You might be familiar with the Puck Rebound game, where players try to get the puck into the net by throwing it at the opponent’s net.
Well, the idea of this game is to give it a try yourself, but with a twist. Instead of trying to score with the puck, you try to block the puck and send it back to the player who released it. Sounds easy enough, right?
Well, it is, but you need to practice a lot to get good at it. And if you want to feel like a real hockey player instead of just a pixel on the screen, this article will tell you exactly how to make a hockey puck rebounder.
Table of Contents
The Materials Needed
To start creating your puck rebounder, you will need the following basic items:
- a hockey puck
- a ball
- a surface or device (e.g. Plexiglas, a pool table, etc.)
- a wall or a table (for hanging it on)
- a floor (to keep things stable when practicing)
- a hockey net (to catch the rebounded pucks)
When it comes to items like these, you will find several different options at your local sporting goods store. Simply take your pick and you’re good to go!
The Setup
Now that you have all the necessary materials, it’s time to put them to use and set up the drill so you can start practicing.
First, set up two opposing nets (one for each hockey player) and put a hockey net between them. Then, tape the bottom of each net to the surface you’ve chosen (in this case, the floor) with tennis tape or other flexible materials. Make sure you do this so the nets don’t slip around when the puck is in motion.
To play the game, stand behind one of the nets and hold a ball in your hand. The object is to bounce the ball against the net and send the puck flying into the opposing player’s net.
How To Do It Right
With your materials all set up and your hands on your hips ready to go, it’s time to learn how to do it right. Begin by shooting the puck at the wall, trying to block it with your hands. As the ball comes close to your hands, start moving them in the same direction as the puck’s movement, creating a curve that will push the puck in the opposite direction.
After you practice this a few times, start incorporating your legs into the movement, bending your knees and hopping with the puck. This will improve your balance while sending the ball in a different direction. When you feel you’ve mastered that, start bouncing the ball towards a target on the wall. This is a great way to practice shooting and blocking, working on both your quickness and precision.
A Few Tips
If you want to make sure you do this right, here are a few tips to follow:
- Bend your knees as you move. This will improve your balance while also changing the trajectory of the shot
- Keep your elbow in close to your body when shooting
- Use your hands to block the puck as you shoot
- Keep your wrists loose while you’re shooting
- Shoot at a wall, not a player
- Work on your accuracy, not just your speed
- Don’t rush it. Take your time and do it right
When you feel you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to move on to the fun part: adding a motor. This will help you become more accurate and make the drill a bit more interesting. And just like that, you have an advanced puck rebounder!
Making your own hockey puck rebounder is an easy task, but it takes some practice to get good at it. Simply follow the steps above to set up the equipment and you’ll be on your way to becoming a master of this fun sport. And if you want to take your skills to the next level, why not give it a try with a motor? It’s tons of fun and it’ll help you become a better hockey player.