New to forum and to the ice - question re wrist shots and blades

[Desert 0]

Hey all. This is my first post here but I have posted for awhile over on IW's board. I posted this question over there, too, but figured I'd ask for your opinions too.

Basically, I am searching for the right curve for me and I *think* I've narrowed it down to heel/open curves. I've been playing for about a year, during which time I've used a woodie with a Zetterberg curve, a woodie with an Ovechkin curve (not the Crazy curve), and a two piece with an Iginla blade. I've used them all about equally and have been using the Iginla for about the last 6 weeks. I really don't like the short blade of the Iginla, and I am having a hard time elevating the pock to the upper third of the net. Honestly, I feel much less comfortable with the Iginla than the other two. I am able to pass, receive passes, and puck handle (albeit terribly, LOL) the same with any of the three. Its shooting that is the difference.

Last night I took about 50-75 shots with a tennis ball, switching back and forth between the Ovechkin and the Iginla. Without question I was a ton more accurate and it felt effortless to take shots with the Ovechkin. I rarely missed my spot (high or low, left or right) and if I did it was just by a few inches. With the Iginla, OTOH, I missed by a foot or more many times and I wasn't always missing in one direction, I was missing left and right. Frustrating! Not to mention that everything with the Iginla felt forced, but with the Ovechkin, the ball just went where I wanted it to.

Now, I know shooting a tennis ball is loads different than a puck. And its obviously easier to elevate a light ball. So, I am not asking if I will be able to pick my spots with ease in the ice like I can off. My question relates to the relative accuracey and feel between the Ovechkin and Iginla curves. If I am much more accurate and it feels more natural to use the Ovechkin off the ice, wouldn't that mean that the Ovechkin would be more accurate and feel better on the ice?

If so, I will be looking at Ovi-type curves, like maybe a Getzlaf or Kovalev, for my two-piece.

Thanks for all your input!

[ponder 0]

Unfortunately shooting a tennis ball off the ice is nothing at all like shooting a puck on the ice. If you have a 2-piece, my suggestion would be to buy a bunch of cheap wood blades in different curves, and play around with them all on the ice until you find one that you like the best. With that being said, I can't tell from your post if you've been playing ice hockey for a year, or if you've been playing ball hockey for a year and are just about to start out on ice? If you're just starting on ice and have little skating experience, you're a long way from having to worry about shooting, you'll spend a long time just learning to get comfortable enough on your skates before a specific curve makes any kind of difference to your shot (it's totally worth it though, hockey is insanely fun once you get the hang of it!). If you've been playing on ice for a year and are already comfortable enough on skates to get a decent shot off, then go ahead and take the "multiple wood blades" advice.

[Desert 0]

Yes...I've been on the ice about a year. In the hockey world, I'm a mediocre skater, although one-year ago I "thought" I could skate. LOL. I'm still mastering my edges, sharp turns, and backwards crossovers. I have a decent wrist shot now. I'm generally fairly accurate and can elevate the puck about 2/3 up in the net. I haven't had much success in picking the top corners.

About 2 months ago, I bought a shaft from my LHS (Warrior Swizzle on major clearance). My only choices for wood blades were Easton's Iginla, Zetterberg, and Getzlaf. I have a Zetterberg woodie and was already prefering my Ovechkin woodie. Based on the advice I received from the sales rep, I bought the Iginla which I really do not like. I'm wishing I would have gone with the Getzlaf.

Thanks for the advice!

[Stoop 1]

Ponder's certainly the one to ask on the Iginla/Kane curves, but here's my learning experience. It does seem to me that curves marked as Iginla or equivalents vary in terms of openness. None of them are blantently open like a Getzlaf (my first stick, oops), but they seem to vary from closed to neutral to slightly open. You see that variance in the descriptions here on MSH, on the online store websites, and (to my eye) from seeing them in person. For example, Harrow uses the Iginla description for both pattern 5 and 8, but I went with 8 because it seemed slightly open as opposed to closed. And longer (maybe more of a Lindros).

I did find that with the Easton Iginla there was a definite limit on the angle that I could raise the puck. With my mechanics, there was no way I was ever going to miss the net high within 8 feet or so of the goal line. I worked at it for a while, but eventually switched to something slightly more open.

[Chadd 916]

The only way to know is to try them and see what you like. It's much easier to go high with a heel wedge, though it takes a little more practice to be able to shoot hard along the ice. One factor a lot of people never consider with issues like this is the flex. If you're a "form" shooter, going to a lower flex (with the same curve) will often make it easier to elevate the puck. If you're a "hands" shooter the lighter flex will slow the stick response too much.

