Slapshot (no not the movie) Tips

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

So?

That's how it works.

It's not my house .... its a rental

[chalms04]

Try a less stiff stick perhaps.

[RockOnRoberts]

For starters, watch this and pay attention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T20afD2RSVs

Then tell me if you have strong/average/weak upper body and the type of stick you use (wood or composite and maybe model if you can). Then I can give you the next steps.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by RockOnRoberts

For starters, watch this and pay attention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T20afD2RSVs

Then tell me if you have strong/average/weak upper body and the type of stick you use (wood or composite and maybe model if you can). Then I can give you the next steps.

I am beast in the upperbody lol I mean I am strongish... .... I use an Easton S-17 at this time .... I dunno the flex because it was given to me and it was cut and I cant see the flex ... I am only 5'8 ish and it comes to just below my chin on skate....

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by MattyC

true, and also, most rec leagues may not allow slap shots, especially if its a lower level league where they could go off in any direction

Originally Posted by DropIt

Is this like beer league?? Are youy allowed to take slapshots? In mine its nothing above the knees...

Anyways, its allabout weight transfer in the hips, and the follow through. A lot like golf, but don't angle the blade back or you'll pop fly it.

In Calgary, most beer leagues do allow full slapshots. It's only the +30/40(age) leagues that don't allow them, from what I've seen (All the popular leagues anyways). Man, what fun would rec hockey be if you couldn't take slapshots?

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

one I have no accuracy.... I would put dents and black marks all over the garage door or walls!

Those aren't marks........





























They're goals !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PIMking]

Okay nick then get a couple pieces of plywood and use those as target practice!

I'm not super strong on upper body but it also has to do with an nice smooth stride and follow through.

Don't look like Charles Barkley trying to drive a golf ball out there.

[COGENT]

I don't have much to add here Nick... most of the general points have been offered.

Your stick is probably too stiff (that's what she said) for you at the moment. If I remember correctly you got it from a semi pro guy right? I use an 87 flex stick which is average for guys like us (not pro) and most NHL guys use something like a 110 flex which is way stiffer. This would make a big difference for a guy trying to learn... it would also really effect your wrist shot.

Other than that, make sure the puck isn't too far ahead of you (noted before).

[Berger_4_]

Originally Posted by COGENT

I don't have much to add here Nick... most of the general points have been offered.

Your stick is probably too stiff (that's what she said) for you at the moment. If I remember correctly you got it from a semi pro guy right? I use an 87 flex stick which is average for guys like us (not pro) and most NHL guys use something like a 110 flex which is way stiffer. This would make a big difference for a guy trying to learn... it would also really effect your wrist shot.

Other than that, make sure the puck isn't too far ahead of you (noted before).

I dunno about an 80-87 flex...to me that's to whippy, especially if you've got a strong upper body, or are a heavier guy.

[troutman]

Perfect a good wrist shot first.

[Bill Bumface]

Screw the wrist shot. Slappers are fun. I'm a warm up slapshot all-star. I've used them in games probably twice this season so far... haha.

They are fun to learn though, and the biggest tips I got were to rotate your hips through the shot, follow through where you want the puck to go, and roll your wrists forward through the shot as well.

[PIMking]

If you got a good head hunter slapper it tends to clear out the front of the net pretty quick. Once people see you wind up they get a little light in the loafers for a nice pass.

[18flames]

Grip your stick lower, get lower in your stance, keep your head up, point to where you want puck to go(between goalies eyes)

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by PIMking

If you got a good head hunter slapper it tends to clear out the front of the net pretty quick. Once people see you wind up they get a little light in the loafers for a nice pass.

One of the defencemen on my team has a "ball hunter" slapshot. Two of our guys have been hit in the tender bits while trying to screen the goalie.

Trust me---that clears out the net just as fast.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

I dunno about an 80-87 flex...to me that's to whippy, especially if you've got a strong upper body, or are a heavier guy.

I think COGENT'S right--in part because it's not just strength, it's also technique. Using a whippier stick, at least at first, will help you learn to flex it as you shoot.

You can always go to a stiffer stick later if you find that it's noodling on you.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

I think COGENT'S right--in part because it's not just strength, it's also technique. Using a whippier stick, at least at first, will help you learn to flex it as you shoot.

You can always go to a stiffer stick later if you find that it's noodling on you.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Even at the minor-pro level I used to see guys who had decents shots using the wrong technique that took steam off their shot.

The most common error was hand positioning...IE having the top hand to far down the shaft to get the max amount of torque on the puck..and that is if they caught it clean as far too often the puck would be a good 6" ahead of where optimum contact takes place.

Bad habits are hard to break, especially when people have been doing them for years and it has worked to a degree for them.

As a beginner Nick, I would suggest finding a place where you can go shoot pucks for an hour and try different positions, and as weird as it may feel, keep moving your upper hand to different spost and see the difference it can make.

[RockOnRoberts]

Sorry it took me a while to reply:
As Transplant said, find the right positioning for your lower arm. If you can't find a spot to practice shooting, you can just place the stick on the ground (so that the blade makes a 45 degree angle with the ground) and move your lower hand around while lightly pushing the stick against the ground. In some places it should flex easier than others, whichever spot feels the most comfortable, remember it or mark it. Then remember to keep your hand there, bend your knees, and hit the ground a few inches before the puck so that the whiplash sends it flying. Also be sure to follow through, or the shot will not lift. Another note, you do not need to raise the stick to the sky on your swing, stop when your second HAND (not arm) is in line with the corresponding shoulder. Good luck and keep practicing.

[wooohooo]

I think most bases have been covered. I'm not sure if this has been said but finding the right stick is crucial too. Each stick has different flex points (not sure what it's called). That is, a sherwood would flex differently on the stick from an easton.

But finding the right stick is pretty darn hard unless you have a lot of money to blow. Flex also is a big factor...

So I guess just work on getting a solid wrist shot and then you can slowly work your way up to a slapshot. From there you will probably have a better estimate of your strengths and the type of stick that works for you

[bluejays]

I just learned the slap after about 8 years! It's really simple actually and the best way I can describe it in laymans terms is simply 2 things: the position of the stick when you contact the puck and your wrist angle. I'm a right hand shot, and my left wrist I bend down so that I'm doing the opposite of golfing the puck, where my top of my blade is ahead of the bottom of the blade (if you were looking at it from above). I put my right hand fairly high up too (probably a foot and a half below by upper hand, but that's different for everyone to everyone's comfort level). Think of it like this, if you were looking it in slow motion, when the stick hits the ice, both the toe and heal of the stick have to hit the ice just before the centre of the bottom of the blade hits it. It's all about getting that right. Basically golfing the puck would be the middle of the bottom of the blade contacting the ice first and the heal and toe would probably not contact the ice whatsoever and you don't want to do that. It's really that simple and I wish someone explained that to me. Also you want to keep the puck just behind your front foot a little closer to your body to get more torque. It's really easy when you get used to it, but really it's just the angle of your stick going into it.

[COGENT]

Another minor pointer, Have a nice wide stance. Try having your feet about double your shoulders width apart when you wind up, all the way through to your fallow through. This will give you stability to land on your face and ensures that all your power is being transferred through your stick.