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My slap shot is terrible. Like really bad. In fact, I'm too embarrassed to use it in front of people. I'm ashamed to admit that I have trouble raising the puck off the ice. It's funny, I know. When I do get the puck up, the speed is okay, it's just a matter of raising it. Can anybody prescribe some tips for me? Has anybody else had this problem, possibly when you were younger?
Heh, I still have this problem. My slapshots are probably just as bad or worse than your's and I'm too embarassed to even try using it in game. I tried looking at videos on Youtube showing how to take one but I could just never do it. I've just accepted it as one of my many big flaws. Let me know if you figure it out, how you did it.
Square up with the puck a little more towards your back foot, rotate your hips, then shoulders through the puck, then follow through with the toe of your stick pointing up towards the target. The higher your follow-through, the higher your shot will go. Rotating your shoulders through the puck is the hard part, since you have to maintain balance through the whole shot, and this throws most people off balance at first.
It is ALL in the followthrough with your wrists and arms. The power comes from your legs but aiming it or rising it comes from your followthrough.
I am not the most gifted at describing this in text so forgive me but what I am is better than most people at shooting slapshots. I could show you in person very quickly but that cannot happen here.
Basically if you can aim a wristshot you can aim a slapshot. If you are good at the snapshot it will help you with a slapshot also.
Your followthrough aims it for you obviously and you should be able to look down your shaft and see where the puck hits the net past your blade if you hold your stick still after your shot.
Like this ...
If you already shoot a slapshot with some zip on it and cannot rise it your followthrough is to blame or what I call "mechanics".
I guess what I mean is that even if you have a bad leg drive and cannot get any power on them you should still be able to rise a slapshot if you use a good followthrough.
people seem mystified by the slapshot it seems but honestly it isn't very much different than any other shot in hockey as far as rising the puck goes. You pretty much have to do the same thing for every shot even for a backhander to rise it.
If you can rise at least one type of shot you should be able to rise all of them. That is my own opinion maybe I am wrong but I am a great shooter and sitting here now I cannot think of anything significantly different.
Good luck with it in any case and remember it isn't that hard to shoot a slapshot when compared to the other shots.
Getting crazy zip and oomph on a slapshot is different as that comes from leg drive so not everyone will have a hard slapshot but they should some sort of decent slapshot at least one that can be aimed and risen.
Slapshots are about rhythm of the upper body being the same as the lower body. You have to unify the two halves to get a rotation in perfect motion, and then try to do it while skating fast And for lifting the puck, be careful because once you start, you have to be able to control it! As the previous poster said, the key is how high you raise your shoulders.
One more thing, the lower you get to the ice during this shot- the higher it will sail.
One more thing, the lower you get to the ice during this shot- the higher it will sail.
Thats why you almost always see Kovalchuk on the ice after a one timer, he basically falls on one knee to get his stick to whip in order for the shot to be a rocket.
Thats why you almost always see Kovalchuk on the ice after a one timer, he basically falls on one knee to get his stick to whip in order for the shot to be a rocket.
^
This, I do slapshots on one knee as thats the only way I get a good shot, though if i fan i go flying fowards
Thats why you almost always see Kovalchuk on the ice after a one timer, he basically falls on one knee to get his stick to whip in order for the shot to be a rocket.
This reminds me of a funny story. A teammate of mine has no slapshot at all and didn't know why. He oft complained of this so I figured I'd give him a demo. I brought him over to the boards and did the motion, describing the key points and crushed the puck. Only problem, I fell over while doing it
I also had this problem before but once i bought my new stick that was the correct flex for me, so 75 flex for a 5'7-5'8 i was able to raise my shots immediately.. Although make sure you are doing all the right mechanics behind a slapshot also. Are you using the right flex for height?
yeah flex is huge in the slap shot, you really want to bend that stick so it really fires off your blade. I've fallen during plenty of slappers, sometimes meaning to so I could really whip my stick, sometimes not meaning too. I have so say tho the lower I get the harder I shoot.
