Slapshot head position?

[danielb 0]

I've been trying to learn the slap shot recently as I'm playing more defence and the slap shot seems to be the standard issue blue line shot and there seems to be some variation of techniques in games, listed on the web, some players/coaches say look at the puck others say look at your target, looking at NHL clips there seems to be players using either method as well (Lidstrom is a heads up). Looking at what I'm shooting at seems to make sense, from an accuracy perspective as there seems little point in being able to fire off an howitzer if it always misses, so looking seems more natural although as a relative beginner its not a shot I've ever tried much.

Is there any technical reason not to look at your target, other than I guess you could miss the puck completely?

[kilner 0]

than I guess you could miss the puck completely?

As a player ive always been taught to look at the puck when you actually make contact for this exact reason. As you say your a beginner though, try different techniques to see what works best for you. Whats best for someone else might not be the best thing for you

[Chadd 916]

If you have to look down to locate the puck do it for now. Once you know where the puck is, it makes everything easier. I always do my best to keep my head up, the most important thing isn't getting the shot on net, it's not getting the shot blocked by the defender rushing at you. You're better off missing the net because you avoided hitting the guy than it is to have the puck on line, blocked and a breakaway going the other way.

[Smitty34 0]

When I started working on my slapshot, I kept my head down to look at the puck so that I could make good contact. As I got better at it, it was easier for me to keep my head up while taking a slapshot. Try looking at the puck for now, then, once you get better at it, try keeping your head up. Good luck.

[DarkStar50 679]

One of the keys to taking a slapshot with your head up, looking at the goal, is the quality of the ice! One rink I play at the ice is like sandpaper. You never know where the puck may be in relation to your body and your feet for lining up a slapshot. I usually have to look at the puck before a slapshot from the blueline in this rink. However, if I play at Tate Rink at West Point, the United States Military Academy, I know the ice will be the best in the East and the puck glide will be perfect. No sweat at Tate Rink to shoot like a pro. Taking a slapshot with your head up is just another example of something in hockey that you have to practice again and again to perfect and get comfortable doing in a game situation.

[lotus 2]

Personal preference imo, however it takes a good deal of skill to take one with your head up the whole way in every given situation. I find that when I'm looking down, my shots tend to be headhunters, and when I'm looking at the goal it's spot on, no matter what I do. So when I'm trying to keep it low and get it through traffic, obviously I know what to do. If I'm breaking down the wing and want to let one rip at the goalie for why-nots-sake, then I'll look down to make sure I'm getting all of it.

[chk hrd 164]

I've been trying to learn the slap shot recently as I'm playing more defence and the slap shot seems to be the standard issue ....

Worry less about taking a big slap shot from the blue line and more about getting the puck to the net. To many guys take a big wind up to rip one like the pros only to have the wing close the gap, block the shot and steal the puck. Start using good hard wristers and quick snappers without taking the stick to far back. And for the sake of your fowards keep the shot low. That said, for the occasional slap shot I will glance down at the puck to make sure where it is and then look at the target. Wait to try the big one timer until you get very comfortable with it, nothing worse than fanning on a pass and watching the puck go the other way.

[Chadd 916]

I've been trying to learn the slap shot recently as I'm playing more defence and the slap shot seems to be the standard issue ....

Worry less about taking a big slap shot from the blue line and more about getting the puck to the net. To many guys take a big wind up to rip one like the pros only to have the wing close the gap, block the shot and steal the puck. Start using good hard wristers and quick snappers without taking the stick to far back. And for the sake of your fowards keep the shot low. That said, for the occasional slap shot I will glance down at the puck to make sure where it is and then look at the target. Wait to try the big one timer until you get very comfortable with it, nothing worse than fanning on a pass and watching the puck go the other way.

Great advice. There's a guy on our team that never takes a slapper from the point, but every one of his shots gets through to the net. Your job at the point is not to put the puck past the goalie, it would be nice but it can't be expected on a regular basis. Your job is to get the puck on net for tips and rebounds, with one going straight in through a screen every once in a while.

[danielb 0]

Worry less about taking a big slap shot from the blue line and more about getting the puck to the net. To many guys take a big wind up to rip one like the pros only to have the wing close the gap, block the shot and steal the puck. Start using good hard wristers and quick snappers without taking the stick to far back. And for the sake of your fowards keep the shot low. That said, for the occasional slap shot I will glance down at the puck to make sure where it is and then look at the target. Wait to try the big one timer until you get very comfortable with it, nothing worse than fanning on a pass and watching the puck go the other way.

