Quick Snapper vs Wrist Shot

[BlackIce 1]

I do know that it's important to have a very complete repertoire. However, I am becoming more and more convinced that a quick snapper is the best shot to use period. I've talked to many ex-junior and NCAA guys and they're telling me that they primarily use snappers. Many goalies tell me that the snapper is the most difficult shot as it gives them no time to set up. However, a wrist shot gives the goalie more time to set up as when the player takes the puck back the goalie knows that the player is setting up for a wrist shot. I would just like to hear some opinions.

[Jordan 13]

Snapper advantages are a quicker release, and almost impossible for the goalie to read. True, that you can get a little more power on your wrist shot, but while you are loading up the goalie is getting a read on your shot and the defence getting closer to interefering with your shot.

[eric42434224 1]

I think the snapper may have a quicker release, but I believe the wrister can be the most accurate.

I think the slapshot is the fastest and least accurate. The snapper as a hybrid has both attributes (speed/quickness and accuracy), but isnt the best in each category. Best is to develop all....including the backhand to be the best all around player. Different shots will be better than others in specific scenarios...one shot doesnt fit all. As evidenced by watching the pro's.

[Jarick 5]

Practice every shot from every angle, but in a game situation it's rare that you would have enough time and space to take a full wrist shot. Usually the only time I take them is when I'm pulling the puck off the boards or from behind me and the puck pull becomes part of the windup.

[shotty 7]

I think the snapper may have a quicker release, but I believe the wrister can be the most accurate.

I think the slapshot is the fastest and least accurate. The snapper as a hybrid has both attributes (speed/quickness and accuracy), but isnt the best in each category. Best is to develop all....including the backhand to be the best all around player. Different shots will be better than others in specific scenarios...one shot doesnt fit all. As evidenced by watching the pro's.

beauty.

almost exactly what i would have said.

when i was younger, i found myself using a snap shot almost all the time, because it seemed like that got me the best results, but as time went on, i soon realized that it wasn't always the right shot for the scenario.

if i'm facing a goalie who's anything less than solid, i'm snapping every chance i get.

as an aside, i don't recall the last time i scored with a slap shot....and i load one up at least once per game.

[Law Goalie 147]

Snapper advantages are a quicker release, and almost impossible for the goalie to read. True, that you can get a little more power on your wrist shot, but while you are loading up the goalie is getting a read on your shot and the defence getting closer to interefering with your shot.

Not if you're changing the shooting-triangle as you load the shot - one of Ovechkin's best tricks.

[devils26197 0]

Also, I think the key is using the right shot at the right time. If you don't have a lot of time or space, a snap shot is ideal. If the space is available then a wrist or slap is an option. I try to wait for a defender to get in my shooting lane and then use him as a screen and fire a snapper around him. Sometimes it gets blocked, however.

[K9 Unit 1]

mmm, i dunno who's right but in my mind wrist shot is where the pucks on your blade and you just let it go, but a snap shot is the hybrid between the wrist and slap. seems like some of you are switch the snap and wrist

[devils26197 0]

my fault, that was a bit redundant

law goalie, explain shooting triangle?

[Law Goalie 147]

From an aerial angle, draw a line from the puck to the inside edge of each post, connected by the crossbar: this triangle describes the available shooting options. Obviously, as the position of the puck changes, the triangle changes. Making quick adjustments in the shooting-triangle on the fly causes huge problems for goalies, chiefly because it can open up more net, and secondarily because it forces the goalie to adjust from a set stance.

[Chadd 916]

At higher levels you rarely have enough time for a full wrist shot, let alone a slap shot. If you are going to take the time to wind up for the wrist shot, you better hit your spot and do so with a bit of velocity. Snappers are great for in close or through traffic, but not so good from mid or long range when the goalie has a good look.

mmm, i dunno who's right but in my mind wrist shot is where the pucks on your blade and you just let it go, but a snap shot is the hybrid between the wrist and slap. seems like some of you are switch the snap and wrist

Wrist shots generally involve starting with the puck farther back and dragging it forward as you shoot. Snap shots have no windup. What you are calling a snap shot, is actually a half slap shot.

[devils26197 0]

I think the best nhl example is shanahan...his windup for a wrister is minimal and I think that his snap shot is as hard as some guys slappers, also with minimal windup

[Rocketking 0]

IMO a snap shot is the best way to go. Getting the quickest release possible is the key.

I think that a snap shot is all about stick mechanics, getting the flex of your shaft to do the work. I think a great snap shot is almost a work of art, there are allot of things to control to get accuracy with the quickness.