I don't really like the idea of being dependent on my stick's quality for a decent shot. I use a crusty old wooden stick with a cracked blade. Nevertheless, I appreciate all the help, and I'll certainly work on it tomorrow. If I can get some improvement, buying a better stick will be my reward. Thanks again, everyone.
I don't really like the idea of being dependent on my stick's quality for a decent shot. I use a crusty old wooden stick with a cracked blade. Nevertheless, I appreciate all the help, and I'll certainly work on it tomorrow. If I can get some improvement, buying a better stick will be my reward. Thanks again, everyone.
I don't really like the idea of being dependent on my stick's quality for a decent shot. I use a crusty old wooden stick with a cracked blade. Nevertheless, I appreciate all the help, and I'll certainly work on it tomorrow. If I can get some improvement, buying a better stick will be my reward. Thanks again, everyone.
I saw good hockey players not able to get a decent slapshot with certain sticks. Try something new. If possible, get advice from a pro shop, who will find a stick that will fit your weight and ability. Maybe you can ask one of your teammates during practice to try his stick.
An anlogy to your problem would be: I can't make sharp turns. Well, my blades are rusty and completely dull, but I will get them sharpened once I master a turn at full speed.
It won't work.
I don't really like the idea of being dependent on my stick's quality for a decent shot. I use a crusty old wooden stick with a cracked blade. Nevertheless, I appreciate all the help, and I'll certainly work on it tomorrow. If I can get some improvement, buying a better stick will be my reward. Thanks again, everyone.
You should be able to shoot a slapshot with any kind of stick cheap or expensive. They don't help your mechanics honestly.
I've posted this in here more often than i would like to (no seriously I can hear the groans already lmao) it is a video I made while injured so I am NOT shooting as hard as I can in it but the important thing which pertains to this comment you made about expensive sticks is important here ..... this was a $7 or $9 clearanced CCM plywood shafted with no lamination on the shaft from Walmart. I spray painted the ABS blade black and blue to emulate a compo blade, it was a plain wood blade with a Thornton curve.
This that exact stick.
While I am not shooting as hard as I can it is still kind of decent for an injury test video. The point is it is a very extremely cheap stick that weighs a ton and I am injured in it.
I researched this and worked on it a lot last summer and wrote everything down that I could in what helped me (of course I need to go back over this as I'm just a rec leaguer and never use one in games so mine has gotten worse without practice):
1. Position puck between your front and back legs
A good starting point when positioning the puck for a slapshot is in front of your body and between the front and back legs. Between the legs allows you to load the stick properly and keep the puck off but low to the ice, perfect scoring height.
2. Bottom hand below halfway point of shaft
Once the puck is positioned, move your bottom hand lower on the shaft. Wooden sticks and most composite shafts have a kickpoint right in the middle of the stick while newer one piece composites have a kickpoint closer to the blade. Experiment with bottom hand placement, but you should find it works best below the halfway point of the shaft.
3. Keep wrists cocked and locked
When your hands are in place, roll your wrists over to close the blade and lock them there. You don't want the energy of the weight transfer and stick loading going into your wrists and not the puck as you will risk injury. And an open blade will caram the puck off to the side. Keep the blade closed at impact and the wrists locked.
4. Keep bottom arm straight
Just as you don't want the energy of your shot going into your wrists, you don't want that energy going into your elbow. As you transfer your weight and load up the stick, it's the bottom arm that pushes your weight through, so keep that arm straight and you'll improve the power and accuracy of your shot.
5. Raise stick only to the waist
A big windup signals to the goalie that you're about to shoot and gives defenders plenty of time to get in front of your shot. The last thing you want is a hard shot bouncing off their shin pads and behind you for a breakaway. Keep the stick below your waist and you'll have plenty of power and a lot quicker release.
6. Skate into the shot
Forward momentum and weight transfer is a huge part of getting power behind your shots. Even if you're taking the shot from a standstill, push your weight back onto your back leg and then push forward into the shot. If you're shooting while on the move, put the puck a bit further in front of you and let your forward momentum drive the shot.
7. Rotate your hips and trunk
Another way to add power to your shot is to coil your body like a spring then let it uncoil into the shot. As you wind up the slapshot, your hips and shoulders should be in a line to the target. As you come down, make contact, and follow through, your hips and shoulders should open up to the target, adding a rotational force to the shot.
