How To Shoot Hockey Puck? Top Tips From Pros

As a fan of hockey, you must have noticed the beauty and skill involved in shooting a puck for a goal. It seems simple enough: pick up the puck, swing your stick, and shoot it towards the net. However, mastering this technique requires practice, precision, and patience.

Luckily, we’ve got some top tips from professional hockey players to guide you on how to shoot hockey pucks like a pro! From wrist shots to slap shots, our experts will teach you various techniques to perfect your shot.

If you want to increase your accuracy and power when shooting a puck, keep reading. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, these tips will help refine your skills and take your game to the next level.

“Shooting is not just about strength; it’s also about accuracy, timing, skating speed, and deception.” – Pavel Barber

Ready to become a better hockey player? Let’s get started!

Master the Basics

If you want to learn how to shoot a hockey puck, it all starts with mastering the basics. These are the foundational skills that will enable you to shoot accurately and powerfully, every time.

Get a Good Grip

Your grip is crucial when shooting a hockey puck. Make sure your top hand (usually your dominant hand) is placed near the top of the stick, with your bottom hand about halfway down the shaft. You should be able to feel the knob at the end of the stick against your upper palm for optimal control.

In addition to your grip, make sure your gloves fit securely and provide adequate protection. Ill-fitting or poorly padded gloves can negatively impact your shot and put you at risk for injury.

Learn Proper Footwork

When shooting a hockey puck, proper footwork is essential. Start by positioning yourself so that the puck is in line with your front foot. This will allow you to transfer your weight onto your back leg as you prepare to shoot.

As you begin to wind up for your shot, keep your feet shoulder-width apart and point them towards your target. Your knees should be slightly bent, with your weight evenly distributed on both feet. Finally, make sure to follow through with your shot by extending your shooting-side leg and pointing it towards the direction of your shot.

Understand Shooting Form

Shooting form is critical to successfully shooting a hockey puck. There are different types of shots, but most involve winding up from behind the puck, transferring your weight onto your back leg, then propelling the puck forward with force using your arms, wrists, and fingers.

To start practicing your shot, try the wrist shot: place the blade of your stick against the ice behind the puck, pull the stick back towards your body, then follow through with a pushing motion using your top hand.

Another important element of shooting form is timing. The best shots are made by properly timing your shot and hitting the puck when it’s in the right position. This takes practice and skill, so don’t be discouraged if you’re struggling at first.

• Tips for Mastering the Basics:
• Practice the fundamentals regularly to build muscle memory
• Get proper coaching or instruction to ensure you’re practicing correctly
• Pay attention to your grip, footwork, and shooting technique during live games or practices
• Film yourself practicing or ask for feedback from teammates or coaches

Perfect Your Stance

Find Your Comfort Zone

The key to shooting a hockey puck with precision and power begins with your stance. Before you practice your shot, you need to find your comfort zone. You should feel balanced and stable in your stance so that all of your movements flow better when you move on to taking shots.

You can experiment with different positions by standing straight up and imagining how it feels to balance on each foot. Your feet must be shoulder-width apart while maintaining the balance between your front and backfoot’s pressure.

“Good position helps determine good direction,” said Mark Messier, a Hall of Fame NHL player.

Keep Your Feet Shoulder-Width Apart

Your feet’s positioning is crucial in any sport, especially hockey. When shooting the puck, keep your skates’ distance approximately one-foot apart from the other horizontally and vertically. Keeping the right width and positioned feet is a fundamental part of achieving an accurate shot since they define the trajectory at release time and maintain the balance before the shot.

Besides, keeping too wide nor narrow grip will hinder your bodyweight distribution. With opened wingspread, players’ gravity centers lose stability due to excessive angle deflection; similarly, compressing them may limit movement capability as redirected motion engagement alters weight concentration negatively affecting both speed, accuracy or overall control in playstyle.

“You just focus on the basics and stay grounded without getting ahead of yourself.” -Sidney Crosby

Bend Your Knees

If you watch professional hockey players preparing for their shot, you’ll notice that all of them have bent knees. Bending your knees gives you shock absorption during the shot while increasing explosive energy transfer since bending initiates momentum buildup. By going down, you’ll generate the power natively required for shooting whilst retaining the balance and avoiding restrictions in your movements

Kneebending also allows keeping a short center of gravity height. Your hip will be slightly lower since bending elicits shifts from leading foot on shared support to rearward foot. This increases shot consistency through better body positioning while increasing speed & accuracy.

