advice getting used to whippier stick

[Sniper9 535]

recently got a 75 flex from an 87.. having issues with slapper.. seems like contact is bad and puck doesnt want to leve the ice.. ihit the ice hard and far behind the puck... should i lower my bottom hand more? i try to hit the ice a bit further up so there isnt a "lag" with the whipper stick...

[westcoastsniper 0]

recently got a 75 flex from an 87.. having issues with slapper.. seems like contact is bad and puck doesnt want to leve the ice.. ihit the ice hard and far behind the puck... should i lower my bottom hand more? i try to hit the ice a bit further up so there isnt a "lag" with the whipper stick...

It's just like happy gilmore, just gotta tap it in, just tap it in.

I use 75 flex sticks, used to use 100's, it's all about technique using a whippier stick, power... not so much. Let the stick do the work and make sure your weight shift/technique is correct and you'll be firing rippers in no time.

[kerr 1]

Yeah, dont bury the blade behind the puck. Just skim the blade along the surface.

[pby 0]

Did you change blade pattern or lie as well? I find flexible sticks less forgiving than a stiff stick if you're hitting it far behind the puck.

[Machinehead2k5 32]

Yeah, there's not need to bury the blade into the ice like on stiffer sticks to load the shaft. Just basically hit a fraction behind the puck and let the stick do the work.

[regularjoe 1]

I find a more fluid, smooth stroke works best. I think Chadd (or someone else on this board) mentioned something along those lines and my shot is really coming around as a result. Don't have to kill the stick/puck to get it going.

[Sniper9 535]

thanks guys.. i am used to really nailing the ice with my stick... because of previously using stiffer sticks... i was tracing my point of impact and it is crazy.. im hitting it at least 8 inches behind the puck and taking a good piece of ice.. it worked welll with my 87 and even 100 flexes ive used.. but i guess, like you al have been saying, i should let the stick do the work..

i am having a hard time knowing where the puck is and actually hitting it closer to the puck... i mentally tell myself, "ok hit the ice closer to the puck" but after years of shooting this way, it's almost hard wired.. i will try with the "fluid backswing- contact-follow through" technique and less of a chopping and follow through.

i did change the lie and pattern as well, to a hossa pro and 5 lie. but i have always been able to use a 5/6 lie with no issues... blade patterns never caused my any issues with slappers that much.. i know this is a flex issue because i really feel the shft flexing and to the point where it feels weird.. like i am bending a plastic hockey stick, lol. wristers are fine for the most part as i just need to get used to loading from the toe.

[Chadd 916]

thanks guys.. i am used to really nailing the ice with my stick... because of previously using stiffer sticks... i was tracing my point of impact and it is crazy.. im hitting it at least 8 inches behind the puck and taking a good piece of ice.. it worked welll with my 87 and even 100 flexes ive used.. but i guess, like you al have been saying, i should let the stick do the work..

i am having a hard time knowing where the puck is and actually hitting it closer to the puck... i mentally tell myself, "ok hit the ice closer to the puck" but after years of shooting this way, it's almost hard wired.. i will try with the "fluid backswing- contact-follow through" technique and less of a chopping and follow through.

i did change the lie and pattern as well, to a hossa pro and 5 lie. but i have always been able to use a 5/6 lie with no issues... blade patterns never caused my any issues with slappers that much.. i know this is a flex issue because i really feel the shft flexing and to the point where it feels weird.. like i am bending a plastic hockey stick, lol. wristers are fine for the most part as i just need to get used to loading from the toe.

Start with making the motion as smooth as possible at 10% power and when you have that working, slowly add more power/speed. Instead of putting your power down into the ice, you want to think of it as putting the power through the puck. The key is being able to feel the stick load and learning when to bring it forward to release the puck. For quicker release, you can "pre-load" the stick by lightly loading it into the ice and having it release as you get to the puck. All of it takes a lot of practice and involves learning how the stick feels when it loads and releases.

The thoughts you need to work with are "smooth" and "through", let the power come when you have the motion worked out.

[Jarick 5]

I'll second Chadd's advice about thinking "through the puck" rather than "down into the ice". Helped when I switched from 75 flex to intermediate, of course my slapper still sucks but at least it's got okay accuracy and velocity now.

[Sniper9 535]

thanks again guys.. as for the follow through and contact... obviously the follow through should have the blade closed, but should i still hit the puck with an open face or should i hit the puck slightly closed as well? i guess that has more to do with the blade pattern more than anything... i used to have theface open then close with my p88.. i now have the hossa clone which is an open tow... im thinking i might want to have the blade fairly closed through out the contact.. ? thoughts?

