Comments on: How to Hit a Slap Shot

on 4/30/2007 I have to try it again, growing up I could never get the darn puck off the ice with a slapshot, I had a mean wrister though :)

on 2/12/2007 cud u please let me know the spcific directions for a slap shot? id relly appreciate it.. you can send them to emma@redefine.net
cheers

on 11/22/2005 Put your bottom hand in the exact middle of the shaft, err on the low side. Have the puck fairly close to your body and just inside the ball of the front foot.

Back swing to parallel. Higher is better for speed but sacrifices quickness and possibly accuracy. Work up to it if that's what you want.

Hit the ice first with the toe of your stick. This maximizes the flex in the stick. (compare flexing from knob to middle of blade vs. knob to toe. The blade will also now flex adding energy) The toe should strike the ice at least four inches behind the puck. Some pros hit up to one foot behind. You need to work up to this kind of control.

As you strike, use your weight to drive the blade under the puck. The desired result is a highly flexed shaft. The first point of contact with the puck should be the middle of the blade with an already flexed shaft. The puck will stay on your blade longer than if you strike it near the toe. The puck will stay on your stick longer allowing more energy to transfer into it and giving you more control. Feel it roll off your blade.

Finish the power transfer with a very quick flick of the wrists like a wrist shot. It sounds easy, but it is tough to master an effective snap - the whole process happens so fast. I usually do without it unless I'm sneaking into the slot for a hard one-timer. Getting a quick release, a low trajectory, and on net are much more important. Roll your wrists to keep it low.

on 11/22/2005 Place the puck in a position that is either in line with side of your skate, or slightly behind. The puck should not be too far out to the side. As a rule, approximately two blade lengths. Your shot will be lower and more powerful. That's how Al MacInise shoots the puck so hard and low.

on 11/22/2005 As a long-time rec league defenseman, I had tried for years to get a decent slap shot going. I'm a good skater with good balance and reasonably strong, and tried all the techniques listed here (and elsewhere), but nothing seemed to work.
Entirely by accident I discovered that the key was to get down lower by bending my knees a bit more. (Think sitting back, rather than bending over.) Suddenly it all came together. You get the flex on the shaft, better balance, better weight transfer, and almost effortless power behind the shot. (The only problem is, now I have to work on accuracy. Don't practise this on your goalie in pre-game warm-ups!)
Hope this helps.

on 11/22/2005 If you can not hit a long range shot,heres a tip for you. Hit the puck a few inches before the puck. Hit the puck hard. Keep your head DOWN and follow through hard. Hit the ice as hard as you can.

on 11/22/2005 When taking a slap shot, make sure that you move your bottom hand about one hand down the length of the shaft. The shot should be more accurate and hit harder with a bit of practice.

on 11/22/2005 The stick you use will always be a factor in any of your shots. Try an array of different types of materials and flexes and see which is best for you. I prefer a stiff wooden stick with a good spring for the slap shot.

on 11/22/2005 Your bottom hand should be at least halfway down the shaft of the stick.

on 11/22/2005 Always hit ice first about two inches away from the puck. This will give more power to the shot. To keep the shot low, you hit the puck with the heel - for high shoots about in the middle of the blade. Always look at you target when shooting.

on 11/22/2005 During the shot hit the ice before you hit the puck. This will give shaft some flex, resulting in a harder shot. When buying a stick check for how much flex the stick has.