How to shoot like Connor Bedard

I got to hang out with Bedard during the NHL combine and rip some pucks. Here's what I noticed that makes his shot different. Try these three tips to improve your shot. If you're looking for more hockey training join us on The Pond - thepond.howtohockey.com
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[@drunkviggo7263]

He's such a nice guy bro.

[@TANNMAN54]

He’s just way too HUMBLE

[@muhlissuh82]

Not on the ice😂

[@Jayric2]

I know no one will see this, but I simply watched this video and applied it as best I can in warmup today. I was clocking consistent lightning fast shots top corners! This video literally changed me as a hockey player, my shot went from a normal shot to a deadly weapon and from the bottom of my hearth, thank you!

[@davidfayfield6594]

Read it

[@northerncrozz8449]

@@davidfayfield6594 hearth still kinda works tbh xD

[@NGuy19]

I just did the same thing this morning... it was nuts!

[@isaboteur2562]

Bottom of your hearth? Lol

[@LizardSkin]

The generosity of these break downs… its appreciated

[@dannyvitullo21]

2:25 Coach Chippy sighting!

[@rickmontesanti]

Coach Jeremy, thanks for a great breakdown and explanation of this shot. Applied your three steps during stick-and-puck time at my local rink, and was amazed by how efficiently it loads energy into the stick shaft and the quickness of puck release. New trick for this old dog (62)! Rick

[@isaboteur2562]

3:18 what i find especially amazing is how Bedard doesnt even need to step into the shot and its still potent.

[@wastedbread8036]

Yup. His shot is insane !

[@thecount1001]

one thing is clear, he's been eating a lot of protein and working hard in the gym, that's for sure.

[@bm4680]

very nice breakdown of Bedar's wrist shot, much appreciated!

[@jlcontarino]

Great analysis, I appreciate the breakdown and all the details regarding the mechanics!

[@TheEnergyball]

Great video. Thank you for sharing your access to an incredible player. Also good to know it takes everyone time to relearn.

[@kantstenchonthemel5641]

Precious moment to share thanks!

[@1q3er5]

great video - i'm curious about how stick length also plays into changing your angle

[@karigrandii]

You missed 2 of the most important things. 1. He pulls his left arm down to create more leverage and whip (you see him cross his arms after the release). This together with the ”bow arm” is what creates the power here. 2. He uses the blade as an additional leverage point by pointing the blade really strongly so you see his blade is all the way to the side after his release

[@karigrandii]

The way he shoots is also very explosive and less like the ”old” way to shoot which is about trying to flex the stick with your weight and putting your body in it. This new way is more about creating as much velocity in the stick together with the powerful leverage of the ”bow hand” and crossing arms at release. The stick will flex just because the movement is so explosive and there is so much leverage on the stick, not so much about just pushing your body and arms on the stick. Also the snap at the end is just lanching the puck after the whip from the shaft. Crucial for learning this is ofc practicing a lot but also training your upper hand (bedard said he trained by shooting one hand backhands for months) and creating a powerful core and base so core work and deadlift + squats. The last thing is having a low flex stick this should be obvious.

[@howtohockeytraining]

Yes those are additional aspects of his shot. I chose 3 to showcase, there are more, not “missed” just not part of the 3 I chose for this video. The pull down is a tricky subject, a lot of shooting coaches teach to pull straight back to the armpit and these guys work with a bunch of pro players. In this case I suspect the amount of flex and power has a lot to do with it, but it’s often a bad habit with new shooters who flick the puck.

[@MicBergsma]

Awesome video, can’t wait for October!

[@Farlig1]

Hey Jeremy, amazing video! Finally after I long time I feel like I should learn something new. I have a feeling that this technique might become the new "standard" in pro hockey. I think that kids will be taught to shoot like this instead of classic snap shots

[@Habsfan56744]

This is the exact type of video I was looking for thanks

[@mibrown9932]

Amazing how much the game has changed since I was in high school. I was taught a completely different way to shoot than what’s being taught now. Now I’m older and adjusting.

[@MrViippola]

I was always told my stick was supposed to reach my chin standing up. After watching some Coach Jeremy I started experimenting and felt that my stance was way too low to have a natural feel with a stick that long. I would have to stand up too much to get any proper weight on it. This is just great stuff. The effortlessness Bedard has on his release is just... wow.

[@SamyDLuffy-bh6ui]

Bedsy is a true sniper, he will be alot of fun to watch for the Blackhawks !! 🦅🦅🦅💯

[@jyynarpalisenniemi6242]

Yessir 🔴⚫️⚪️🔥🔥🔥

[@pajerhockey]

This video is great. I watched the short form version you published a few weeks ago on Instagram maybe 100 times trying to derive exactly what you discuss in this video!