[Chadd 916]

Unless I'm trying to chip the puck up, I always start with the blade closed and the farther back in my stance the better. I want the puck on my blade as long as possible to create more velocity and spin. Make sure you continue to accelerate forward until the puck is off your stick, most people stop too early. The height of the follow through will also help determine the height of the shot. Obviously snap shots are a little different than that.

[Sniper9 535]

Unless I'm trying to chip the puck up, I always start with the blade closed and the farther back in my stance the better. I want the puck on my blade as long as possible to create more velocity and spin. Make sure you continue to accelerate forward until the puck is off your stick, most people stop too early. The height of the follow through will also help determine the height of the shot. Obviously snap shots are a little different than that.

ya, ive always been pretty conscious about the technicalities of the slapper, as for the most part, i didnt need to think too much about it.. i would just find a stick that i could shoot very well with and stick to that .. ie. p88 in one95 87 flex.. it was as if the stick was designed for my style of shooting.. wristers snapper etc i would be fine no matter what kinda of flex or blade, but i seem to have trouble with the slapper.. thanks for the advice.. i will keep all that in mind and i know it will take some time to get used to breaking the habit of really digging deep into the ice. and i do notice that the guys that have very good slappers are the ones that dont look like they are leaning in like crazy.. its almost as if their motion is nice and smooth without any breaks in between.. kinda like a good golf swing.

[Scotty 8]

I just find it harder to elevate the puck when using a whippier stick, but it just takes some getting used to the motion and adapting it into the proper follow through.

[Sniper9 535]

I just find it harder to elevate the puck when using a whippier stick, but it just takes some getting used to the motion and adapting it into the proper follow through.

that is my problem.. the velocity seems about the same.. it is just i cant get it up and when i do its not great contact...

[Chadd 916]

ya, ive always been pretty conscious about the technicalities of the slapper, as for the most part, i didnt need to think too much about it.. i would just find a stick that i could shoot very well with and stick to that .. ie. p88 in one95 87 flex.. it was as if the stick was designed for my style of shooting.. wristers snapper etc i would be fine no matter what kinda of flex or blade, but i seem to have trouble with the slapper.. thanks for the advice.. i will keep all that in mind and i know it will take some time to get used to breaking the habit of really digging deep into the ice. and i do notice that the guys that have very good slappers are the ones that dont look like they are leaning in like crazy.. its almost as if their motion is nice and smooth without any breaks in between.. kinda like a good golf swing.

I find a whippy stick is easier to get used to on slappers than wristers for me. I feel my hands get well ahead of the puck as the stick is loading and then the blade releases and whips through. With wristers and snappers it just doesn't feel right if I go below 80 flex.

I just find it harder to elevate the puck when using a whippier stick, but it just takes some getting used to the motion and adapting it into the proper follow through.

For me a lower flex or more open blade make it easier to elevate. If I want to keep it lower, I go to less loft or a stiffer shaft. Starting the shot a little farther back in your stance allows the puck to sit on the blade longer and accelerate more smoothly. It should give you more control as well.

[Sniper9 535]

I find a whippy stick is easier to get used to on slappers than wristers for me. I feel my hands get well ahead of the puck as the stick is loading and then the blade releases and whips through. With wristers and snappers it just doesn't feel right if I go below 80 flex.

For me a lower flex or more open blade make it easier to elevate. If I want to keep it lower, I go to less loft or a stiffer shaft. Starting the shot a little farther back in your stance allows the puck to sit on the blade longer and accelerate more smoothly. It should give you more control as well.

it is weird how it has always been easier for me to elevate pucks with a stiffer stick... can't explain it.. just happens.. with whippier sticks i think i tend to lose too much energy leaning into the stick and into the ice.. anyways, i got a good warmup in before my game and i was able to get a few really good slappers in.. i just did what you guys said and made their my slapshot motion was smooth all the way through, esp on the follow through and that seems to work very well! Thanks again fellow MSHers!

[gxc999 7]

I find a whippy stick is easier to get used to on slappers than wristers for me. I feel my hands get well ahead of the puck as the stick is loading and then the blade releases and whips through. With wristers and snappers it just doesn't feel right if I go below 80 flex.

For me a lower flex or more open blade make it easier to elevate. If I want to keep it lower, I go to less loft or a stiffer shaft. Starting the shot a little farther back in your stance allows the puck to sit on the blade longer and accelerate more smoothly. It should give you more control as well.

I strongly agree on both counts. Part of why I prefer a 102 is that it's a little easier to keep my wristers down but that hurts my slapper a little, because the loading isn't quite as good. I much prefer it for snappers though because I can let the puck get further ahead of it and keep it how I like it on the follow through.