It is that wonderful time of the year again. The Winter Olympics are about to start, and Canadians have a good chance of taking home the gold.
Shooting a hockey puck is always a tricky business, and the circumstances at the Olympics are even more so. While it is great to watch the skilled athletes perform amazing hockey shots, the fact that they are on a completely different surface and in front of 100,000 spectators makes it a whole different story.
If you are interested in taking up hockey shooting as a pastime, then this article will give you some tips on how to do it correctly.
Table of Contents
Find Your Striking Point
Like any other sport, the key to effective shooting is getting a good position and starting mechanics. Before you start trying to shoot the puck, find a spot where you can comfortably position yourself and get into some good striking attitude.
For some people, this may mean finding a quieter spot on the ice or away from the scrum. For others, it may mean getting into a fancy stance or raising their arm above their head.
Whatever it may be, get in the proper position before you start shooting.
You should see a clear line to the target area, and your hand should naturally fall into the shooting position when you settle into your stance. Do not worry about where you are aiming – just focus on the puck and the position of your hand and arm.
Know The Rules
When you are at the game, you will undoubtedly come across the officials checking for violations and handing out penalties. Many of these are goalie interference and off-side violations, so be sure to keep an eye out for those as well.
The other important rule to know is how the shot clock works. When the puck is in the air, the clock does not start ticking; it only starts once the puck has touched the ice. This means you have a little bit of leeway as far as your shot is concerned, but make sure you do not hold back on any of your attempts.
Practice
This is crucial to becoming a good shooter. Even if you are talented, there is no replacement for good practice. Without it, you will never become great – especially on something as tricky as hockey shooting.
Once you have found your position and are comfortable there, take some time to practice shooting. Before you start trying to hit the target, do some low-hanging fruit first and work your way up. This will help you get the timing down and develop the muscle memory to pull off amazing shots quickly when the puck is on the ice.
Before you know it, that practice session will turn into a tournament, and you will find yourself competing for gold in the Olympics. If that is your end goal, then you should certainly consider hockey shooting as a potential source of income.
Of course, if you are just looking for a fun and exciting way to enjoy your time off, then there is no need to limit yourself to shooting pucks. You could always try your hand at batting or hitting targets with a slingshot. Who knows? You may even develop an enthusiasm for a sport you had never tried before.