How the Best Players use their Hands in their Shots

[@jcnlaw]

Great video! Just my two cents from a guy who has been playing ice hockey for over 50 years (with a wicked accurate and hard wrist shot and a rocket slap shot). I can’t over emphasize shot accuracy and shot velocity is almost all form. A hard, accurate shot has very little to do with arm / upper body strength. Your stick doesn’t matter much either. Try different sticks, curves, and you will find one that works for you. Don’t worry about what pros use or getting the latest stick model. It doesn’t matter much. Get your form down on dry land if you have limited ice time. In-line roller blades can also give you the feel of shooting in stride, on the fly. Shoot 100+ pucks or tennis balls a day. Get your form down, using your hips. You must put the time in. If you are young and get the shooting mechanics down early, your puck shooting muscle memory will last a lifetime if you want to keep playing ice hockey. Now, do the work! You can’t become a great shooter just through watching videos. You must practice the right way!

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@jcnlaw Very important advice thank you!

[@jcnlaw]

@@hockeyhacks2.0 you are welcome. It looked like you were using an Easton S17 stick from many years ago (or maybe they reissued that model). That is a great example of a stick (S17 or S19) I personally never liked. The taper on the shaft felt weird to me. However, some great players loved that stick. The point is this: no two players are exactly alike. No two sticks are exactly alike. Everyone tapes their stick a little differently. When it comes to sticks, do what works for you! Keep up the great work.

[@isaboteur2562]

Absolutely your right 100+ a day at least....but I would recommend never balls, always pucks.

[@jcnlaw]

@@isaboteur2562 Thanks. for your reply to my comment. One inexpensive training tool for stickhandling that I have used and recommend is "smart" hockey ball. I don't even know if they are still made. The ball is 1" high (same as a puck) and weighs 6 ounces (same as a puck.) The training ball allows you to get the feel of a puck on dry land, while learning to keep your head up while you practice stickhandling.

[@BruceSchwartz007]

The way you talk about the lag is just like a golf swing! Makes sense!

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@BruceSchwartz007 1000%!

[@Kieva_Storm]

I cannot overstate just how much the comment about your hips worked for me. I take every opportunity to do practice shooting I can get, and I've done a couple rounds since watching, and focusing on my hips. Now my shot power has always been pretty good, but I started working on timing some torso rotation to the release, and now my shot is just scary powerful, and the placement has actually improved a bit too, since I'm not so busy trying to use my hands to flex my stick.

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@Kieva_Storm Great work!

[@franciscorosariojr.6653]

I have enjoyed this video so far. I was wondering if you would be able to expand on the tutorial by showing other views form different angles. For example, what it looks like from the front view and rear view. Great tip.

[@marcs1024]

Would love a video about the snap of the shot and how to get that. Like is it as simple as just pausing a tiny bit to snap it? I would imagine that would fuck up the flow of the shot though

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@marcs1024 Don't focus on the snap of the wrist, which doesnt happen by pushing harder. Keep a close look at the side by side of Bedard and Me. And look at every other shot here too. Snap and Wrist shots now look and sound the same.

[@isaboteur2562]

Great breakdown. I will take something from your lesson for sure!! Appreciate this upload

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

my pleasure!

[@the_skating_scientist]

The hips don't lie. I've seen little dudes launch the puck like a cannon. And all those dudes have a wicked torso twist in their shot.

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@the_skating_scientist right on!

[@vincentregis]

I needed to watch multiple times to see it, it's very subtil. I believe there is also a slight extension of the wrist (wrist still bowed but less) immediately followed by a flexion, which would slightly open the stick blade let the puck roll to the toe and then catapult it when the blade is closed as the wrist bow again. The delicate timing of this, happening together the hips an shoulder rotation, would add the puck speed. It's visible on the Matthews shot at the beginning.

[@DZnuts-p3z]

Great video. Following your suggestions and going from lever-focused to rotation-focused mechanics greatly improved my wrist shot. I had a few questions. 1. Do these same principles apply to slap shots? Normally we're taught to wind up and strike into the ground about 6-12 inches before the puck to maximize flex. Would it make more sense to not focus on driving into the ground and just focus on rotating as fast as possible to maximize the lag effect? 2. This one might be a tougher question but do the same principles apply to ball hockey? I also play a lot of ball hockey and I feel like this method doesn't generate shots as hard. My guess is that the ball isnt heavy like the puck so it doesnt really flex the stick but i could just be doing it wrong.

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@DZnuts-p3z that's great it started to work for you! to answer your questions, 1. yes it applies to every type of shot 2. yes also. they originated from ball hockey

[@DZnuts-p3z]

@@hockeyhacks2.0 Thanks for answering. I have another follow-up question that gets more into the nuances. Does the placement of the puck relative to the body (near feet, between feet, behind feet, etc) or placement on the blade (toe vs middle vs heel) matter?

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

Mechanics are very similar throughout, however you can get away with worse mechanics when you don't toe-in the puck.

[@Jlk9711]

Yo hackel 😂 Idek how I found this. Brings back memories of Jr sharks 😂👍🏻

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@Jlk9711 hah! sup buddy!

[@OhYaSure]

Word! I’ve been working on this for a while, referencing that Bedard clip as well. Are you in SJ?

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

I'm in Michigan

[@OhYaSure]

@@hockeyhacks2.0 ahh ok. Saw the south rink and the pants and hoped to get some private lessons. One thing about this shooting technique, and specific to Bedard, Matthews is the shorter than average stick. The paintbrush movement seems to lose power if the puck isn’t under you enough, which is why Beds “toe drag releases”, not simply to change the angle as many say, but to generate power below him. Matthews does the same. Any thoughts?