[@SwansonX7Hockey]

appreciate the kind words! What should we cover next?

[@ManiG-bg4vv]

thank you for explaining

[@PREteamHockey]

Awesome Stuff! Bedard Showing The Evolution Of The Angle Change At The Highest Level!

[@Cfoges_7]

You explain that sooooo great

[@seangraham5011]

i live in Arkansas so its hard to get good sticks down here i tried this shot with my classic wood stick since its my best one and broke it. still a really good video

[@AnHourOfWolves]

I knew those guys must use those low flex sticks! I recently went to 65 while I’m at 165lbs and it’s been amazing tbh. Great vid, thanks!

[@TeKa-ul7gl]

Quite funny and nice to see floorball shooting technique(s) coming part of hockey skill toolbox. I would say that this one technique is commonly used in floorball. :)

[@07hockeystar07]

I'd love to see Bedard and Matthews shoot with my 90's Gretzky aluminum. 😊

[@uriahcaraalvillar6445]

That all sounds backwards in concept but is amazing to see in action. Glad he’s on my team now!

[@Crispyflops]

Much love out of nashville ✊🏻

[@Rcganti]

This is super cool!!

[@marshallmykietyshyn4973]

Cool video! Thanks for making it. One quick note, Bedard's power comes from his legs too. His feet are planted, which actually allows him to transfer force up through them and then convert it to torsion through his torso (you can see the torsion happen as he drops his knee to rotate his hips, although he's jacked so he doesn't need to rotate that far to generate the necessary force). It's probably even more effective than taking a step forward since when you take a step, you lose contact with the ground and no longer have that strong base through which to transfer power. Same principles as a QB throwing, or a tennis player/golfer hitting a ball.

[@SwansonX7Hockey]

100%. He has crazy strong legs. Goal with the video is to fix the that is low hanging and easy to adjust. Lower body strength will take time.

[@marshallmykietyshyn4973]

@@SwansonX7Hockey my comment was about technique, not strength. Learning to use the force chain through your body is also low hanging fruit, and will have a massive impact on your shot's power.

[@SwansonX7Hockey]

Yep. However that will not work is the flex of the stick won’t whip because it’s too stiff. I completely agree. 1. Get the right stick. 2. Learn the technique. 3. Tons of reps. 4. Get stronger. 5. Tons of reps.

[@hollygordon2355]

hey coach im wondering what tiles are you using?

[@schenckmark6699]

Great breakdown. Interesting how he builds pressure on the floor/ ice, a bit behind the puck before release. There's a bit of a snapshot in there. Also an opening and closing or pre-pronation/pronation as in tennis and golf.

[@isaboteur2562]

Yea it's crazy he uses his legs...bows them down to flex the stick like u said...the super low flex is the key I feel

[@isaboteur2562]

U know the formula to find the right flex...body weight ÷ 2 so he could use a 90..but he went to 70 !!!! That fkn stick is like a whip. I'm contemplating buying a 50 flex, I'm 150 lbs. I been using a 65

[@CrazyC16]

Nice thank you

[@finnishgamer92]

Wonder if bedard has also played floorball earlier and the hand position originates from there🤔

[@mitchellbrown7993]

Thank you

[@jugernauz]

Those slowmotion shots were very nice!

[@johnnydeschamps8787]

Thanks how to hockey for breaking it down for me

[@xorsigsegv5061]

the most important thing you've missed: foot work - he pushes himself forward with his back foot as he releases the puck which adds so much mustard to it it's much better seen on the ice, Matthews does the same thing

[@andycalvert2689]

His shot it the perfected inline hockey shot!

[@Southboundpachyderm]

the bow in the wrist is similar to the way drummers like myself whip our sticks across the top of cymbals to get power and accuracy on the strike. By keeping your wrist tucked in like that, you're transfering more of the energy otherwise going into your hands, into the stick. That's why he's able to take such a small wind up and still bend the stick that much. It's not a snap shot. It's more of a whip shot. It's all in how hes transferring energy from his chest and legs into the stick.

[@greathoonta3461]

There is a bit of a psychology factor to it. For most of us we have this built in mindset that we must push the puck forwards to move it forwards. We do this by starting at our body and moving our arms away from your center of gravity. But what he does is use pulling forcing to pull the puck into his center of gravity which, although weird, allows him to shoot harder and at a weirder time then most players. It helps him make use of his mechanical advantage in the stick better.

