surface. does the puck wobble and such?

Its brilliant. The puck is flat and its actually like ice. Of course, who thinks you can skate on it isn't smart, but shooting is awesome. When its wet (or moistly) its even better... Was some kind of a coinkidink, it started raining and it was pretty cool.

Do you know what the material is called specifically?

[Fire0nIce228 1]

plexiglass.

[Sven 1]

I have no idea what the plastic sheet is called, it's a sheet of smooth white plastic about 2' by 3' or so. It cost $30 at my LHS.

we have a similar product at my LHS... $90. <_<

Are you serious?

I went into a DIY store and i got me a plexiglass-pane and cost about $5.

(I got this pic off Ebay, mine is wider and longer.)

How is it? like compared to an ice surface. does the puck wobble and such?

Its brilliant. The puck is flat and its actually like ice. Of course, who thinks you can skate on it isn't smart, but shooting is awesome. When its wet (or moistly) its even better... Was some kind of a coinkidink, it started raining and it was pretty cool.

Do you know what the material is called specifically?

Plexiglass/Acrylic glass. Google it. Reminds me of the stuff on a Basketballboard.

[TBLfan 25]

I've heard of plenty of people buying sheets of lexan but that would probably cost more, although it's more than likely stronger.

[biff44 0]

Agility Ladder.

I would 2nd that! Agility ladder is one of the cheapest devices out there, and gives you an almost overnight improvement in foot speed!

[willy0314 0]

golf ball, and a section of an old wood stick I cut down, drilled a hole in the middle of and tied a rope and a 5 pound wieght onto. Spent alot of time with those when I was younger. And for basicly free, they will help your game out amazingly.

[bainsstatic 0]

when you guys stick handle inside the house do you use gloves? i do but hands start to smell after haha

[LkptTiger 1]

Bucket of pucks, a decent net and rubber targets. Take 200 shots a day (when you're not at the rink) and you'll see results.

Going back to the subject of shooting surfaces: plexiglas is decent and all, but after a few years now, I'm kinda curious and looking for something a little more "ice-like."

Any of you have any idea as to how long a sheet of Teflon would stand-up? http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/variant.a...iant%5Fid=45252

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

My stickhandling board, my shooting net, my squat rack and I put the effort to go at public skating everyday for free during one year and it has improved my skating dramatically...

[Lfntn10 0]

My stickhandling board, my shooting net, my squat rack and I put the effort to go at public skating everyday for free during one year and it has improved my skating dramatically...

im curious, from your videos, what board do you use?

[Sven 1]

when you guys stick handle inside the house do you use gloves? i do but hands start to smell after haha

Call me weird, but i love the smell of hockeygloves. My girl did (yes, past-tense) not, haha.

[godiogo 0]

I think it's recommended you wear your gloves when practicing shots or stickhandling, just so there's no major difference when you're actually playing.

[davezilla 0]

it feels weird to NOT wear gloves.

[nni 0]

i prefer wearing gloves, but if i am messing around in my house, im not going to go get cloves.

[mxihockey 0]

Smart Hockey balls, Got the Cd's too but just cant find time to do the drills..