The more you put into practicing it the better you'll be.

[devils26197 0]

Law goalie, do you mean lateral movement from the goaltender? If a shooter gets a goaltender to move left to right, that would be ideal. Is that how you think ovechkin scores most of his goals? I seem to think he just overpowers most netminders, and he also takes 5 or 6 shots a game, not to mention the ones that are go wide or are blocked so he is bound to score eventually. Do you think he uses all 3 shots equally? i think he favors the wrist or half slap/snap most.

[fatwabbit 93]

When I first started playing, the wrist shot was my prefered shot... back then the skill levels of the other teams werent as quick, so they dont close down so quickly.... I've progressed to mainly shooting with snap shots these days, quicker, lesser time to think or for the goalie to react.

[adam14 182]

If I'm righthanded, pulling the puck in towards my body and then flicking my wrist is taking a snap shot which is changing the angle for the goalie. 4 inches is the difference between hitting his blocker and putting it in off the post

[junior 1]

I'm happy with my wrist shot, but I think it takes too much time to setup and fire. I've been working on my snapshot and while it has been getting stronger, the accuracy just isn't there. But IMO, I think a quick snapper is a more valuable shot.

[K9 Unit 1]

mmm, i dunno who's right but in my mind wrist shot is where the pucks on your blade and you just let it go, but a snap shot is the hybrid between the wrist and slap. seems like some of you are switch the snap and wrist

Wrist shots generally involve starting with the puck farther back and dragging it forward as you shoot. Snap shots have no windup. What you are calling a snap shot, is actually a half slap shot.

mmm right thanks

[Chadd 916]

mmm, i dunno who's right but in my mind wrist shot is where the pucks on your blade and you just let it go, but a snap shot is the hybrid between the wrist and slap. seems like some of you are switch the snap and wrist

Wrist shots generally involve starting with the puck farther back and dragging it forward as you shoot. Snap shots have no windup. What you are calling a snap shot, is actually a half slap shot.

mmm right thanks

It's just a regional thing and it happens all the time, like pants and breezers.

[kevintung_2k 0]

Law goalie, do you mean lateral movement from the goaltender? If a shooter gets a goaltender to move left to right, that would be ideal. Is that how you think ovechkin scores most of his goals? I seem to think he just overpowers most netminders, and he also takes 5 or 6 shots a game, not to mention the ones that are go wide or are blocked so he is bound to score eventually. Do you think he uses all 3 shots equally? i think he favors the wrist or half slap/snap most.

What Law goalie meant is that Ovechkin changes the angle of the shot slightly right before he releases his snappers. This can open up the short or far side slightly, provided that you have enough speed and accuracy on your shots. More importantly, it will be extremely difficult for the goalie to read the shot, as the angle adjustment is done in fractions of seconds.

[IniNew 53]

Law goalie, do you mean lateral movement from the goaltender? If a shooter gets a goaltender to move left to right, that would be ideal. Is that how you think ovechkin scores most of his goals? I seem to think he just overpowers most netminders, and he also takes 5 or 6 shots a game, not to mention the ones that are go wide or are blocked so he is bound to score eventually. Do you think he uses all 3 shots equally? i think he favors the wrist or half slap/snap most.

What Law goalie meant is that Ovechkin changes the angle of the shot slightly right before he releases his snappers. This can open up the short or far side slightly, provided that you have enough speed and accuracy on your shots. More importantly, it will be extremely difficult for the goalie to read the shot, as the angle adjustment is done in fractions of seconds.

It's his wrist shots he's talking about. With a snap shot, you shouldn't have time to adjust the shooting triangle. That's the whole point of the quick release.

[Jarick 5]

Or pull the puck in close and release a snap shot. That's a big part of it.

For the most part, the phrases wrist shot and snap shot are used interchangeably nowadays. For me, the wrist shot is primarily involves the puck being on the blade for a long period of time to maximize accuracy and a lot of weight transfer into the shaft to maximize power. The snap shot is more of a snapping of the wrists combined with a very quick push into the ice to load the stick. Because the puck's not on the blade as long, the accuracy is less, but the release is much quicker. With a strong player and good technique, power and accuracy are still very good and the quicker release fools goalies.

As for Ovechkin, I also have a theory that his huge twisted hook curve makes shots incredibly unpredictable and because of the loft, very tiny changes in his release lead to big changes in the elevation of the puck, so goalies can't read the follow through of the height as easily. Of course if us rubes try to use one of these sticks, we don't have the control, so all the shots would be going above the net.