8. Come down at a shallow angle to the puck
A big improvement to most slapshots is to come down at a shallow angle. You want your force and power going through the puck, not into the ice. Focus on the stick moving forward and through the puck and you'll add extra power and accuracy.
9. Hit the ice 1-2" behind the puck
This goes hand in hand with a shallow downswing. If you hit the puck right when you are coming down, you're not loading the stick at all, and you're leaving a ton of power on the table. Conversely, too many players hit the ice several inches behind the puck to load up the stick. All that does is break your stick faster. If you've got the proper flex for your height and strength, take a shallow downswing, 1-2" of ice, and shoot through the puck.
10. Follow through to your target
While the slapshot has less contact time with the puck than the wrist or snap shots, it's still important to follow through to your target, be it high or low, left or right. Exaggerate your follow through, pointing your arms and blade to the target. That will improve your accuracy and make sure the energy goes into the motion and not into your joints, preventing injury.
The more you practice, the better it will get. I know this from experience. I'm 19, 6'1 and scrawny. I can't even bench 100 pounds. I can also touch 75 with my slapshot. It's ALL about technique and practice.
I researched this and worked on it a lot last summer and wrote everything down that I could in what helped me (of course I need to go back over this as I'm just a rec leaguer and never use one in games so mine has gotten worse without practice):
1. Position puck between your front and back legs
A good starting point when positioning the puck for a slapshot is in front of your body and between the front and back legs. Between the legs allows you to load the stick properly and keep the puck off but low to the ice, perfect scoring height.
2. Bottom hand below halfway point of shaft
Once the puck is positioned, move your bottom hand lower on the shaft. Wooden sticks and most composite shafts have a kickpoint right in the middle of the stick while newer one piece composites have a kickpoint closer to the blade. Experiment with bottom hand placement, but you should find it works best below the halfway point of the shaft.
3. Keep wrists cocked and locked
When your hands are in place, roll your wrists over to close the blade and lock them there. You don't want the energy of the weight transfer and stick loading going into your wrists and not the puck as you will risk injury. And an open blade will caram the puck off to the side. Keep the blade closed at impact and the wrists locked.
4. Keep bottom arm straight
Just as you don't want the energy of your shot going into your wrists, you don't want that energy going into your elbow. As you transfer your weight and load up the stick, it's the bottom arm that pushes your weight through, so keep that arm straight and you'll improve the power and accuracy of your shot.
5. Raise stick only to the waist
A big windup signals to the goalie that you're about to shoot and gives defenders plenty of time to get in front of your shot. The last thing you want is a hard shot bouncing off their shin pads and behind you for a breakaway. Keep the stick below your waist and you'll have plenty of power and a lot quicker release.
6. Skate into the shot
Forward momentum and weight transfer is a huge part of getting power behind your shots. Even if you're taking the shot from a standstill, push your weight back onto your back leg and then push forward into the shot. If you're shooting while on the move, put the puck a bit further in front of you and let your forward momentum drive the shot.
7. Rotate your hips and trunk
Another way to add power to your shot is to coil your body like a spring then let it uncoil into the shot. As you wind up the slapshot, your hips and shoulders should be in a line to the target. As you come down, make contact, and follow through, your hips and shoulders should open up to the target, adding a rotational force to the shot.
8. Come down at a shallow angle to the puck
A big improvement to most slapshots is to come down at a shallow angle. You want your force and power going through the puck, not into the ice. Focus on the stick moving forward and through the puck and you'll add extra power and accuracy.
9. Hit the ice 1-2" behind the puck
This goes hand in hand with a shallow downswing. If you hit the puck right when you are coming down, you're not loading the stick at all, and you're leaving a ton of power on the table. Conversely, too many players hit the ice several inches behind the puck to load up the stick. All that does is break your stick faster. If you've got the proper flex for your height and strength, take a shallow downswing, 1-2" of ice, and shoot through the puck.
