You skate in front of the opponent’s net and are all alone with the puck. You can stop and think about the best form to shoot the puck or you can shoot the best you can, based on the circumstances. By the time you get the shot off, the opposing defensemen might rob you.
If an old school hockey coach were to read this article, he’d probably say the shot technique below just doesn’t have power and is wrong. If you are looking for a way to rebel and make a great, unexpected shot that keeps the opponent guessing, read on!
Modern composite hockey sticks, and sticks in general have a lot more flexibility than in the bygone era. Taking advantage of the flexibility of the stick can be a great way to make a powerful shot.
When you are “in-stride” load up your weight on your front foot, sliding your lower hand half way down the shaft of your stick. Shift your weight over the puck. Put some weight on the stick shaft and drag the blade along the ice. Put a little bend in the shaft, lifting your back leg as you go.
Make sure you don’t lose your balance! Make a strong sweep of the stick and fire the puck, following through with a good snap like you can learn about in this video. Depending on whether or not you score, you might get a high five from your old-school coach and praise for your technique, or you might get an ear full of advice. So make sure you go five-hole or top corner and score!
If you watch hockey pros like Jeremy Roenick, Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin take shots like this in slow motion, you will notice a flex in their stick like a bow, about to shoot an arrow. These guys have stick budgets that are higher than yours, however try and take advantage of the flex of the modern stick.
Done right, this shot technique can give you a fast way to shoot in stride, with good power, unpredictable power and great accuracy.
Leverage the combined resources of:
- Your arm strength and front leg power
- Shifting your weight over the puck
- The flexibility of your stick
- Following through with your shot and snap at the end
Do all of this well, and nobody will fault you for “shooting wrong”. Old school coaches are starting to get with the program. If yours isn’t tell them to watch Sidney Crosby, or Phil Kessel play and shoot just like you are. They will probably get off your back about it.
