how do I improve my shooting form

[Wildcat85 0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAPXZFZG2Ck&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I filmed this today. I have never watched myself shoot before and I think I shoot weird. Watch the video and tell me what I can do to make myself look not so weird. Don't hate please :-) haha

[Scotty 8]

For starters, I'd recommend you stay away from that Ovechkin curve you seem to love if you can't hit the net from that close. Your wristers seem to be a whole lot of sweeping motion and not much wrist snapping.

[Wildcat85 0]

Ill try ro incorporate that more. I also want a real skillpad. My dry erase board isn't long enough to wind up

[Barts66 0]

Alright, so here's my two cents. I'm somewhere around your age, and lately I've been working with some college kids on things like that. From what I notcied (someone feel free to tell me if I'm wrong) your weight transfer could be a little bitter. Maybe try bending down a little bit and really focus on moving your weight from the back leg to the front leg.

To go with the accuracy, I really couldnt tell, but it almost seemed like you werent following through. Try rolling your wrists over and pointing the toe of your stick in the area where you want the puck to go. Many higher level coaches have talked to me about that, and it seems to have done wonders for my shot.

Anyone please feel free to correct me, as I am still learning too!

[Chadd 916]

First of all, wrong forum. I'll move it for you.

Second, get a normal curve and learn to shoot with that first. Then, decide if you want to use a more extreme curve like the ovechkin.

Third, roll your wrists over when you shoot. Leaving the face open, especially with a curve like that makes it virtually impossible to keep it low.

Fourth, go to a lighter flex, the stick doesn't appear to be loading at all.

Fifth, stop handling the puck so much before shots. It's a bad habit to get into and you will find yourself doing it in a game.

[HolyRollie 0]

Well Chadd has touched on every point I was going to comment on. Go grab a skillpad so you can really practice, it makes a world of difference.

[hampshirepuck 2]

Fourth, go to a lighter flex, the stick doesn't appear to be loading at all.

I think the pro-stock ovechkin / ovi authentic only comes in a 85 flex

my suggestion to you would be is maybe move your front hand down a few inches so you can load the stick more and take advantage of the flex.

[JR Boucicaut 3795]

Might want to start that puck on the heel and let it roll off the whole blade...looks like you're pushing it off the middle of the blade. Use your body weight to get that stick to bend some as well.

[Chadd 916]

I think the pro-stock ovechkin / ovi authentic only comes in a 85 flex

my suggestion to you would be is maybe move your front hand down a few inches so you can load the stick more and take advantage of the flex.

He should be changing curves, picking a curve because a pro uses it is absurd. Especially if you can't use it. Lowering the hand takes away some of your ability to stick handle. In any case, he's not loading the shaft on his shots and either needs to change his stick, or everything he does to try and make the stick work for him. Seems to me that changing the stick would be a lot easier.

[doodman 0]

On all but one shot, you're looking at the puck when you shoot...eventually you'll want to be looking at the net

[Buzz_LightBeer 969]

Seems to me that changing the stick would be a lot easier.

+1

Look at Ovechkins shooting form, and compare it to yours, not alike at all. Ditch the Ovi curve and opt for something reasonable.

On a lighter more constructive note, youre working way too hard to produce a shot with that result. You rely too much on your arms to "fling" the puck. work on utilizing the stick flex to improve velocity on wrist shots

[ibeck 38]

If you are set on the ovi clone, at least learn how to shoot off the toe.

[Wildcat85 0]

I could load the stick on a longer surface but I don't want to miss and scratch my stick. I'm on my way to lowes now to get a longer one. I have been using the ovechkin curve for a year and a half and won the accuracy part of my leagues skill competition with it. I watched some of my game film and its not the same at all. I'm going to make a new video with a larger surface. I'm not trying to sound like a know it all my shot could definitely use some work.

[JR Boucicaut 3795]

No offense...you weren't accurate. And with proper form, you don't need more space. Could even get away with less.