[@Thatguyisdead27]

Bedard has in feet staggered to start the shot and pulls the puck towards his left toe ish so it’s very slightly forward to give enough space between the blade and the puck to generate that flex

[@OpenSourceSlayer]

Ive watched and watched and watched this kid shoot for a year now and can finally somewhat emulate it. I just cant get the flex he does, his stick is also very long even on skates. I have to use a shorty like mathews.

[@MrVisde]

Looks like that top hand is pulling back on the stick while the bottom hand pushes it forward. Ridiculous torque!

[@cpmyers]

From what I can see, it is mostly the material that the sticks are made of now that enables this type of shot. There's no way a wooden stick (Gretzky, etc..) that used to be the standard would work the same way.

[@supersoniq3506]

I learned to load the stick about 15 + years ago as an adult player. I basically saw the technique at clinics given by former division 1 college players. I would practice it at sticktime sessions. Take a bucket of pucks and dump it out on a face off circle and shoot, shoot, shoot. Or just shoot against the boards. Bottom line, you kind of have to work it out on your own. Plenty of failure before I had it down. Long story short, if you learn to do it right, your wrist/snap shot can be a rocket! Oh, use a stick with a flex you can load. I like around 80 flex (before I cut it down). It really changed the way I played. No more need for clappers. This technique allows quick release and plenty of speed.

[@DC-iy4vz]

it changed my shot a lot!

[@Teirdome]

Great video, Jeremy. A recent revelation was that Bedard, Matthews, and many others get their top hand elbow very high (almost shoulder level) so that it's almost a straight pull back. The player's top hand away from their body but their elbow still low will really hinder a young player's shot while meeting your excellent pull/punch mantra. Your point #2, the wrist bend, is really an artifact of his top hand elbow being so high.

[@SwansonX7Hockey]

Yep. The use the stick as lever and increase shot force with the whip of the shaft.

[@davidcbeaudoin]

Thanks for a great video as always! I always wondered, do you ever offer critiques on people's shots to give them tips? My shot is a dumpster fire, and I'd really like some idea what I could do differently.

[@howtohockeytraining]

We have a facebook group for members of The Pond where Haden and I + other members provide feedback from time to time! The courses in there have step by step lessons to guide you through learning each skill as well 😁

[@oL5re9re55ion]

Note also that he doesn’t lean on the stick. that seems to be a big myth being taught these days that to flex or “load up” your stick you need to lean on it. Bedard gets flex from rotation, not leaning on it

[@serviceprovider6956]

Why does the stock bend like that. Do you know the details of the stock and how much does it cost

[@JSnipes-nb7uy]

Great video, coach Jeremy... thank you!! Connor is using a sync in the video and I have come across some pics of him playing for team Canada using a sync as well but most pictures and film show him using a low kick hyperlite or agent, did he happen to mention what kick point he prefers/uses?

[@howtohockeytraining]

He was borrowing a stick in this video. I only asked about his flex. I’m pretty sure he’s moving to Sherwood, looks like he signed a deal with them but nothing official.

[@warmweiner4402]

What are those tiles called that you are using outside?

[@sunbehindclouds]

every nhl goalie needs to watch this so they can get a step cuz they will need it

[@coryr6359]

A good way to think about it is that every detail of Connor shot is done to achieve MAXIMUM TORQUE. Starting with his top hand being bent as it is- This is LITERALLY out of necessity as hes building so much torque within his technique that his "fulcrum", or top hand, bends as a means of both effectively HANGING ON as well as ACCURATELY CONTROLING/AIMING his release. . Starting from behind the puck by a good 6 inches, watch as Bedsy drops his weight prior to releasing his shot- hes dropping into his shot in order to initiate TORQUE. This is one of the things that makes Bedard's shot special- hes able to apply slap-shot physics in a highly deceptive toe-drag release SNAP shot. Most players aren't able to apply so much flex into their snapshots, and as a result, their toe-drag is followed by a some-what impotent release, while Bedsy is firing absolute ROCKETS.

[@MrTapsa.]

Thats it bedzy

[@carson3047]

toe drag release!

[@smither3966]

I wonder if doing shooting training while his right wrist was broken caused his upper(left) hand to move towards his right hip, and he just made the technique better with two hands

[@Bootay17]

Can you help me with puck protection?

[@natekenjalo8725]

You may not be a generational talent, but I appreciate you.

