You’ve probably heard of the slapshot. It’s the classic hockey shot where the player slaps the puck with the side of their hand, hurling it toward the net.
If you’re a little more technologically inclined, you may know that you can improve your slapshot by using a rubber band around the wrist to increase grip. While this may sound like a silly thing to do, it actually can make a huge difference when it comes to your shooting mechanics and power.
Nowadays there’s another type of shot that might be dominating the hockey world: The knuckle puck. What is a knuckle puck?
Well, it’s quite simple actually. It’s when you shoot the puck with the same motion as a slapshot, but instead of slapping it with the side of your hand, you catch it with your knuckles.
In theory, the knuckle puck is an excellent alternative to the slapshot. You get the same thrill of shooting a puck wildly toward the net, but without all the risk of injury. Plus, you have an extra hand to help you stickhandle the puck. The problem is that, in practice, it’s not that easy to master. Learning to shoot with your knuckles takes some doing.
Let’s take a little trip down memory lane. Back in the day when hockey players used to play with their gloves off, they would often use their knuckles to knock the puck away from their opponents. Then, if they wanted to shoot, they would have to remove their gloves, which was very inconvenient, especially in bad weather conditions. So, back in the day, the slapshot was considered a nuisance shot; a shot that didn’t need to be perfectly placed for the goalie to be able to stop it.
These days, thanks to defensemen and goalies wearing armor, the situations in which you would need to use a knuckle shot are extremely rare. Most goalies are equipped with pads that protect them from getting injured by shots to the head or torso. Also, most defensemen have knuckle guards on their gloves to protect their hands from getting injured by slapshots to the face.
In conclusion, unless you’re playing in a league where scoring is crazy high and injuries are common, it’s usually best to stick with the slapshot. Not only is it simpler, but it’s also less likely to hurt yourself. Learning to shoot with your knuckles is a great skill to have, just in case you do end up with your gloves on during a game. It may also come in handy when playing certain types of hockey where scoring is prevalent. In those instances, going for a knuckle puck might be the difference between winning and losing.