Hockey - do you shoot left or right?

[Flashpoint]

I found it interesting that the majority of Americans shoot right, but most Canadians shoot left. According to the article your dominant hand should be on the top of the stick.

According to sales figures from stick manufacturers, a majority of Canadian hockey players shoot left-handed, and a majority of American players shoot right-handed. No reason is known for this disparity, which cuts across all age groups and has persisted for decades.

Link to NY Times

I shoot right. As does every member of my hockey team (who are all American).

Also interesting:

A 2006 study found that 60 percent of all National Hockey League forwards were left-handed, as were 70 percent of all N.H.L. defensemen, but those statistics were not sorted by nationality.

Perhaps a mod could create a poll with 4 options?

American Right
American Left
Canadian Right
Canadian Left

[Icon]

I'm Right Handed, but Shoot Left.

(and golf, bat, etc)


My reasoning for how that happened is when my dad taught me, I was facing him... so he put his stick to his right, and I put my stick to that side too (my left)... and then I just never changed from then.

[Redliner]

Always thought this was weird. I'm right handed but shoot left 90% of the time. I can actually shoot either way - my stickhandling is a little faster when I play right, but my shot is way harder playing left.

[HotHotHeat]

I shoot left, and it doesn't make sense. Why I learned to play with my non dominant hand lower down, I'll never know.

[Azure]

I'm right-handed and shoot right-handed.

I think it has more to do with how you were taught. Kids can learn to shoot either way when they're young.

[Jayems]

I played as a goalie all the way to junior. I caught with my left hand, which meant I shot left handed. Now, being a right-handed guy, this was always difficult. It never felt right and I never really got the full hang of it and was definitely a weakness.

I play as a player now in a beer league and shoot right.

[Buff]

Most of the guys I play ice hockey with shoot right, as well as the guys I play ball hockey with. I remember reading something about 20 years ago that the majority of hockey players shoot left.

You shoot your stick whichever feels natural. I'm not sold on the idea of the dominant hand being at the top of the stick. I'm right handed but I shoot right. I could probably shoot left too, and with some practice, be almost as good left shooting as I am right shooting, but right feels more natural.

[Prototype]

I'm a right handed, left shooting Canadian.

I never understood how anyone with a dominant right side could shoot with their right hand lower. I find the stick to be an extension of my arm, thus easier to control.

I also golf, and bat left handed... I know some guys who play hockey lefty, but golf righty.

[troutman]

Right handed, shoot right.

Isn't your wrist shot better with dominant hand lower? Feels like my passing/stick-handling would be worse if I shot left. More control the other way.

[You Need a Thneed]

I'm right handed
I shoot left handed in hockey and golf.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Prototype

I also golf, and bat left handed... I know some guys who play hockey lefty, but golf righty.

I'm one of those people, but I am decent at golfing left. Shooting right in hockey I am no good at all.

[604flames]

Right-handed, shoot right. Left-handed shot in basketball though.

[worth]

Originally Posted by Icon

I'm Right Handed, but Shoot Left.

This.

I know some guys who play hockey lefty, but golf righty.

Actually, this is me. And Bat right as well. Doesn't really make sense.

[troutman]

Which hand do you use in the bunk?

[Galakanokis]

Right handed shoot left in hockey but right in golf, baseball.

I always figured it was your control hand. In hockey I control my stick with my dominate hand. Same for ball and golf. Your top hand is the control hand which is normally your dominate hand. Although when I putt I want to switch to lefty...

My brother and I are both left handed and play ball and golf right handed but he also plays hockey right handed. He wasn't taught that way it just came naturally to him. Weird how that can work out.

[totti_07]

right handed, shoot right in golf but left in hockey

[puckluck]

Right handed and shoot left

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Right handed, shoots left here.

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

I shoot left, and it doesn't make sense. Why I learned to play with my non dominant hand lower down, I'll never know.

I think of holding a hockey stick as analogous to holding a tennis racket for a backhand shot. My dominant hand is on the butt end of the racket/stick.

[BlackEleven]

Right handed, shoot right.

It seems weird to have the dominant hand at the top of the stick to me...

[frinkprof]

I'd give my left arm to be ambidextrous.