[mtc 0]

lean into ur shot

[psiv19 0]

One word of advice that I have always done is face your body towards the net. It seems to be more useful for game situations. And also work on a quick release with a little snap of the wrist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpUVJYJQ9dI

[Scotty 8]

I could load the stick on a longer surface but I don't want to miss and scratch my stick. I'm on my way to lowes now to get a longer one. I have been using the ovechkin curve for a year and a half and won the accuracy part of my leagues skill competition with it. I watched some of my game film and its not the same at all. I'm going to make a new video with a larger surface. I'm not trying to sound like a know it all my shot could definitely use some work.

I understand your love for the player and curve, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to use his pattern. Especially if it's giving you trouble with your shooting form and therefore accuracy. Considering the curve is so extreme and shooting with it is a whole new animal in itself, I think you'd be best starting with a "normal" curve and going from scratch as far as your technique is concerned.

Other than that, consider dropping down in flex a bit, add some more wrist action into the motion, release the puck a little sooner/earlier (it seems as if the puck is nearly out in front of you upon release, which doesn't help with accuracy), and turn that toe over on the follow through.

[frankie56 0]

Your bottom hand and arm are all over the place. Legs power the shot but hands aim it.

[Andoy 5]

nothing against the OP, but this is more of general statement but kids these days are too focused on picking top corners...I find it more impressive when i see videos of players shooting at different parts of the net like that video of ovechkin there.

[Law Goalie 147]

If you want to give yourself three imaginary targets that will drive goalies nuts:

1) 12"-16" up the left post (your left goalie's right);

2) 4-"5" up the centre bar;

3) 6" off-centre to your right (goalie's left) off the crossbar;

Those are, in order, the 'dead zone' above the blocker-side pad that all pure butterfly goalies have because of the internal rotation of the hip, the five-hole just above the stick, and just past the goalie's glove-side ear. You can switch up the sides every now and then and imagine you're facing a full-right goalie.

A quick, disguised release and an accurate shot are worth more velocity than any human can generate in terms of beating a goalie.

[Wildcat85 0]

No offense...you weren't accurate. And with proper form, you don't need more space. Could even get away with less.

I know. I have no idea how I won...but I did and my coaches couldn't believe it either haha

[MrWizard 0]

As others have said, you're shooting with more of a sweeping motion than by snapping your wrists, and that's making you feel like you need a longer skill pad, which you don't.

[Wildcat85 0]

tried a different curve and form

kept fanning with the letestu and its too stiff. i think this one is much better than the first two videos i posted. i didnt edit out the times i miss either, just paused to pick up my pucks

[trtaylor 3]

First, I give you props for posting video and wanting to get better. Takes some guts to post video and read through the replies. The good news is, everyone wants to help you.

Having said that, I would encourage you to change the way you practice. Banging the pucks at the net one right after another, like you are doing in the above videos, will not help you get better. As a matter of fact, it will work such that you don't get any better at all. You are reinforcing bad form.

Have you talked with your coach about how you should practice your shooting? There is a lot of good information here on MSH regarding how to improve your shot. Hopefully you have searched much of that. But, your coach should be able to help you come up with a plan to really improve your shooting. If he can't do it, maybe he can recommend a higher level player at your rink who could help? Now that summer is here, there should be some college players at the rink. I'm sure they would enjoy helping you improve.

[adam14 182]

that half sweep with the puck a foot ahead of you is a waste of effort. in your first new video, you seem to have a decent wrist shot, but your wind up is too big, focus on snapping the puck, not hitting it or rolling in with such an exaggerated wind up. The way I learnt snap shots, was start the puck at the toe, and in one swift motion pull it back onto the heel/back 2/3 of the blade and do almost like a swift miniature one timer without the puck actually leaving your control. its tough to explain in writing.

Ignore the advice given on page one about shooting off the toe, I still do it sometimes and its an awful habit to get into and gives you awful technique.

I still think your sticks are too stiff for you. you shouldnt need such a big sweep to shoot.