“Bend at the waist if you want faster times; bend with your knees if comfort’s what you please!” -HCO Design

Focus on the Follow-Through

If you want to improve your hockey puck shooting skills, then one of the essential things to focus on is follow-through. It’s all about making sure that you complete your shot with a strong and smooth motion.

Extend Your Arm and Fingers

A perfect way to ensure a proper follow-through is to extend your arm towards the goal post. Make sure that your wrist snaps forward and fingers point towards the target. This motion will give speed to the stick and direction to the puck.

Hockey players often make the mistake of not following through effectively, which can result in weak shots and missed opportunities. So, whether you’re taking a slapshot or a wrist shot, always remember to extend your arm and fingers while focusing on the follow-through for better results.

Hold Your Pose

Another critical factor to work on while practicing your hockey puck shooting is to hold your pose after taking the shot. Holding your stance for a few extra seconds allows you to review your posture and alignment and find possibilities to rectify mistakes.

Your follow-through should bring you into an athletic position where you look centered, balanced, and ready to move once again. Maintaining this athleticism throughout the whole process is vital for shooting faster and scoring more goals, so practice holding your pose every time you shoot the puck.

One great way to enhance your form is to study professional hockey players’ positions and movements while they are executing their shots. Watching video footage and studying different techniques can help you improve your own technique and ultimately lead to success on the ice.

• Tip #1: Keep your eyes on the prize – always look at the spot where you want your puck to go instead of staring down at the puck itself.
• Tip #2: Remember to keep your head up, even while releasing your shot – this will let you see more of the field.

“Good things happen when you get your body in a shooting stance.” – Brendan Shanahan

Improving your hockey puck shooting skills requires a lot of practice and patience. But by focusing on the follow-through and holding your pose, you can take your shots to the next level and become a pro on the ice. Incorporate these tips into your training routine and never forget the importance of proper technique and form. Happy shooting!

Develop Wrist Strength

Hockey players need to have strong wrists in order to shoot the puck accurately and with proper power. There are a few exercises you can do in order to develop your wrist strength.

Do Wrist Curls

Wrist curls are one of the best exercises for developing wrist strength. To perform this exercise, hold a light dumbbell or weight plate in one hand while seated on a bench. Rest your forearm on the bench with your palm facing upwards. Slowly bring the weight up towards your forearm by bending at the wrist. Then lower it back down gently. Repeat this movement for three sets of 10-12 reps. Switch hands and repeat the process.

Use a Grip Strengthener

Grip strengtheners come in various strengths and designs. They help to strengthen your fingers, hands and forearms. In order to use a grip strengthener, squeeze the device as hard as you can for five seconds before releasing it. Repeat this process for three sets of 20 reps daily.

Practice Dribbling with One Hand

Practicing your dribbling technique with only one hand might seem odd initially, but it is an excellent way to improve your wrist strength. This exercise will force you to use your weaker hand more often which builds up those essential muscles for shooting the hockey puck. Try practicing dribbling for at least 15 minutes every day using only your non-dominant hand.

Do Push-Ups on Your Fingertips

Push-ups on your fingertips test not only your wrist strength but also your finger strength. You should start performing push-ups on a flat surface first before moving onto other positions such as incline or decline surfaces. If you find this drill to be too challenging initially, you can place a cushion or pillow under your chest for added support. Try completing three sets of as many reps as possible each time.

Practice Shooting From Different Angles

If you want to become a great scorer in hockey, it is essential to practice shooting from different angles. A good shot can surprise the goalkeeper and increase your chances of scoring a goal. Here are some tips on how to shoot hockey puck effectively:

Shoot from the Corner

Shooting from the corner is a valuable skill that every player should learn. It allows players to create an angle to the net so they can release the puck into the top corner or along the ice. To do this correctly, shift your weight onto your back leg as you skate towards the corner, then pivot and transfer your weight to your front foot to get more power into your shot. Practice this technique with both forehand and backhand shots.

