slap shot frustration

[wetwilly17 6]

i used to use vapor XXX lite, 77 flex, pm9 curve. i had incredible slap shots with those sticks but i broke them all. in fact i've always had good slap shots. the other day i bought a tps adrenaline, tkatchuk curve, whip flex. the flex feels about the same as the 77flex xxx lite. i really have trouble getting the puck off the ice with slap shots with the adrenaline. why is this? the sticks are the same length, similar flex and curve/lie. my technique hasn't changed and i've always had a good slap shot. sometimes i prefer to shoot high or low just depending upon the situation. with the adrenaline, my shots are always on the ice or just barely off the ice. i've only practiced once with it but i've never had this problem before.

any ideas? normally to shoot higher on a slapper, i make contact with the puck closer to the toe of the blade, but this isn't helping.

[chippa13 1844]

You should use your follow through to get the puck up instead of shooting closer to the toe, that will rob your shot of power.

[eric42434224 1]

I could be waaaay off here, but I have always controlled the height of my slap shot with my follow through. I dont have much control over the place on the ice or stick where the puck makes contact. it seems that my shot naturally goes high, so when I keep my follow through low, my shot does the same.

[wetwilly17 6]

i guess i'll ask one with more experience than me to show me the proper follow through. i've never really had different follow throughs for slap shots. generally, if i just want to keep it on the ice i make contact closer towards the heel of the blade and that keeps my shot down. guess i'll ask someone to help me out that didn't grow up in texas...

[coryroth24 15]

Could be just a stab in the dark, but have you checked to see where on the shaft that the stick flexes? Also, check your stance (even though you said it hasn't changed). I find sometimes when I want to keep my slap shot down, I make contact with the puck further back in my wind-up.

[DamnLocust 0]

The Tkachuk curve is ever so slightly shallower than the PM9, but close enough that they'll shoot very similarly. I'll agree with the advice to work on the follow through. Work on following through high, while pointing your blade up/open-faced

[chippa13 1844]

Following thru high is fine but you should not be opening up your blade on slappers.

[DamnLocust 0]

Maybe I'm not using the proper terminology or explaining it right. With deeper curves (drury, sakic), it is recommended to roll your wrists to close the blade the keep from shooting over the net every time. This generally isn't something that you have to do with modano clones.

[Chadd 916]

Maybe I'm not using the proper terminology or explaining it right. With deeper curves (drury, sakic), it is recommended to roll your wrists to close the blade the keep from shooting over the net every time. This generally isn't something that you have to do with modano clones.

You should roll your wrists over on all shots, unless it's just a chip from the paint.

[Abubaca 0]

Whenever I'm having trouble with my slapshot, whether it be a new brand of stick, or just a mid season funk, I go back to basics. Correct amount of ice contact a little before puck contact, good hip rotation, wrist roll and follow through. When concentrating and practicing at a stick and puck, I've NEVER found a stick I couldn't shoot with. Now that's a long way from a game situation, and there's more to a stick than shooting of course, but the point is that while you may have learned how to best shoot with a certain stick, you CAN LEARN how to shoot with ANY stick. It'll just take some getting used to. B)

[Powerfibers 8]

Your question is exactly what I experience when I use a whippier stick and then I go to a stiffer shaft. I have a TPS Intermediate OPS that I can shoot slap shots fine with, but when I use a regular flex shaft and similar quality and curve TPS replacement blade it feels like the blade flexes on the shot and I get no power. Wrist shots work equally well with either stick. ???

[ktang 34]

Your question is exactly what I experience when I use a whippier stick and then I go to a stiffer shaft. I have a TPS Intermediate OPS that I can shoot slap shots fine with, but when I use a regular flex shaft and similar quality and curve TPS replacement blade it feels like the blade flexes on the shot and I get no power. Wrist shots work equally well with either stick. ???

Maybe, with the whippier stick, the shaft's flex is matched to the blade's flex for your shooting style. With the regular flex stick, the shaft may be overpowering the blade, so you may need to make contact with the puck closer to the heel of the blade.

[Jarick 5]

Your question is exactly what I experience when I use a whippier stick and then I go to a stiffer shaft. I have a TPS Intermediate OPS that I can shoot slap shots fine with, but when I use a regular flex shaft and similar quality and curve TPS replacement blade it feels like the blade flexes on the shot and I get no power. Wrist shots work equally well with either stick. ???

That's weird, it's the opposite for me. Whippy sticks feel like they torque wide open on slap shots whereas normal ones feel fine. With wrist shots, they have a lot more power with the whippy stick but I have a harder time controlling the shot than with a regular one.

[patty2109 0]

i bet the kick point on the new stick is messing with you. try moving your bottom hand up or down and find what works best. as for elevating the puck i have to agree with everyone else: use the follow through. shooting off the toe on a slapper robs power and accuracy in my experience.

[Powerfibers 8]

Thanks guys. The regular shaft and blade combo feels like shooting with a plastic street hockey stick! It's a TPS R2 I believe, not wood.

[dcdot377 0]

i have that problem when ever i get a new stick. it just takes me a few practices to fix it. but keeping the motion the same almost never works. something has to change. i would just fool around at your next practice with how you line up, hand position, hip rotation, follow through etc

[gxc999 7]

i have that problem when ever i get a new stick. it just takes me a few practices to fix it. but keeping the motion the same almost never works. something has to change. i would just fool around at your next practice with how you line up, hand position, hip rotation, follow through etc

Changing stick lengths is a big factor in switching sticks from slappers. Consider matching up lengths...

[dix0r 0]

also the lie, if they're different.