What are some ways to work on getting a quicker release on shots

[Zjack38 46]

Another thing that I'm noticing in practices is that everyone gets the puck off there stick a lot faster than me, and just as hard, so how can I get a faster release.

[fastmiele 59]

One thing I noticed lately is that most people "load up" better than me. That's the part where you lean back on your leg and transfer the energy forward. I didn't load up on my back leg and relied mostly on my forearm and wrist, which didn't get a whole lot of power.

[Souldriver 64]

One thing pros do best is using their whole body to get the most out of things. This is easily seen in a baseball batter. It's never just arms. It starts with the legs, powers through the mid section and is transferred through the arms and wrists. You'll see the real strong guys blast out homers with just a flick of the wrist bc everything is working to give them that power and the arms don't need to over compensate. Same goes for hockey with shot power and velocity.

As far as a quick release, line up pucks randomly, and shoot them as quick as you can. Don't worry about accuracy at first and more about the speed and release. You'll learn where it's fasted to shoot the puck off your blade for your curve and shooting style and you get in that quick twitch reflex. You'll also get used to the sticks flex as well and get used to using that to your advantage as well.

[Husker 0]

Try searching out some "Shooting in Stride" videos on youtube.

It seems like a tough thing to do, but start slow and slowly ramp up the speed and intensity. Muscle memory will kick in and it'll get easier.

[CommodoreColt 19]

I've recently started consciously moving away from full-windup wristers and learning how to pull the trigger quick. I'm still learning but I have gained some wisdom you might be able to use in your situation. These have been my "Ah ha!" revelations so far for what it may be worth:

I got over thinking my wrist shot was good enough and started learning how to load energy in the shaft to replace my wrister's windup. There are many videos on Youtube where this is illustrated better than I can impart here.

I practice shooting from directly in front of my feet, shoulders square to the net. See that J. Jagr training video #1 in this thread. Thinking hard about eliminating the wind-up while shooting a couple hundred pucks helped me unlearn the wrist shot instinct to draw the puck back around my forehand side.

Releasing from in front of your body or ahead of your skates can't be done without getting your top hand far away from your body. I put off learning how to properly shoot this way for the longest time. Initially it was very unproductive and made my shots fluttery and slow, but I worked it out and learned the new motion through gratuitous practice. Again, many video examples can be found on Youtube.

I've been working on this for a few weeks and am seeing steady improvement. I knew only big, long release wristers until recently. Here I'm mostly parroting a lot of information I got by searching "hockey quick release" on YouTube and talking to some ringers at my rink.

[sickwilly 37]

From my own experience, the thing that slows me down the most is thinking too much or trying to place it too perfectly. I score a lot more when I just get it on net without hesitation.

[Souldriver 64]

Commo: one question. For your side what length stick do you use. I found once I cut my stick shorter I found quicker shots easier especially the ones you speak of.

Have you also found that you may be positioning your hands in a slightly different position?

[ktang 34]

I think stronger shoulders are a must for this kind of shooting. Those Pancake shots and the weighted stickhandling help with that, but exercises that strengthen the shoulders will allow the shooter to load the stick more with the arms further away from the body.

[Zjack38 46]

I use the warrior intermediate not cut down at all

[Chadd 916]

tie a string around the shaft of your hockey stick and hang a weight off of the string. Hold the stick with both palms facing down and roll the weight up and down, forward and back. It will build forearm strength.

[Stewie 721]

tie a string around the shaft of your hockey stick and hang a weight off of the string. Hold the stick with both palms facing down and roll the weight up and down, forward and back. It will build forearm strength.

I used a broken muskoka to make one of these some years ago and its still going strong. I probably should use it more though, but when i was younger i used it all the time. I sawed a portion out so that the shaft was even, drilled a hole in the center, put some string and an old 10 lb weight i had sitting around.

[wrangler 157]

I've got the original of this product: http://sportgrips.com/productlineup.htm

designed by a friend. It can really work the forearms.

[Stewie 721]

I've got the original of this product: http://sportgrips.com/productlineup.htm

designed by a friend. It can really work the forearms.

their website is missing one sport on the main page. looks like its time for your friend to gather some photos of a local legend and his northland

[Zjack38 46]

That looks cool, but it cost a lot of $$$. Ill probably start trying the stick thing though.

