Stick-Handling/Puck Catching Drills?

[kovalchuk71 212]

Anyone have any good drills/websites for stickhandling? I think I have good hands, but I want to make them better. How about drills/techniques/websites for pass catching? I don't have always have someone to pass with, so I need something I can do on my own. Any help would be great. Thanks!

[Stoop 1]

Seems like there's 1000 solo drills and products for the former, but I've never seen anything for the latter, except for the rubber band triangle that returns the puck to you. I'm also curious to know if there's anything else. I've found that consistently receiving passes is difficult.

[flaming_june 2]

USA hockey website had stickhandling instructional videos for viewing.

[freestyla 0]

I definitely could use some help with puck catching/receiving but it doesn't seem something easy to practice alone.

[s_franchise 5]

best thing i do to work on stick handling is to just DO IT, same with passing. i go to stick and puck and pass for like a half hour with my buddies, then i stick handle around all over the place, in between pucks in a line. all that jazz. thats the best results ive seen for myself. i dont need fancy equipment, just myself and a puck.

[gxc999 7]

Receiving passes with a composite blade requires you to grip with substantially more pressure in your bottom hand depending on how hot the pass is. You better use a very firm grip on your stick if someone fires a laser at you. However with a wooden blade, you need to use the soft hands technique but be sure to never confuse the two methods.

[Chadd 916]

Receiving passes with a composite blade requires you to grip with substantially more pressure in your bottom hand depending on how hot the pass is. You better use a very firm grip on your stick if someone fires a laser at you. However with a wooden blade, you need to use the soft hands technique but be sure to never confuse the two methods.

Easiest method is to angle the face forward so it is facing down and put a little weight on it. It will trap the puck pretty well.

[gxc999 7]

Easiest method is to angle the face forward so it is facing down and put a little weight on it. It will trap the puck pretty well.

I forgot to mention that That's something I think you told me about a few years ago and it always works...

[biff44 0]

get a golf ball and a concrete wall. Stand ~5 feet away and bounce the ball to yourself.

you can also stickhandle a golf or field hockey ball on a carpet, in and out the legs of a chair.

[freestyla 0]

Easiest method is to angle the face forward so it is facing down and put a little weight on it. It will trap the puck pretty well.

So would you say for receiving the pass you completely stop the puck or "cushion" it a bit?

[wrangler 157]

So would you say for receiving the pass you completely stop the puck or "cushion" it a bit?

You don't have to give, much, you can stop the puck pretty quickly. You shouldn't have to even think about this when you're doing it.

Just angle the face of the stick down towards the puck, maintain a bit of weight on it, and the puck will wedge in there from its momentum. Try it, and it will be readily apparent.

[gxc999 7]

You don't have to give, much, you can stop the puck pretty quickly. You shouldn't have to even think about this when you're doing it.

Just angle the face of the stick down towards the puck, maintain a bit of weight on it, and the puck will wedge in there from its momentum. Try it, and it will be readily apparent.

Well said. Also, as you stiffen up your grip to receive the puck, move forward a little bit to meet it while angling down your blade. This part helps a lot.

[freestyla 0]

You don't have to give, much, you can stop the puck pretty quickly. You shouldn't have to even think about this when you're doing it.

Just angle the face of the stick down towards the puck, maintain a bit of weight on it, and the puck will wedge in there from its momentum. Try it, and it will be readily apparent.

That's my problem actually, I tend to over think things too much. Like if I'm receiving a pass on the rush and it's a bad pass (i.e. behind me) and I just react I can usually get it pretty well. If I'm completely open and it's a perfect pass I tend to have issues.

[wrangler 157]

That's my problem actually, I tend to over think things too much. Like if I'm receiving a pass on the rush and it's a bad pass (i.e. behind me) and I just react I can usually get it pretty well. If I'm completely open and it's a perfect pass I tend to have issues.

My point is really that if you angle the blade a bit, the catch should take care of itself, and you shouldn't have to think about the rest of it. Have someone toss you a few passes in warmup, and you'll have it. All you should have to do in the game is just remember to angle the blade down.

[SolarWind 23]

My point is really that if you angle the blade a bit, the catch should take care of itself, and you shouldn't have to think about the rest of it. Have someone toss you a few passes in warmup, and you'll have it. All you should have to do in the game is just remember to angle the blade down.

if by 'angle the blade down' you mean closing the blade then there's another school of thought apparently about opening the blade when the puck is coming & closing it to cushion the puch when it hits the blade - 'pro' style

some downward pressure is needed of course, but not a heck of a lot.

otherwise if the blade is closed (especially excessively) when receiving hard passes the puck sometimes might slide under the blade unless substantial pressure is applied.

[gxc999 7]

if by 'angle the blade down' you mean closing the blade then there's another school of thought apparently about opening the blade when the puck is coming & closing it to cushion the puch when it hits the blade - 'pro' style

some downward pressure is needed of course, but not a heck of a lot.

otherwise if the blade is closed (especially excessively) when receiving hard passes the puck sometimes might slide under the blade unless substantial pressure is applied.

Firm pass= needs a firm reception. It's really the best method I've seen as long as you bring the blade in toward the pass too.

[wrangler 157]

if by 'angle the blade down' you mean closing the blade then there's another school of thought apparently about opening the blade when the puck is coming & closing it to cushion the puch when it hits the blade - 'pro' style

some downward pressure is needed of course, but not a heck of a lot.

otherwise if the blade is closed (especially excessively) when receiving hard passes the puck sometimes might slide under the blade unless substantial pressure is applied.

Yeah, angling the face of the blade down toward the puck, leaving room for the puck to slide in, pushing the blade back a little, and wedging itself in there nicely. The basic idea is using friction to overcome the tendency of the puck to bounce off the stick.

[Larry54 243]

If you catch a pass between the heel and middle of the blade, it will be easier to control than catching it near the toe. Catching it too close to the toe will make the stick torque more in your hands. As a result the puck will more easily slip under the blade. Or if it doesn't slip under, it might just slingshot back out from your trying to resist that torquing. Ever notice how sometimes when you get a pass that's way too ahead of you and all you can do is reach out with only one hand on the butt of the stick, and the puck just hits the heel of your stick and stops dead? Physics, I guess.

[wrangler 157]

If you catch a pass between the heel and middle of the blade, it will be easier to control than catching it near the toe. Catching it too close to the toe will make the stick torque more in your hands. As a result the puck will more easily slip under the blade. Or if it doesn't slip under, it might just slingshot back out from your trying to resist that torquing. Ever notice how sometimes when you get a pass that's way too ahead of you and all you can do is reach out with only one hand on the butt of the stick, and the puck just hits the heel of your stick and stops dead? Physics, I guess.

More mass at the heel, less likely for puck to push through.