Great advice. There's a guy on our team that never takes a slapper from the point, but every one of his shots gets through to the net. Your job at the point is not to put the puck past the goalie, it would be nice but it can't be expected on a regular basis. Your job is to get the puck on net for tips and rebounds, with one going straight in through a screen every once in a while.

Thanks for the advice Chk & Chadd, I've been trying to work on my snappers but the technique still escapes me. I've had a search around for threads on snap shots but not had much luck so I guess I'll start one soon.

[Hoffer 0]

Its better to keep your head up rather than looking down at the puck but like others have said not looking at the puck but knowing where it is in relationship to your body while playing is a skill that takes a lot of practice. It is good to have your head up as much as possible at any time in a game.

[lotus 2]

Thanks for the advice Chk & Chadd, I've been trying to work on my snappers but the technique still escapes me. I've had a search around for threads on snap shots but not had much luck so I guess I'll start one soon.

http://www.hockeyshot.com/articles.asp?id=231

Try that yet? ;)

[Chadd 916]

Thanks for the advice Chk & Chadd, I've been trying to work on my snappers but the technique still escapes me. I've had a search around for threads on snap shots but not had much luck so I guess I'll start one soon.

http://www.hockeyshot.com/articles.asp?id=231

Try that yet? ;)

Snap shot my ass, they're getting 24 inches or so of windup. That's more like a half slapper, a useful shot but not a snap shot.

[danielb 0]

http://www.hockeyshot.com/articles.asp?id=231

Try that yet? ;)

Snap shot my ass, they're getting 24 inches or so of windup. That's more like a half slapper, a useful shot but not a snap shot.

Ok now I'm confused! Lotus's link seemed pretty good instructions but if that is not a snap shot what does a snap shot look like or more importantly how do I shot one? I"m playing D mostly and using a wooden Easton Lidstrom stick so its a stiffer flex which seems pretty hard to bend in a snap shot although I am 220 lbs and 6'2" so I guess that flex is about right? I can bend it to in a slap shot but my snap shot technique is nearly non-existent currently so that is possibly more of an issue I guess?

Does the stick bend come form your arms or your body weight?

[mack 44]

I am 220 lbs and 6'22"

Was Billy Crystal nice when you two made My Giant?

[danielb 0]

I am 220 lbs and 6'22"

Was Billy Crystal nice when you two made My Giant?

lol that will be a typo

better now?

[mack 44]

I was hoping so but I'll say I'm 5'17" at times.

[Chadd 916]

http://www.hockeyshot.com/articles.asp?id=231

Try that yet? ;)

Snap shot my ass, they're getting 24 inches or so of windup. That's more like a half slapper, a useful shot but not a snap shot.

Ok now I'm confused! Lotus's link seemed pretty good instructions but if that is not a snap shot what does a snap shot look like or more importantly how do I shot one? I"m playing D mostly and using a wooden Easton Lidstrom stick so its a stiffer flex which seems pretty hard to bend in a snap shot although I am 220 lbs and 6'2" so I guess that flex is about right? I can bend it to in a slap shot but my snap shot technique is nearly non-existent currently so that is possibly more of an issue I guess?

Does the stick bend come form your arms or your body weight?

I'm 6-1 230 and I use a TPS R flex (90-ish). I expect my stick to flex when I take a wrist or snap shot and flex a whole bunch on slappers. A snap shot should have minimal windup, if any.

With a wrist shot, you generally have the puck on your stick, load up a little with the puck on your stick and then fire at the target.

With a slap shot you wind up without the puck on your stick and then fire through the puck at the net. It's a lot like golf, where technique is more important than sheer strength. Keeping your windup to a minimum will also help you get the shots away. You don't want to windup with your blade pointed at the roof. Keep your windup around your waist and you will get your shot off a lot more quickly.

With a snapper, you have the puck on your blade and just shoot without any windup or pre-loading the stick. One instant it's on your stick, the next it's gone.

Regardless of what anyone calls the various motions, you should learn them all. Especially important is learning how to shoot when the puck isn't placed perfectly. Knowing how the puck will react will help you make more plays and panic a lot less often.

[patty2109 0]

i tend to glance at the puck while taking the shot and then follow through with my head. and i like to keep the wind up short, none of that above-my-head BS.

[danielb 0]

With a wrist shot, you generally have the puck on your stick, load up a little with the puck on your stick and then fire at the target.

With a slap shot you wind up without the puck on your stick and then fire through the puck at the net. It's a lot like golf, where technique is more important than sheer strength. Keeping your windup to a minimum will also help you get the shots away. You don't want to windup with your blade pointed at the roof. Keep your windup around your waist and you will get your shot off a lot more quickly.