10. Follow through to your target
While the slapshot has less contact time with the puck than the wrist or snap shots, it's still important to follow through to your target, be it high or low, left or right. Exaggerate your follow through, pointing your arms and blade to the target. That will improve your accuracy and make sure the energy goes into the motion and not into your joints, preventing injury.
Above is a pretty good description of what to do.
I had the same problem when I was younger. The biggest problem most people have is slapping the puck when it's too far in front of you. You want the puck closer to your back foot then your front foot. The exact position is based on your comfort level. Falling down to 1 knee is not good form or practice. The higher the follow through the higher the shot will go. Also make sure the heel is the first part of your stick to make contact with the puck.
Practice shooting at the boards. You will be able to get a lot more shots off in a short amount of time because the puck comes right back to you. Place the puck at different positions between your front and back foot and notice the power difference of your shot. Also change how much or little you choke up on the stick. You will notice the changes in your shot. Change where you make contact with the puck between toe and heel. you will see how much more power you get from shooting off the heel opposed to the toe. The puck should roll partially from heel to toe when shooting. Basically experiment to find your comfort and balance while shooting.
Dont be afraid to shoot in front of people....They may have some pointers for you.
I saw good hockey players not able to get a decent slapshot with certain sticks. Try something new. If possible, get advice from a pro shop, who will find a stick that will fit your weight and ability. Maybe you can ask one of your teammates during practice to try his stick.
An anlogy to your problem would be: I can't make sharp turns. Well, my blades are rusty and completely dull, but I will get them sharpened once I master a turn at full speed.
It won't work.
All sticks are not equal but any cheap stick in good shape will not stop a person from taking a slapshot that raises off the ice etc.
Your analogy is off. shooting with a cheap stick is the same as skating with a cheap pair of skates.
Not to say that this is the complete solution...but as some have said getting a new blade or stick will def help you just simply cause of the fact having a cracked blade esp wood just starts to fall apart. Its hard to do anything cleanly with a blade like that.
Practice a lot. Just go to open hockey or sticks & pucks and just spend a lot of time taking slap shots. That's how I learned. One day it just worked. You have to develop the muscle memory and then it just works. You may not develop the best slap shot that way, but it's the only way to start when you're learning on your own without a coach.
All sticks are not equal but any cheap stick in good shape will not stop a person from taking a slapshot that raises off the ice etc.
Your analogy is off. shooting with a cheap stick is the same as skating with a cheap pair of skates.
I never said to buy an expensive stick. I also didn't talk about cheap skates. The best skate in the world will not help, if the blades are dull. Same goes with a blade that's cracked.
There are sticks that make it difficult to pull off a good slapper for certain people.
My advice was: ask your team mates, if you can try their sticks, just to see if it makes any difference. Technique is the key, I agree, but the "wrong" stick can make it difficult. "Wrong" might translate into expensive.
I never said to buy an expensive stick. I also didn't talk about cheap skates. The best skate in the world will not help, if the blades are dull. Same goes with a blade that's cracked.
There are sticks that make it difficult to pull off a good slapper for certain people.
My advice was: ask your team mates, if you can try their sticks, just to see if it makes any difference. Technique is the key, I agree, but the "wrong" stick can make it difficult. "Wrong" might translate into expensive.
i didnt see his post saying the stick is cracked......I appologize.
You should be able to shoot a slapshot with any kind of stick cheap or expensive. They don't help your mechanics honestly.
I've posted this in here more often than i would like to (no seriously I can hear the groans already lmao) it is a video I made while injured so I am NOT shooting as hard as I can in it but the important thing which pertains to this comment you made about expensive sticks is important here ..... this was a $7 or $9 clearanced CCM plywood shafted with no lamination on the shaft from Walmart. I spray painted the ABS blade black and blue to emulate a compo blade, it was a plain wood blade with a Thornton curve.
This that exact stick.
While I am not shooting as hard as I can it is still kind of decent for an injury test video. The point is it is a very extremely cheap stick that weighs a ton and I am injured in it.
And for lifting the puck, be careful because once you start, you have to be able to control it! As the previous poster said, the key is how high you raise your shoulders. 
lol
