stickhandling question

[raygunpk 0]

How much does a curve affect your guys stickhandling? I went from a mid/toe curve to a mid/heel and my toe drags went to crap.

Will enough practice even make it back to normal? I mean, because you're kinda dealing with a whole different curve here. A change in technique perhaps but I only know one way to toe drag, and that's to toe drag, lol.

[Spreedizzle 1]

Right now it is a matter of muscle memory. You should be able to perform the move with any curve, just with a slight variation due to the difference from your old blade. It will come, and you may do it better than you did before.....practicing with the new curve will be the only way to know for certain though. Good luck!! ;)

[thejackal 46]

lie makes a big deal for me. curve not so much, even though i can cup the puck with a bigger and closed curved obviously.

[Smitty34 0]

Same thing happened to me when I changed curves. The difference really messed me up at first, but I got used to it after practicing a few times.

[ashtonhutch05 0]

I went from a Kovalchuk pro to Sakic retail and I'm straight. Toe drags were just unfair with the Kovy but that's expected.

[raygunpk 0]

So did you ever get back to form with the Sakic after a lot of practice?

[ashtonhutch05 0]

Yeah the Sakic works great now.

[raygunpk 0]

The thing is you went for a harsh toe curve to a more mild toe curve in the Sakic. I'm pretty much going mild toe to heel so it's a much harsher transition.

[ashtonhutch05 0]

Yeah its takes time adjusting to a heel if you've never used one before. I couldn't do it (Kovalev) so I just sold that stick. It didn't cater to my playing style though so that might have had a lot to do with it. The deep toe did, and the Sakic just feels like a normal curve to me. Heels are tricky, no doubt. Good luck.

[raygunpk 0]

Yeah I know what you mean, thanks. I guess I'm like some people here who are looking for shortcuts lol.

[Aussie Joe 0]

I can puckhandle with any curve. Doesn't make a difference to me, but if we are talking about shooting, especially top shelf I need an open curve Sakic/Naslund minimum, Im currently using a Jovanovski by Warrior, one of the best I've used.

I always love discontinued curves, like Bauer Pronger and Innovative Mogilny. Sadly no more. :(

[gxc999 7]

Right now it is a matter of muscle memory. You should be able to perform the move with any curve, just with a slight variation due to the difference from your old blade. It will come, and you may do it better than you did before.....practicing with the new curve will be the only way to know for certain though. Good luck!! ;)

Totally right. It's difficult for me constantly switching between curves so I'm running with the PM9 for the time being.

[Dougie8 0]

2 summers ago I went from a Drury (used Drury the whole year before) and tried a Sakic for the very first time. I couldn't do a thing with the Sakic. Now that I've used curves Sakic ish for the past year, that's all i'm using. It just takes time to get used to. I definetly can't shoot and puck handle with a say Modano/Fedorov, I know what you're saying. I guess it all comes down to PP once again, meaning that it's different for different people?

[raygunpk 0]

Yeah it is PP.

Dougie8, if you were to choose a Drury or Sakic now given the time you have used both, which would you have?

[WhiskeyTango19 0]

Yeah it is PP.

Dougie8, if you were to choose a Drury or Sakic now given the time you have used both, which would you have?

I know that you directed that question to Dougie, but I had just the opposite. I was a Sakic guy for YEARS, then I decided to try a Drury, haven't been able to go back to the Sakic. It's a shame because I still have 2 Sakic sticks left. Drury is where it's at for me. I lost a LITTLE bit on my shot, but stickhandling and backhands have greatly improved.

[raygunpk 0]

So you actually improved on stickhandling, and lost a bit of your shot by going to a heel curve? That's kinda like the opposite of the general consensus but glad it worked for you!

How's your toe drag with the Drury?

[stock07 1]

Just curious, how do you guys practice your backhand?...I myself switched from mid/closed to heel/open curves this past year my shots/accurcy have improved or at least I feel more in control of my shot, however I have no loft or muscle behind my backhand...I cant seem to get it off the ground or get any speed behind it?..Any tips?

[Dougie8 0]

Yeah it is PP.

Dougie8, if you were to choose a Drury or Sakic now given the time you have used both, which would you have?

Sakic for sure. I usually don't use retail Sakic's just because I don't like how big they're getting. I'm a puck moving D-Man who stickhandles alot and skates the puck when needed, Which is why I like the more mid-toe curves for quick snap shots/passes and PP for stickhandeling.

[WhiskeyTango19 0]

So you actually improved on stickhandling, and lost a bit of your shot by going to a heel curve? That's kinda like the opposite of the general consensus but glad it worked for you!

How's your toe drag with the Drury?

I never really had a toe-drag <_< When I said I lost a little on my shot, I meant a TINY bit of velocity. Accuracy was still dead on.

[raygunpk 0]

Yeah I agree, the Sakic's are becoming huge wedges. Wish somebody would make something similar but milder.

[thejackal 46]

Just curious, how do you guys practice your backhand?...I myself switched from mid/closed to heel/open curves this past year my shots/accurcy have improved or at least I feel more in control of my shot, however I have no loft or muscle behind my backhand...I cant seem to get it off the ground or get any speed behind it?..Any tips?

line up 5-6 pucks at the edge of the blue paint and try to put as many of them into the top of the net as possible. start the puck as far on the heel as possible

[Aussie Joe 0]

I had the shitest backhand of all time for many years. Until I got a job in an electronics store with a big concrete delivery bay that was deserted most of the day. Each lunch time I would scoff down my food, then retret to the bay and shoot some pucks at a milk crate. I started to practice one timers (awesome rebound off the wall with a pro puck) and then backhanders.

I would do this 2-3 times a week and just progressively get further and further away from the crate. In the end I could hit the target with decent force (for my league at least) and about 80%-90% accuracy. I also walked in and practiced my backhands on a deke as well.

Last summer I scored a backhand goal from the goal line that went between the sprawling cross ice goalie and the post. It hit the far side and fell in. Impressed the hell out of one Australian team players who was on my line.

I guess in closing you don't have to have a delivery bay, just a patch of smooth concrete and something solid to score on. The rest you leave upto dedication.

[gxc999 7]

Just curious, how do you guys practice your backhand?...I myself switched from mid/closed to heel/open curves this past year my shots/accurcy have improved or at least I feel more in control of my shot, however I have no loft or muscle behind my backhand...I cant seem to get it off the ground or get any speed behind it?..Any tips?

I've had similar issues. The key to getting muscle on the backhand is transferring the weight and snapping the top wrist hard, this makes it very easy. The real problem for me is when you're right in front of the net, can't transfer your weight (sandwiched between defenseman and goalie) and have to shoot it off (the toe sometimes) accurately. I came across a trick today in situations like this, start out for moving the blade forward an inch or two, then bring it back and fire the backhand, it helps get quick lift in a pinch.