With a snapper, you have the puck on your blade and just shoot without any windup or pre-loading the stick. One instant it's on your stick, the next it's gone.

Regardless of what anyone calls the various motions, you should learn them all. Especially important is learning how to shoot when the puck isn't placed perfectly. Knowing how the puck will react will help you make more plays and panic a lot less often.

Thanks for the advice, I was practising shooting this morning after power skating and looking at the net, focusing on where I hit the ice before the puck and weight transfer seemed to help me allot with slap shots. I was even starting to be able to lift the puck a bit, which I've never managed to do. I've still to work on my snap shot but I've a Finnish friend who has offered to show me how, so hopefully that will help. I've heard people talk of bending or loading the stick shaft when taking a snap shot, is that a true snap shot or is that sort of shot more a slap/snap hybrid?

One thing I noticed that seemed weird is that toady I had two sticks a wooden Easton at regular flex (70 something?) in a Lidstrom pattern and a composite Bauer Velocity Shift at 102 Flex in a PM9 pattern (St Louis). The composite stick felt allot more alive and snappy in shots than the wooden stick which felt quite dead in comparison e.g. I can really feel the puck on the blade with the composite and really feel the shaft bend when shooting but I can hardly feel it with the wood stick despite it being rated as being more flexible. Is that normal?

I'm thinking if that is normal with composite vs wood sticks that maybe I should switch to using composite sticks all the time for the improved feel? Are cheaper composites worth the cash or will they break easily e.g. are the $50-100 sticks any less durable than the $100+ sticks?

[regularjoe 1]

One thing I noticed that seemed weird is that toady I had two sticks a wooden Easton at regular flex (70 something?) in a Lidstrom pattern and a composite Bauer Velocity Shift at 102 Flex in a PM9 pattern (St Louis). The composite stick felt allot more alive and snappy in shots than the wooden stick which felt quite dead in comparison e.g. I can really feel the puck on the blade with the composite and really feel the shaft bend when shooting but I can hardly feel it with the wood stick despite it being rated as being more flexible. Is that normal?

A regular senior wood stick is not going to be 70 off the shelf. Closer to 85-90 would be my guess and if you cut a couple inches off, that's all she wrote.

Wood also gets soft (from soaking up the water) over time.

[Chadd 916]

I use composite because they last a lot longer than a wood stick does for me. Wood sticks tend to die over time and lose their pop, blades tend to get soft and feel dead. When I used Easton z-carbon wood sticks, I was lucky to get more than 2-3 ice times out of them before they broke or became useless. That said, I far prefer the feel of a wood blade to a composite blade. I far prefer the consistency of a composite shaft to wood though.

In your case, the 70 might be too whippy and you could be powering through the puck and not allowing the stick to load and release properly. There's no way to know exactly what the problem is without seeing you shoot.

The cheapest composite sticks tend to not last long at all, but the mid level sticks are usually pretty solid.

[danielb 0]

I've not cut down the wood stick at all (although the Lidstrom is LONG, how tall is he?) and today was its second outing ever (bought it last week) so hopefully it shouldn't have had time to soak up any water, I've mostly been using a Sherwood wood stick before this and had the composite since Christmas but I've been a bit precious about it and only just started using it as I had been waiting for the Sherwood to break before starting to use the composite. Sod laws meant I got impatient last week and I used my other Bauer composite last week and broke it! So I'm down to just the afore mentioned composite stick and two wooden sticks now.

Would a composite shaft and wooden blade combo be worth looking into?

[regularjoe 1]

Would a composite shaft and wooden blade combo be worth looking into?

I've tried it and my experience resembles most others on here: great at first but after a couple of uses, the blade goes "dead" and seems to lose pop even if I change tape between every use (no matter how little) and wipe the water off.

As Chadd and others have pointed out, composite combos are more consistent.

Of course, you are the ultimate arbiter of such things. If you can get away it, try it and see if you like it. Your mileage will vary.

[Chadd 916]

I use tapered shaft and blade combos because I wear out blades long before the shafts. I have used wood blades in my tapered shafts and I love the feel but I don't like the expense of always replacing the blades. No matter how much I like the feel, I still have to replace the wood blades much, much faster than the composite blades.

[danielb 0]

Is the blade the part of the stick that usually breaks? I've been playing since last September and I've only broken one stick, a composite and it was above where the join would be on a two piece stick. So I've not much experience of the pros or cons of one piece vs two in terms of breakages...