The RinkFor the not so ready for prime-time players, coaches, referees, and the people that have to live with them. Discuss experiences in local leagues, coaching tips, equipment, and training.
Not great. heck, nothing I do right now is great. I've been watching the youtube videos on how to do a wrist shot and worked a little bit with my teammate last night. She gave me some pointers, mentioned that I need to use my body weight/hips more to really put the power into it, and cradle the puck a bit more. She said what I was doing looked more like a slap shot than a wrist shot.
She's also the one who mentioned that I should try a stick with a lower flex.
I'm pulling it back now - starting about maybe 6 inches behind me, releasing when it gets to my midpoint.
I haven't had a chance to practice dryland yet. I'm hoping over the summer...I'll be in Hawaii for a month, no ice, and figure that's a good time to practice. I hate to spend $25to check a stick that cost me $29.99 to buy, but somehow it doesn't feel so bad to spend $25 to check a stick that costs $100! I've been thinking about how to get it over there, checked baggage vs. US postal vs. just ordering a new stick and having it shipped there.
Shooting on dryland will help a lot because you'll be more balanced than on skates and that in turn will do wonders for your weight transfer when shooting. When I was a kid I must have shot 300 pucks every afternoon in my backyard and it helped a lot. Ice time was for practicing skating and puck handling.
I honestly don't think you need a $100 stick at your level but if you're loaded then why not? Even when I was playing at a higher level of hockey I got by just fine with my cheap $50 sticks I found on sale. Are there no hockey shops in Hawaii you can just pick up a cheap stick from? For your size you'd even be able to get away with using a Jr twig.
I doubt there are hockey shops on the island I'll be on - the only ice is on Oahu, we'll be on Kaua'i.
$50 is fine with me - I'm hoping I can find something on sale that is between $50-$75 or so.
I do plan to some shooting practice as soon as school is over. Between my FT job as a teacher, my PT job as a web designer, Coyote playoff games, 3 kids and getting on the ice a couple of times a week I've been a bit overwhelmed. That will all end in exactly three weeks. 21 days. In fact, less than that since I'll be done early on the last day (not that I'm counting or anything).
If you can even spring $80 for those Dolomites, that would be huge. The difference between cheap sticks and those clearance sticks for half off is pretty big.
Unfortunately it's raining so I'm trying to put a quick video together inside with my $20 camera and it looks like garbage. Might have to come up with another plan.
Good news, apparently the $2000 SLR takes video, so I'll charge the battery and try again. Although instead of a shooting range with real pucks and nets it will be foam pucks and my kid's knee hockey net.
If you can even spring $80 for those Dolomites, that would be huge. The difference between cheap sticks and those clearance sticks for half off is pretty big.
Any suggestion on which one might be the best choice? I saw several in the $70-90 range, a couple had very good reviews.
Sorry for the hijack, but i had a quick question about a stick im thinking of buying. I'm 200 lbs, strong and 6,2. I currently use either 85 or 95 flex sticks cut down about 2 inches, but was thinking of getting a tps stick i saw was made in a "whip flex" of 70. Would this be absurdly too whippy? I see some guys shoot and their sticks whips like all hell, the result being a fast shot, and while my shot is hard and decently fast, i think i could do better. Any thoughts?
Jarick, let me say a huge THANK YOU for that video.
The things people have been telling me to do have not clicked until now. Watching the video has shown me exactly what I need to do - the whole push/pull thing - that's probably why I'm getting more of a stronger pass than an actual shot! And watching you flex the stick makes it even more clear that my stick is way too strong for me. I have no flex whatsoever - none. I have tried and tried and can't get it to budge even the slightest amount.
I can't wait to try it! I don't really have anywhere to shoot here at home, but will definitely be trying it on the ice on Sunday. And maybe I can convince the man to figure out a way for me to practice shooting here at the house!
Last edited by Clownquestion: 05-04-2012 at 09:22 PM.
No prob, long past time to put my thoughts on video. I wanted to do more angles and show stuff on the ground but it gets the point across.
I honestly think with the amount of time and effort and money you've sunk in already, rewarding yourself with a ~$80 clearance stick is a good idea. Especially needing an intermediate.
