Help with my slapshot?

Question

I was wondering what the best thing was to do with my feet when I slapshot. Should I pick my back foot up in the motion or leave it down? Are there any other things I could know about slapshotting?

Answer 1

I do both.

It depends on;

1. What 'feels' right at the time.

2. How much space I have.

3. How fast I'm moving.

4. How much power vs. accuracy I want.

If you want to improve, find somone whose shot you admire and ask them if they could critique your shot...then follow their advice. That's what I did.

Answer 2

It varies upon each person. Whatever feels natural to you, I keep my feet grounded, but others lift them up. you may have a tad more power with foot up, but better stability grounded.

Answer 3

put a piece of plexi-glass on your basement floor and an old mattress against the wall and fire away! (worked for me 35 years ago)!

Answer 4

if I were you, I would develop a strong, accurate wrist / snap shot, it is more accurate and you break less sticks that way.

Answer 5

Both of your feet (toes) should be pointing towards the target (net). The power comes from transfer of weight as you rotate your torso around your planted legs. Lifting the leg closest to the puck will force you to transfer weight and generate more power. I recommend getting the timing down first with both feet on the ice and then working on lifting your leg.

Just make sure you have the blade tilted slightly down (not up) and you hit the ice (not the puck) 1-3 inches behind the puck. Feet and cheast should face the target. Don't practice with your feet towards the boards.

Answer 6

It might be easier to learn without skates on.  Get a shorter stick to compensate for the no skates and fire away.

When I first started playing inline hockey I had no slap shot at all, I had a great wrist shot, but no slap shot at all.  Back when I during my first year or two of playing inline hockey, I would get together with friends and play floor hockey.  One of these times I just stood about 10 feet from the net and just fired slap shot after slap shot.  Then I just "magically" got it.  It's all about balance, and I think once you get that balance down without skates, it will translate to your game on skates.

I really strongly suggest this.  It will be easier to get comfortable with a shooting style when you are not on skates.

But habs_fan is right... a deadly wrister is far more useful in rec league hockey.  I now have a great slap shot, but rarely ever get to use it in a game.