[steelleafs 0]

You've got the right idea with heel/open blade. My personal favorite was the Louisville ' Tucker ', which you can't get anymore. I would strongly suggest Easton ' Getzlaf '

[Desert 0]

The only way to know is to try them and see what you like. It's much easier to go high with a heel wedge, though it takes a little more practice to be able to shoot hard along the ice. One factor a lot of people never consider with issues like this is the flex. If you're a "form" shooter, going to a lower flex (with the same curve) will often make it easier to elevate the puck. If you're a "hands" shooter the lighter flex will slow the stick response too much.

Chadd - what do you mean "form" vs. "hands" shooter? Since starting this thread, I learned something else about my shot from the "coach" of our league (just a high level player who helps all us noobs out). He said that I am not leaning into the stick enough on my shot to generate the flex, thus all of my power is coming from my hands/wrists and not through the stick. Not sure if that means I'm a "hands" shooter????

[Chadd 916]

Chadd - what do you mean "form" vs. "hands" shooter? Since starting this thread, I learned something else about my shot from the "coach" of our league (just a high level player who helps all us noobs out). He said that I am not leaning into the stick enough on my shot to generate the flex, thus all of my power is coming from my hands/wrists and not through the stick. Not sure if that means I'm a "hands" shooter????

There are a lot of ways to shoot a puck, but most of them break down into one of two groups. Those that use the flex of the stick to launch the puck and those that generate all their speed and power by whipping their hands as fast as they can. I'm not a big believer in having to lean too much into your shot to get flex. It slows down the shooting motion and gives more clues to the goaltender as to your intentions. I tend to go more for a lighter flex to help generate more velocity with your existing shooting motion, assuming it's a good motion to begin with.

[interpathway 9]

what do you mean "form" vs. "hands" shooter?

In my book,

In terms of primarily generating shot speed...

Form shooters push their lower forearm through the shaft to generate speed, and hands shooters flip their wrists quickly and swiftly to generate speed.

Obviously both types incorporate some aspects of the other, but usually everyone's ratio of use different.

[Chadd 916]

In my book,

In terms of primarily generating shot speed...

Form shooters push their lower forearm through the shaft to generate speed, and hands shooters flip their wrists quickly and swiftly to generate speed.

Obviously both types incorporate some aspects of the other, but usually everyone's ratio of use different.

That's actually a great way to describe it.

[interpathway 9]

English major

I don't think I can name a single player in the NHL that I would classify as a hands dominant shooter, but could name hundreds of form shooters.

Maybe it is the difference (pardon the Caps homerism) between Nick Backstrom and Alex Semin/Ovechkin?

[Chadd 916]

English major

I don't think I can name a single player in the NHL that I would classify as a hands dominant shooter, but could name hundreds of form shooters.

Maybe it is the difference (pardon the Caps homerism) between Nick Backstrom and Alex Semin/Ovechkin?

In tight, everyone is a hands shooter. That's how you score those chip shots and roof jobs from just outside the paint. Outside the hash marks, most guys are form shooters.

[interpathway 9]

In tight, everyone is a hands shooter.

Great point.

[Jarick 5]

According to that description I'm a "form" shooter because I shoot by flexing the stick with the bottom hand push and top hand pull. I have been using a Sakic curve for months now from a Drury (same as your Ovechkin) because I can keep the puck a little lower as well as cup it more for stickhandling. I find that with my shooting style I need loft on the blade because I cup the puck a lot (in order to load up the stick by digging into the ice slightly), and then the open curve slingshots the blade towards the net. I find with a closed curve like the Zetterberg or Iginla almost all my shots will stay close to the ice and have low velocity, which isn't what I want when I'm playing wing.

It sounds like you were much better with the Ovechkin curve so I would go back to that if I were you, or you could try a Sakic type curve which is similar, just curves/opens toward the middle of the curve rather than the heel.

[raygunpk 0]

Would Semin be a hands shooter? The way he shoots seems like it is all wrist, compared to Joe Sakic who to me would be a form shooter.

[interpathway 9]

Would Semin be a hands shooter?

I just don't think you can classify anyone who puts that much torque through his stick as a hand-dominant shooter. The things are rated at 117 IIRC, I'd put him as a form... but certainly different from Sakic, who was a pure form shooter IMO (with a much smaller stick).

Semin's stick is very long.

[Desert 0]

According to that description I'm a "form" shooter because I shoot by flexing the stick with the bottom hand push and top hand pull. I have been using a Sakic curve for months now from a Drury (same as your Ovechkin) because I can keep the puck a little lower as well as cup it more for stickhandling. I find that with my shooting style I need loft on the blade because I cup the puck a lot (in order to load up the stick by digging into the ice slightly), and then the open curve slingshots the blade towards the net. I find with a closed curve like the Zetterberg or Iginla almost all my shots will stay close to the ice and have low velocity, which isn't what I want when I'm playing wing.