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

I lived in San Jose and the Sharks are the reason I got into hockey, so I grew up with that rink! And yes, actually all these shooters have a “toe drag release” because it’s the natural, biomechanical way to shoot.

[@rockiesbouldering]

Hey dude. Thx for this. Quick question - generally speaking what leg should lead when practicing the form on this? I get you can use either but is one better? I play D in a no clapper league and I keep lobbing softies from the point.

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@rockiesbouldering you want the option for both. refer to my shooting standards video for further details

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@rockiesbouldering kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5_Haaukmp6mqNUfeature=shared

[@S0larW1nd]

I wonder if shooting, like pretty much everything else in hockey, is really something that is pretty individual due to huge variability in how players are built - height, limb length, proportion of upper/lower body, strength, flexibility etc? If you watch how Mike Rabideau preaches to shoot (he seems to be trending online now, lots of quick release videos with him) it's pretty much all in the wrists, and yet he's got a pretty wicked release. So if feels like everyone just need to pick a style that's better aligned with their individual bio-mechanics, and then stick to it long enough to make it good enough? Thoughts?

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@S0larW1nd There’s currently no way to tell exactly how hard his shot is in any video. Statistically, I have the NHL Shooting Standards while being able to shoot quick. All my shots are quick releases with 80+mph power

[@DaveColorado]

Man I used to love those S17's

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@DaveColorado Bauer came out with limited edition recently

[@NTMHockey]

Torso rotation is key for shooting. What about your top hand & feet/hips? With Top hand only experience players that have put in time can shoot With top hand finishing at waist/below their chin. This takes hours of practice to master. (Top hand placement & follow through are crucial) Unexperienced players tend to, not get as much down pressure (flex) & finish with their chest up/open, (shot/puck goes high) Top hand is most important for power and accuracy. Players hips aren’t facing the target…. (Net) Forwards need this form to shoot in stride. Defense shoot the most with their feet sideways, forwards not so much (unless cutting to middle on off side) hips are towards the net (allowing for in stride / quicker releases)

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@NTMHockey Top hand always follows the rotation from your hips and shoulders. No one points their hips or stick to their target, but the hips always rotate in tandem with your target. F and D shoot the same way.

[@JSawmill63]

Thanks bro

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

my pleasure!

[@mikerotchizitchy]

Dude love the vid and the instruction, but is that an S17?!!?!?! How do you still have a 16 year old stick?!?!!?! Props man.

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

Haha! It was Bauers limited edition

[@canadiankiwijay]

Interesting, almost like flicking in field hockey.

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@canadiankiwijay yep!

[@GloomyWhale]

9:44

[@theohoppe5581]

Is that the Mackinnon curve

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

I use his curves

[@theohoppe5581]

@ really versatile pattern, I loved using it. My blade went soft and I switched back to p28 :/

[@tomspizzirri4574]

While I’ve enjoyed several of your other videos, here I honestly believe your just either wrong or not properly communicating what your trying to get across. Just look at the examples you showed. Both Mathews and Petterson bring their elbows up “away from their body” immediately before shooting. In fact the high elbow starts in front of their body then ends behind their back. (Watch Petterson it’s a perfect view) you can use this. snapping your elbow to your back ensures you get proper twist from your hips and upper body. Just because we have figured out some better and more advanced ways doesn’t mean everything was completely wrong.

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@tomspizzirri4574 you're looking at it from a 2D view. When you look at in a 3D view you come to the conclusions I get. I've tested these things for 5 years too, had to unlearn a lot. I don't just watch the film, but Inmake sure it aligns with my body. I just met you so I don't know what your mechanics are like.

[@lkkjhg45]

Chubbs: "It's all in the hips"

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@lkkjhg45 He was right!

[@ericschmitz03]

Bro why tf am I watching a video like I can't even do a hockey stop 😂great video though it is actually very well put together

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

my pleasure!

[@BobMicheal-c9u]

Are you affiliated with the train 2.0 KZbin channel now?

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@BobMicheal-c9u yes

[@CoachZac247]

I caution any players watching this to be careful of coaches teaching the “one” way to shoot. Multiple elite shooters and goal scorers in the NHL have different shooting styles. Plenty of elite shooters don’t whip their hands that’s demonstrated in this video,m. Some do. There are some fundamental consistencies but you can’t rely on a few cherry picked clips. I could find multiple clips of Matthews, Bedard, etc… that highlight the exact opposite of what he’s teaching. Study the elite shooters, practice the fundamentals, and you’ll improve. Find the style that works for you.

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

It's not cherry picking when it's another layer of analysis that is consistent across all shots that they do. And it is something they do in all shots. I'm sorry you don't agree with the facts of biomechanics and the facts of the standards these best players have set.

[@elemeno0pee]

hah this rink is near my house, but I play at the Ice Cube in A2

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@elemeno0pee Really?! That was my home rink too!

[@gianniaurilio8163]

Do not do this if u use p28 it isnt false advice but the p28 is too open for shooting like this

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@gianniaurilio8163 You're kidding right? Do you not see the LITERAL CURVE i'm using? Or ANY of the NHLer comparisons here?

[@gianniaurilio8163]

@@hockeyhacks2.0idk if I was doing something wrong but I tried with my hyper lite and sent it over the net more than usual also Matthews and Petersson use p29 and p92 No? I dont disagree with your advice btw

[@hockeyhacks2.0]

@@gianniaurilio8163 Curve doesn’t matter when your mechanics are not up to these players standards.

[@jpcjpc69]

9:48