[@ethancritchley]

he shots insaneli

[@imhereforthesarcasm8097]

Nice

[@VRslayer1110]

Pls make a vid about what it takes to make it to the NHL

[@Gratz-BrawlStars]

Stupid amount of practice

[@PTCL_SMOOTHY]

Why would he make that he isn’t in the nhl

[@chadlevitan7886]

Cool video and bedard certainly has a great shot. What I find funny though is that there seems to be a large group of people that think he has somehow revolutionized the shooting motion, when the reality is that top level players have been using the same concepts for a couple decades.

[@blankname6629]

Putting the puck to the side I think will help the most

[@filmcale]

Great video!

[@GS-yb2nj]

Its the top hand thats important. Thats whats allowing him to keep the puck back. The challenge is wrist strength... It's not necessarily that he's stronger all over. Getting your wrist in that angle would take some serious tendon strength. That could be the entire key

[@hmy12031]

Going to upload Bedard’s NHL highlights in my channel

[@wastedbread8036]

You'll have lots to chose from

[@Anus_MacGayver]

wow conner bedar is such a gift

[@dominicbleau3395]

Watch the hip swing too, he has the swing of a hitter in boxing or mma. He just whips it

[@kolbybroussard5505]

What kind of flooring is that?

[@clutchitup8565]

The flex in the stick is funny

[@Y.A.A.E.G._Games]

70 flex helps too lol, been known for a while now

[@PeachesCobb123]

If you want a cheat code look at how brett hull shot

[@AlexRFitness]

Toe drag release, Bedsy Toe drag release

[@eliminator87]

He has a wild shot..

[@isaboteur2562]

After learning that Bedard is 185 lbs and using a 70 flex it makes sense why he doesnt step into the shot...that stick bends sooo easily and he uses his legs to flex it if u watch

[@andrewseyko7277]

Any idea what kind of curve he uses? Toe Curve or more like a P88?

[@briancabralsousa108]

P92

[@PTCL_SMOOTHY]

@@briancabralsousa108wrong he uses the P92M

[@andrewgeorgelang]

I've played with literally thousands of players in my 25 year career. Everyone I mean everyone has their own way. This video really taught me nothing, because I shoot exactly that way. Oh and 10 other people I know shoot that way. Fyi, I too have a 73 flex. Gotta know people in the biz to get custom sticks there bud.

[@snowmz7089]

i didnt see the title i jus saw the video and bedard poped out and i got confused cause thats my last name lmaoo

[@foxmulder3785]

He showed toe drag snap shot but in game he is using toe drag wrist shot😯 In move it is too hard to do snap shot when you don't see the puck, at least for me😒

[@scottyboy6269]

Brock Boeser shot like that as well when he was scoring

[@deanbooth6255]

Yeah, he’s nice guy

[@MegaSuperDude111]

Also seems to help to have forearms the size of phonebooks

[@philippseidel2933]

I Ding understand how his passes are so good although his flex is so low. When I pass the puck with such a little flex, he wobbles. Somebody knows how he does it?

[@rydenhaze10]

almost one more thing, he drags the puck in then releases at the toe instead of the heal, my shot wasn’t consistently flat so try releasing it at the toe instead of heel

[@user-nm9my2wk4c]

the batman tape caught me off guard😂

[@salkdhfpoahergpoahre1534]

What's crazy to me is that his motion looks like a bunch of kids I've coached, and guys I know that just started playing. Like at 3:20 - there's no way that should work as well as it does. Almost no windup and a real short motion and follow through, but he gets so much velocity on the shot, and it comes off the stick so fast, that goalies have no chance.

[@meganhalpape1434]

He is a good player for Chicago

[@elmambojambo]

Look at his back. His back is not normal (chyphosis). That helps him a lot. That helps him put much weight on the shot while having amazing precision.

[@rangedayvlogs814]

He shoots exactly like me, ive been doing that my whole life

[@ceddum3312]

I feel like Connor shot is only possible with bauer because i had a ccm ribcor team and it too stiff

[@PurdyBoy]

❤

[@theaosullivan9974]

He broke his rist he used one hand 🤚 and ones he got better his shot jumped another level

[@user-vc1we8rs5y]

Где достать такие шузы?

[@ewegaming1]

IAM from Saskatchewan like berdard because he used to be with the Regina pats

[@Sammy_d.]

This is sooooooo cool I can’t believe Connor Bedard and I shot the same way

[@johnny-hustler1669]

This kid is gonna be something truly truly special.....to the likes that we have never seen.

[@Mitchfilmedit]

Toe drag release Jeremy toe drag release

[@Issacakmye]

I did a video about my hockey skills that people need to know it private tho

[@Tamara.61643]

4:39