It sounds like you were much better with the Ovechkin curve so I would go back to that if I were you, or you could try a Sakic type curve which is similar, just curves/opens toward the middle of the curve rather than the heel.

I think the Ovechkin curve is definitely the curve for me. Over the last two weeks, I've used exclusively an Ovechkin woodie. My shot was infinitely better than it is with an Iginla. Way more accurate, more velocity, and just felt more natural. What really pleased me was that I didn't suffer at all puck handling and passing/receiving with the open blade. When I first started hitting the ice regularly a year ago, I had troubles keeping the Ovi curve closed when receiving passes, so they would deflect up a lot. I also felt more comfortable handling the puck with a closed blade (at that time Zetterberg). Over the year I have improved a ton to the point where I feel very comfortable on the ice. And now that I have reached a comfort level, the Ovi curve seems to suit me the best. So glad the search is over!

[sticky667 0]

just a quick example of a "form shooter"

Matt Moulson

[Jason 65]

I personally think that for a beginner a smaller mid or mid heel curve like a Zetterberg (Easton) or Ovechkin would be the way to go. They are versatile. The Lindros or P88 might be one to try as well as it is like an Iginla, but longer. I use the Zetterberg or PM9, so I'm partial to that one myself. Trying to get my hands on a Gionta Widow to finally try a toe curve though.

[sharks25 9]

I always recommend a p92 or p88 curve to most beginners, simply because they are good for forehand or backhand shooting, stickhandling is easy with them, and the loft can help them elevate the puck easier while trying to improve their technique.

[Chadd 916]

I always recommend a p92 or p88 curve to most beginners, simply because they are good for forehand or backhand shooting, stickhandling is easy with them, and the loft can help them elevate the puck easier while trying to improve their technique.

P92 is can be somewhat difficult for backhand shots, the loft makes it easy for passes to jump over the blade and the rocker makes it easy to lose passes under the toe or heel. It's one of the last curves that I would suggest for a new player. Iggy, Zetterberg and Heatley are the ones I usually go with.

[sharks25 9]

I would say Iggy, but playing with it I would say that it is too short feeling. I've never had a complaint about the p92 (The Draper is the exact curve I recommended) and having pucks jump over, but the first thing I try to teach is to keep the blade cupped while accepting passes. Do you really think that backhands suffer with it? I personally have better backhands with it than with my pm9, although I can't explain why.

[Chadd 916]

I would say Iggy, but playing with it I would say that it is too short feeling. I've never had a complaint about the p92 (The Draper is the exact curve I recommended) and having pucks jump over, but the first thing I try to teach is to keep the blade cupped while accepting passes. Do you really think that backhands suffer with it? I personally have better backhands with it than with my pm9, although I can't explain why.

Catching passes on the backhand and passing on the backhand are much more difficult on the Sakic/P92/Draper blades due to their curve and loft. Shooting on the backhand is usually harder as well. P92 makes it easier to elevate on the forehand, but makes it harder to shoot low for new players. It's amazing how many newer players use those curves but shoot poorly.

[Jarick 5]

That's very true. It's awesome for my shooting style but catching and giving passes was trouble until I had a few clinics with a good coach who gave me some tips. Mainly working on a smooth sweeping motion and making sure the blade is closed and square to the passer when catching a hard pass. But if you don't have the right form when shooting and flex the stick the loft can fool you into thinking you've got good technique. There's no shortcuts!

[Desert 0]

Guys, I can't thank you all enough for the input on blade characteristics. Living in Phoenix, there aren't a hell of a lot of people to talk to who know their stuff. Even my LHS seems a bit too basic in their advice, so I get most of my information on line. I have noticed a lot of people suggest an Iginla blade for beginners, which is why I went that route when I got my two-piece a few months ago. But, I got to tell you, I cannot stand it. Maybe it is a mental thing about the "short-ness" of the blade (it probably is, LOL) but I never felt like I could gain control over the puck. Sure, once I had possession, it was easy to handle due to the big mid curve. But I had a more difficult time receiving passes (I had to consciously think about what I was doing, rather than just naturally accepting the pass), and my shooting accuracy was off. I know all of that goes away with practice, but being a 35-year-old father/husband/long-hour working professional, I just don't have the time to work on my shot like I would if I picked this game up 15 years ago. So...the Ovechkin it is.

What would be considered an Ovechkin clone in other lines? Warrior Kovalev looks about the same. I know it's a square toe, but is the Getzlaf a bigger curve or more open (looks that way to me). I'm hesitant to try any of the Bauer blades because the lies always seem to be about 6, and I honestly prefer the Zetterberg's 5, but am getting comfortable with the Ovechkin's 5.5. I don't really want to go up to a 6. Any other options?