Shooting to Score

[gxc999 7]

Something that has helped me a lot is not to think about it. Just get off a shot as quickly as you can.

[Husker 0]

Being quick is important, but it's not the end all. If you're playing in a league with mostly the same people its important not to be predictable. Take the room given to you by the other team because once the goalie starts to move to back a lot opens up.

I think changing the angle of your shot release helps a ton.

[jjolay15 0]

If you can afford it, buy a practice net. They go for around 45 dollars (not the NHL type nets, the smaller, maybe 3/4 size nets that are lightweight and easy to set up. Aluminum).

I played hockey all my life. AA travel, a little spring AAA stuff, nothing crazy. Anyway, about a year ago I invested in a net and just started shooting and stickhandling. I was always a good puck handler and a decent shooter, but after shooting in my offtime only for 15 mins or so at a time, I have gotten considerably more accurate. I rarely have to look up anymore because I practice shooting from every angle for each corner and 5 hole spot. Including middle areas.

Basically you practice shooting Top Right, Middle Right, Down Right, 5 Hole, Top Left, Middle Left, Down Left.

Shoot from different angles (create an imaginary arc around the net) and different lengths from which you shoot. Practice quick release shots as well. If you speak to goalies, they will tell you that the most lethal shooters have quick releases. Quicker release = harder to react to from a goalie standpoint.

If you have no room for a net, do this at sticks and pucks. Hope this helped.

[fatwabbit 93]

I just wanted to add something... its not about technique or anything, but to shoot the damn puck. I've got team mates who love to dangle all the way in, and then lose the puck when the goalie poke checks it, or they get crowded out when too many d man converge on him. Call it luck or whatever you want, but sometimes a quick snap/wrister works. Too many times we overthink about what we want to do, and the moment/screen is gone.

[JonoDigz 4]

I'm sure Bossy's comment was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. The only suggestion that I can make is for you to practice shooting at full speed, maybe at the beginning of your pickup sessions you can work on it a little while you're warming up the goalie. A trick that works for the pros is repetitious shooting from certain spots on the ice. It trains you to know where the net is so instead of having to look to pick the spot you know where the corners are and can shoot for them quicker.

I agree. Usually you wont have the time to pick your exact spot and snap off a quick shot. Knowing

where you are on the ice in relation to where the goalie is or moving towards will help you the

most. Try skating through your shot too. A lot of time you will see players stop skating, begin to

coast, set thier feet and shot... Basically letting the goalie know your shooting.

[Chadd 916]

Something that has helped me a lot is not to think about it. Just get off a shot as quickly as you can.

Like with one timers, it helps to break the net down into quarters on quick shots. High or low, left or right. Don't just shoot completely blindly, have some idea of where you want it if you can.