Thanks for the help.

[ktang 34]

I've got the original of this product: http://sportgrips.com/productlineup.htm

designed by a friend. It can really work the forearms.

If you can afford one of those, it is better than the weight pulled up a string because you can do the twisting with your hands vertical, palms facing in and palms facing out. The shoulders get a good workout too.

A similar product:

http://www.thepowerarm.com/products/rod-gilberts-power-arm

[Chadd 916]

I'm surprised nobody has suggested a shake-weight. And no, we don't need those videos posted.

[Souldriver 64]

I think unlisted this in another thread but I once saw someone suggest pennies in a hollow shaft. Gives kind of a baseball donut effect.

I gave it a try in an old koho fiberglass shaft with an outdoor blade. It takes a lot of pennies to fill but not a lot to give it a much heftier weight. I used it a couple of times and at the end of one of outdoor pickups we had a shootout contest. I used another persons stick and it felt so much lighter but like I said it's probably a batter donut type effect. I looked at the hosel joint after a couple of the pickups as well and there was a hair line crack there not sure if it was the added weight stressing it or the rigors of outdoors cement play but some epoxy fixed it right up.

[Cavs019 708]

It will work for making your stick feel lighter but its pretty difficult to replicate your natural shooting motion with something that heavy, which can lead to bad mechanics. Same thing applies to the "ankle weights on your skates" school of thought.

[forbs02 20]

I think unlisted this in another thread but I once saw someone suggest pennies in a hollow shaft. Gives kind of a baseball donut effect.

Also an excellent locker room prank.

[Souldriver 64]

I think your right, especially for the amont I (over)filled mine. I didn't stick with it for long but I felt sharing the experience may spur some ideas. I can see having the same curve on a lower end stick that has noticeably more weight than your main, and using it for the pregame warmups/backup duty as a better way of doing this. Of course this is just for that effect.

Really the trick is practice and muscle workouts. Chadd's suggestion is easy, cheap to make, and works great. Just take it easy the muscles being worked can easily be overworked and that isn't a fun feeling.

[CommodoreColt 19]

Commo: one question. For your side what length stick do you use. I found once I cut my stick shorter I found quicker shots easier especially the ones you speak of.

Have you also found that you may be positioning your hands in a slightly different position?

Interesting you mention length... I have inexplicably been wanting to shorten my sticks lately and only after reading your post realized why.

My comfortable length comes up to my upper lip when barefoot, but I'll probably be shortening them soon to try it out. Good to hear you're discovering some progress with a quick little modification to your stick.

[Souldriver 64]

yeah, i find the stick much easier to manage. just an inch makes such a difference too, its weird how the human body can amplify these nuances. I also find it easier to keep a shot down and put it where i want, with even a slightly longer stick the puck likes to go over the net.

[sjs0433 15]

Slightly shorter stick has worked for me too. I also find that it helps me stay in a proper hockey stance with the knees bent. When the stick is longer I find myself being a lazier player.

[flyguy1 1]

I watched this video and it has some good instruction. I've started practicing in my basement and I find when I choke up more on my stick I can get a quicker flick of the wrist. I'm thinking about cutting my stick about 2" so that it will be somewhere under my chin on skates. Just not sure I want to make that big of adjustment with a much shorter stick. I guess the other benefit would be skating with more knee bend.

https://m.youtube.com/?layout=mobile&client=mv-google&ytsession=Xxu2Gs9_kfd0B4_4PSqtGPGpfJDrywm3CPg9IGIj91KVjt3FarGGfVAaJ186a7iExvZaUDAylS9abu-IeP-AJCfvonyxekY1rGowCZmY73XLhA7UIQ0dYSq9c5UIoESNxzENSq9d1ONPThwOZG447hY2RpMY_l1KNHK7_O0CqGO2GgC6-MH7SUjdZ2t6yDys72RynhkYuggCcgPFYUSQg0Gyth4AhPI8khhiCeFz3WQLJITKNtbdik2H4DdRA4DRNUbEzhlMPd_K6iJtwyYLvw#/watch?feature=related&v=glopfhTeNMY

[Souldriver 64]

Try half inch intervals. 2 inches can be drastic.