I shoot left. And honestly, I have no idea what curve it is. I think it might be a Parise Drury, but I'm not sure. It doesn't have a very pronounced curve, and it's rounded on the end.
I'm thinking that I might like something slightly deeper, but I haven't gotten to the point where I have a huge preference.
Yeah it'd probably be too whippy. Those 70 flex sticks are REAL whippy from TPS. Always found that brand to be whippier than your average stick.
Do you mean those slow motion or still shots of NHL'ers? Slow-mo makes everything look whippier than in real speed.
No i mean just seeing some guys at the rink with seemingly effortless shots and their sticks flex like crazy. Maybe i have bad form or something, but i lean into my stick like a mofo, and i can get good shots off, but it seems like im trying too hard if that makes sense
Try a lower flex, even an intermediate 65-70 flex.
Cut down so it's at your collar bone when standing on your skates. Your arms will be in a more relaxed, natural position and elbows won't be as chicken winged. Keep in mind, when you cut a stick down it will get stiffer the more you cut.
Also, keep your hands away from your body so you have more room to stick handle.
I doubt there are hockey shops on the island I'll be on - the only ice is on Oahu, we'll be on Kaua'i.
$50 is fine with me - I'm hoping I can find something on sale that is between $50-$75 or so.
I do plan to some shooting practice as soon as school is over. Between my FT job as a teacher, my PT job as a web designer, Coyote playoff games, 3 kids and getting on the ice a couple of times a week I've been a bit overwhelmed. That will all end in exactly three weeks. 21 days. In fact, less than that since I'll be done early on the last day (not that I'm counting or anything).
inno pro lite II...if i knew how to add a link i would, but hockeymonkey is doing 20% off right now so you will get the stick shipped to you (standard ground) for $50....really cant beat the price for essentially a warrior dolo with a different paint job...they dont come with a warranty but i dont think you need to be to worried about that.
6 weeks is pretty quick to be able to lift the puck, so don't stress about it too much. If you post a video we can tell you what you need to do! Things to look at: are your knees bent? Are you swatting at it like a golf swing? Is the puck rolling down the blade? Got your wrists rolling? What's your arms doing? How is your weight transfer? How far does the puck start behind your body? Does the toe of your blade end up pointing at your target?
You don't need to be able to flex the stick to get the puck in the air, so while your flex is too high, that is not your issue as far as lift. There's a lot that you need to put together to make the shot work most effectively. I've been working on it for almost 2 years now and I'm still trying to get the mechanics just right.
I have a junior stick with an extension on it. I played with an intermediate for a while, but it was just too stiff. P92 is a fairly pronounced curve that makes it easier to get them in the air, so if you really want some help from your curve, then get one of those! But your Drury should work too once you get the mechanics down.
If you've got the $$ to try out different sticks, then go for it. I think I'm on my 6th one now. lol. But you can also spend the cash on a private lesson with a good coach who can tell you exactly what you're doing wrong and fix you before you have bad habits.
Can't sleep, so back up at it...forgot about those 55 flex Warriors, great tip AIR. Those will be perfect flex for you. Again, I'm 5'8 and built probably different than you and use a 70 flex Warrior as my main stick and even that is a hair stiff for me.
Dolomite for $90 - this is a 55 flex and will be PERFECT for you. Left handed, 5 lie (Warrior is off a bit), standard mid curve, slightly open. No disadvantages to this kind of curve, same as the P88 pretty much.
Dolomite for $70 - same stick with different graphics and $20 cheaper, this is a 5.5 lie Sakic curve, a bit more open, longer blade, more rockered heel. This will help you get the puck up and more velocity on the shot but will be harder to control. You can either work to add power from a regular curve or work to add control on the open curve. Again 55 flex.
I pimp those Warriors because HM always blows out the intermediates for cheap. Those were $150-170 sticks when new. No sense in buying a fiberglass stick when you can get a brand new clearance model high end for the same price.
And don't worry about the reviews on them...at your level you won't be in any danger of breaking them or wearing them out for 1-2 seasons.
If it's decent out tomorrow during the day, I'll head down to the shooting range and get some more camera angles of the shooting technique. Hopefully views from overhead, in front, behind, and from the net.