“When you’re coming down the wing and you have space, don’t be afraid to take it wide and go right for the net.” – Sidney Crosby

Shoot from the Wing

Shooting from the wing requires speed and precision. As you carry the puck into the offensive zone, look for opportunities to shoot instead of passing. Be ready to fire quickly and aim for the far side of the net if possible to give yourself the best chance at scoring. Remember to keep your head up to scan the ice for potential rebound opportunities after taking your shot.

“I think quick-release shots can be really effective when you catch goaltenders cheating off a post or moving before the shooter has even released the puck.” – Patrick Kane

Shoot from the Top of the Key

Shooting from the top of the key is a common tactic during power plays or when there is no other opportunity to move closer to the net. Your job is to find a lane to the net and aim your shot at the lower corners of the goal. Timing is everything, so make sure to take advantage of any screens or passes that can create space for you to shoot.

“One key thing when you’re shooting from the top is having patience, waiting for things to fall into place – whether they are guys moving or a screen in front of the goaltender.” – Erik Karlsson

Shoot from the Free Throw Line

Players who excel at shooting from the free-throw line can often surprise their opponents by releasing the puck quickly and with force. It’s important to practice this technique regularly so you are comfortable doing it in game situations. Start with shorter distances, then gradually increase the distance as your confidence grows. One common tactic is to fake a shot low and then lift the puck up high to beat the goalie.

“It’s all about getting pucks high enough to go over pads and under gloves. That’s usually where most goals go when you’re shooting from the outside.” – Shea Weber

• Practice shooting from different angles to improve your scoring abilities.
• Shooting from the corner requires shifting your weight and creating an angle to the net.
• Shooting from the wing requires speed, precision, and quick decision-making skills.
• Shooting from the top of the key requires finding a lane and aiming for the lower corners of the net.
• Shooting from the free throw line requires faking out the goalie and releasing the puck quickly.

By practicing these techniques on a regular basis and staying confident in your abilities, you’ll be able to perform at your best during games and become a more valuable player to your team.

Shoot More Often

If you are looking to improve your puck shooting skills, one of the easiest and most effective ways is to simply shoot more often! By doing so, you will be able to hone your technique, gain confidence in your shots, and become a better overall hockey player.

In order to make this happen, it’s important to prioritize time for practicing your shots. Whether that means heading out to the rink early before games or setting aside specific time during practice, committing to a regular routine should help you see progress over time.

It’s also worth considering investing in some basic equipment such as a net or rebounder so that you can continue to practice on your own time. With consistent effort and dedication, you’ll soon find yourself making great strides in your ability to shoot the puck effectively!

Make Time for Shooting Practice

If you’re serious about improving your puck shooting skills, then carving out regular practice time is essential. Make sure you are setting aside at least an hour or two each week specifically devoted to honing your shot techniques.

This might involve working with a coach or another experienced teammate who can provide instruction and feedback on your form and technique. Alternatively, you may find it helpful to use video analysis tools to take a closer look at your shooting from different angles and perspectives.

The key thing here is to commit to your practices, and consistently show up with focus and intensity. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches to shooting either – trying new things and mixing up your practice routines can help keep you engaged and motivated in the long run.

Set Shooting Goals

To really push yourself towards improvement on the ice, it’s often helpful to set clear goals for what you want to accomplish with your puck shooting abilities. This might include hitting specific targets during practices, increasing your overall shooting accuracy percentage during games, or simply becoming more confident in your shot techniques and decision-making abilities.

Whatever goals you set, it’s important to make them tangible, measurable, and achievable. You may also find it helpful to break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable pieces (such as practicing a certain amount of shots per day over the course of several weeks).

“The only way to become a better shooter is to take more shots.” -Wayne Gretzky

Get a Shooting Partner

If you’re finding it difficult to stay motivated when practicing on your own, consider connecting with other players who are looking to improve their puck shooting skills. Having someone else to work with can help keep you accountable to your practice routines and provide an additional source of support and encouragement along the way.

You may also find that working with a partner helps push each player to new heights. Competitive drills such as 1-on-1 shooting competitions or team relay races involving shooting can be engaging, fun ways to get some extra reps in while also challenging yourself to beat others’ scores over time.

The key takeaway here is that improving your hockey shooting skills requires dedication, focus, and consistent effort over time. By setting clear goals for what you want to accomplish, making time for regular practice sessions both on your own and with others, and staying committed to improving through trial-and-error experimentation, you’ll soon find that your shooting abilities have reached new heights!

Frequently Asked Questions