In today’s video, I’m going to show you how to command more power from your shots. Truth be told, its more than just being strong! This video will show you how to utulize your lower body, how to torque, how to transfer weight, and of course, how to use your arms for power. Let’s dive in.
The slapshot is the most powerful shot in hockey, but also one of the least accurate and usually the most difficult shot to learn. The slapshot has many differences when compared to the other shots in hockey, however some of the fundamentals remain the same. In this article I explain how to take a slapshot in a few easy steps. You can also watch the video for more advice.
How the slapshot works
The reason the slapshot is so powerful is because it requires a lot of explosive power and also stores a lot of energy in the hockey stick. In order to store that energy in the stick you first must be able to flex the stick. The stick flexes when the blade of the stick hits the ice, and pressure is applied to the shaft of the hockey stick (near the center). This causes the stick to bend, when the stick hits the puck the puck is then launched towards the net as the stick releases it’s potential energy and straightens again.
Setting up for the slapshot
In order to prepare for the slapshot the puck should be lined up with the front foot and a few feet away from the body, the exact location varies depending on the player and situation, but a general rule is to aim to strike the puck while it is in line with the front foot.
Hand Location
Your top hand will be in it’s normal location, while your bottom hand should move down to at least the halfway point of the shaft. You can have your hand a bit lower than half, however do not go too low. If your hand is to far down you will not be able to flex the stick properly and it will also compromise your body position.
Step 1 – the wind up
You want to keep your wind up fairly consistent. Remember to keep the blade of the shaft closed throughout the entire windup and downswing (shown in picture). You want to maintain a closed blade so you will be able to properly flex the stick when you strike the ice. When you begin the wind-up make sure the hands are away from your body, and bring both across your body and up, as if you are going to throw a heavy bag of potatoes. You do not want to bring the stick behind your head or back like some do with a golf club, the stick should basically go straight back and up, and then straight down.
During the wind up you should load up your back leg, the back leg should be bent, which will allow you to push off from the back leg and get more power in the shot.
Practice different heights for your wind up, try a low wind up, and a higher wind up. Sometimes in a game you will need a low wind up to get the shot off faster and other times you can take a bigger windup for a bit more power.
Step 2 – the down swing
This is the beginning of the power generation of the shot. This shot should start with a strong drive from your back leg, this will get your weight moving towards the target and add more power. You will simultaneously push with the back leg while driving the stick towards the target, and down towards the puck.
Step 3 – Contact
Try to contact the ice a few inches behind the puck, when this happens you should really drive your bottom hand into the stick to flex it as much as you can.
Step 4 – Lift off
Immediately after ice contact and driving with the bottom arm you will pull back with the top hand, while pushing with the bottom hand. The blade will contact the puck while this is happening and the puck will be propelled towards the net.
The puck should contact the blade in the middle, to far to the heel or toe will negatively affect the shot.
Step 5 – Follow through
Roll your wrists in the follow through for more power and accuracy. Follow through to where you want the puck to go, keep the follow through low and roll the wrists for a low shot, follow through high and keep the blade more open for a high shot.
The “Datsyukian Deke” is a deke that was made famous by Pavel Datsyuk when he scored an amazing goal on a breakaway and sent the goalie to one side of the net while putting the puck in the other side. Datsyuk performed this feat once again in a shootout and since then a number of other players have scored using this move. In the article below I will break the move down step by step so you can practice and perfect it. Remember that when performing a move there are two critical keys to success. Properly reading the goalie, and properly executing the move. If you do a move perfectly in the wrong situation (not reading the goalie) you probably will not score, likewise if you read the goalie properly but can not pull the move off, you will likely be stopped.
The right time to use this move
Most players use this move while they are approaching the goalie on a slight angle, but almost straight on. Ideally you will be hinting / moving towards a shot to your shooting side. If you have the goalie near the middle of the crease and moving a bit to your shooting side you have him where you want him.
The approach
Approach the goalie with the puck in front of you, this will cause him to square up with the puck and have him thinking that you will either deke left or right (you can not shoot with the puck directly in front of you)
The first fake
As you get closer to the goalie move the puck to your shooting side, this will tell the goalie that you are going to shoot, hopefully he will move more to the side of the net to square up with the puck, if he doesn’t, just shoot the puck, if the goalie does move he’s doing what you want!
The second and most important fake
Now you need to fake a shot to your shooting side, far post. You really need to sell this shot, and the goalie needs to react for this move to work. If the goalie does not bite on this move he will be able to react to the next move and possible stop you. The better you can sell this fake shot, the better chance that you will score
The drag
Now you need to catch the puck with the back of your blade, pull it back (away from danger) and towards your body. You will also point your leading foot to the other side of the net so that your body and the puck will move to the other side of the net. This is the trickiest part of the deke, so practice it a lot!
Shoot
Hopefully you will now have a fairly open net to shoot at. Always shoot for the top shelf! #1 it looks awesome and #2 you never know if the goalie is going to slide his pad or stick across, you’ll be more likely to score if you shoot high.
I have compiled a list of my favourite songs to listen to before hockey, some are good old rock, some are heavy metal and a little bit of rap. There are also a few old classics that are a bit lame, but still fun to sing to and get you all fired up.
The widget takes a few seconds to load, all songs can be purchased on Amazon, but for the AC/DC songs I recommend the originals
The wrist shot is the most used shot in the game, and also results in the most goals. The wrist shot is the first shot that a hockey player should learn because it is the most versatile shot and it teaches the fundamentals of shooting that many other types of shots use. In this article you will learn the fundamentals of the wrist shot. These tips will help you have a smoother shot, more power and more accuracy. This is great if you want to learn, or improve your shot.
Proper Hand Location
The first step to taking a good shot is making sure your hands are in the right spot. Your top hand should be in it’s standard location, on the top of the stick with the V between your thumb and index finger lined up with the top of the shaft. To line up your bottom hand – while holding the stick with your top hand – touch your elbow to your top hand and then grab the stick with your bottom hand. This is the highest that you want to hold the stick with your bottom hand. A little lower is fine.
Set-Up
Start with the puck in front of your body, knees slightly bent in the hockey stance, have your shoulder facing the target. This allows you to draw the puck across your body for more power.
Step 1 – draw the puck back
Drawing the puck back will add more power to your shot, ensure that you are still well balanced with your stance, you do not want your shot preparation to compromise your balance. As you pull the puck back you want to also load up your back leg (ensure that your back leg is bent). The puck should also be cupped with the blade of the stick to ensure the puck stays on the blade throughout the entire shot. Remember to get your hands away from your body
Step 2 – Pull the puck towards the net
With both hands pull the puck towards the net, and slightly in towards your body. This adds speed to the puck, and bringing the puck in towards your body a bit will allow you to lean on the stick a bit and flex it. Flexing the stick will add potential energy into the stick, which will be released later in the shot and give the shot more power. As you are pulling the puck towards the net your hands will move across your body and the blade of the stick should naturally open up, which will later allow the puck to come off the ice.
Step 3 – The snap
Once the puck is lined up with your front foot you are ready to “pull the trigger”. You want to really pull back with the top hand and push with the bottom hand. This motion adds a lot of extra power onto the shot, remember to also roll your wrists during this motion for better control and accuracy.
Step 4 – the follow through
The follow through should dictate where the puck goes. If you follow through low and roll your wrists over the puck will stay low, if you follow through high and do not roll the wrists over as much the puck will go higher (possibly over the net, so be careful)
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