Trouble with getting it up

[tareatingrat 4]

Appreciate all of the replies but unfortunately I think 90% of you are missing what my problem is.

I have no problem at all lifting my shots. In fact, I have a problem keeping my shots down sometimes. It's things like a backhand or small things like chipping off the glass that I'm having trouble with.

Not to say I've got a great wrist shot either but I find it odd that I cant do the most simple thing like chipping it off the glass. I agree, it's more than likely technique that I need to work on rather than the curve. Was moreso curious if any of those (or all) of those curves are harder to lift a backhand than most.

Ahh, I know what you mean. I can roof a wrister, but can have a hell of a time flipping a puck up under pressure with my PM9.

I would think it's the same idea, though. Just practice with a particular curve. I had about 100 pucks one day before a practice and just sat at the center line and tried to flip pucks to the corners. I personally found the shoveling motion, flicking my wrists and following through high to help the most.

The Sakic curve is a little easier as you can usually just dig under it with the toe.

[TBLfan 25]

I find it easier to chip/flip a puck up using the mid-toe of the blade, even with heel curves.

[skyscrape 5]

I find it easier to chip/flip a puck up using the mid-toe of the blade, even with heel curves.

+1

[mgoblue 0]

I have no problem at all lifting my shots. In fact, I have a problem keeping my shots down sometimes. It's things like a backhand or small things like chipping off the glass that I'm having trouble with.

The mentality hastening the death of the backhand as a shot.

[Scotty 8]

If it's chipping the puck up in tight or up off the glass that you're having problems with, it may be your technique still. Using curves without a ton of loft to do those things require a good flick of the wrists, even without a huge scooping motion. A solid snap of the wrists should take any puck laying flat and put it high regardless of how close you are.

[Chadd 916]

The high forehand lob out of the zone was the last shot I added to my skill set. It just takes a lot of practice to find the right motion and get comfortable with it.

For the record, never clear the zone on your backhand. But that should be common sense.

I absolutely disagree. There are times when it is the right play and times when it is the wrong play, you just have to be smart enough to know the difference. When I play forward, I love it when I recognize that one of the opposing defensemen doesn't have the ability to clear the puck on his backhand, it makes the forecheck a lot easier.

[zebra_steve 11]

You can do everything with a flat blade that you can do with the curves... sometimes easier, sometimes harder to do, but you can do it. It's all about the technique.... shooting, passing, clearing the puck... the motion and technique is essentially the same... you want to lift it, you need to follow through and flick your wrists. If your shooting and passing technique is sloppy because you use the curve as a crutch then you'll have problems....... You said that you have trouble keeping your shots down? Hmmmm could be an effect of your curve, or just lack of focus and picking a target. Kinda like the guys that can't hit the holes on a shooter tutor, or the guys that seem to hit the goalie in the crest all the time. Get the technique down and then pick ONE pattern that complements you and stay with it.

[mug25 2]

Thanks guys, lots of great advice :)

Sadly, I dont have the space to setup a net outdoors since I live in a condo so I'll likely head to a roller hockey rink and get a shooting pad. Might be my best bet since I only get ice time on the weekends.

The mentality hastening the death of the backhand as a shot.

Ok, since it seems like you want to dog me — I'll elaborate. I have trouble keeping my wrist shots and my snap shots down. I have trouble with getting the backhand up and also close range dumps.

I by no means want to exclude the backhand from my shot selection, hence why I'm asking how to improve it.

[mgoblue 0]

I didn't mean it as a jab at you -- I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, I just thought it was sort of funny. People nowadays do seem to regard the backhand as some sort of non-shot aspect of puckhandling.

And that people are suggesting that there are blanket situations in which the backhand is off limits (e.g. clearing attempts) is sort of depressing. Sure there are times when your angle and whatnot dictate that you should use your forehand, but you should never dismiss the backhand altogether.

Count me among those who despise Sidney Crosby, but we can learn a lot from his use of the backhand. That part of his game -- and that part alone -- is a joy to watch.

[Jarick 5]

For me the lob shot is digging into the ice and quickly scooping or flicking the puck up. The curve makes a huge difference in the height, but the motion is the same. I remember when I went from a Lindros to Sakic I flipped three pucks up into the rafters in my first game. Although there is something seriously fun about everyone on the ice stopping what they're doing and watching the puck to see if it clears the rafters and then playing when it lands.

[Chadd 916]

Thanks guys, lots of great advice :)

Sadly, I dont have the space to setup a net outdoors since I live in a condo so I'll likely head to a roller hockey rink and get a shooting pad. Might be my best bet since I only get ice time on the weekends.

I would look into getting some heavier than normal inline pucks if you want to improve the way you make those plays on ice. The weight difference is probably a major reason for your difficulties.

[Bnatural 0]

My best advice is to practice! I realize you probably dont have the ability to be on the ice by yourself at all, but if you can get a net, play a game called 5 hole. usually gather a bunch of pucks and stand right at the hash marks or farther back right in front of the net. set up a shooter tutor (empty net works too) and start with the top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right, 5 hole. you can't proceed to the next spot until you score on the one before that. Play with a friend and you will probably have a good time.

[sn1per 0]

To second this, we've always been taught to train doing things both ways, especially skating. Forwards and reverse cross-overs, starts and stops, etc...should be done both ways in an attempt to become a more complete skater without building any weakness to one side. By no means am I suggesting backhand slappers (how crazy would that be to see?), but I'm suggesting to work on all different aspects of shooting to become a more complete player. I'm guilty of constantly using wristshots and tend not to go to the backhand nearly as much. If I was that much better at my backhand (shooting and passing), I'd be more dangerous as a player - keep the opposition guessing. End result is you'll become more dynamic of a player...

I didn't mean it as a jab at you -- I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, I just thought it was sort of funny. People nowadays do seem to regard the backhand as some sort of non-shot aspect of puckhandling.

And that people are suggesting that there are blanket situations in which the backhand is off limits (e.g. clearing attempts) is sort of depressing. Sure there are times when your angle and whatnot dictate that you should use your forehand, but you should never dismiss the backhand altogether.

Count me among those who despise Sidney Crosby, but we can learn a lot from his use of the backhand. That part of his game -- and that part alone -- is a joy to watch.