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Hi, my name is Brian Mullen. I spent my whole life around the game of hockey.
Beginning with my roller hockey days in New York through my 11 seasons in the
National Hockey League. During this time I found that learning the fundamentals
of the game is essential to succeeding in this sport. And I would like to pass
along my knowledge to you. So lace up your skates,
grab your stick and learn the game of hockey online with me.
Snap Shot
Last week we discussed the proper techniques for the
wrist shot and the backhand
shot. If you happened to miss the show you may want to review it considering the shooting techniques for the wrist and backhand shot are
quite similar to the topics we will talk about today: the snap and slap
shot. As we mentioned last week, the snap and slap shots are more
power shots than are the first two we have already discussed. But keep in mind
that accuracy is still the most important aspect of shooting. The most
difficult shots for a goalie to stop are those they don't expect.
There is a saying around hockey that quickness beats power. And the
quickest shot in a player's offensive arsenal is the snap shot. The snap
shot combines the quickness of a wrist shot with the power of the slap
shot. You may hear other players or coaches referred to this shot as
a "one-third slap shot." No matter what people call it, a snap shot is
a great weapon to have when battling those masked marauders known
as goaltenders.
Even though the shot is called a "snap shot," it is not a snap to learn.
Mastering the shot will take a lot of practice on your part, but you will
find that it will be worth the effort. The benefit is the ability to get off
a shot with little wind-up, little warning to defenders and goalies,
and a lot of power. If you think you are ready, let's learn the snap shot.
- The puck should be about two feet out in front and three feet off to the side of your body.
- Slide your lower hand down the shaft of the stick for more power.
- Roll the wrist of your lower hand so that the blade of the stick is parallel with the ice.
- With your lower hand bring the stick back about two to three feet off the ice
(see Fig. 1).
- At this point transfer the weight to your back leg.
- Once the stick reaches the two to three feet height, sweep your body forward, exerting force
down towards the puck (see Fig. 2).
- As your upper body moves forward, begin to transfer your weight to your front leg.
- Your stick should make contact with the ice about one to two inches before the puck.
- With the snap shot there is very little follow through. Bring your stick off the ice about one to two feet.
- The "snap" happens after the puck leaves your stick. Roll the wrists inward similar
to the wrist shot except faster and with greater force (see Fig. 3).
- The momentum from your motion will propel the puck towards the target.
You want the puck to travel only about one to two inches off the ice with a
snap shot. There are two reasons for this. First, a goaltender will have a more
difficult time stopping a puck traveling at that height and second, it
will give your teammates the opportunity to deflect that puck into the
net for a goal.
And as I have been saying since the very start, if you find that your shots or
passes are not that strong, do not worry. The more you practice these skills,
the stronger your muscles will become.
Slap Shot
Everyone likes to shoot a slap shot. We like to hear the smack of the
stick against the puck as well as the sound the puck makes when it hits
the boards. More often than not, that is what the puck ends up hitting
with a slap shot…the boards. The slap shot is the least accurate shot in
hockey but it is also the most powerful. When practicing any of the
shots we discussed, first develop accuracy than power. This will make
you a better hockey player.
A strong slap shot can overpower a goaltender but for the most part
the shot is most effective when the goaltender is screened from seeing the shot
or when it is deflected in by one of your teammates or even a defender.
Most goaltenders are skilled enough that if they are given a clear view
of the puck, they will be able to stop it. Here are the techniques I have
learned for the slap shot.
- Keep the puck in between your two skates. If positioned near your
front foot, the puck will rise decreasing your chance of scoring(see Fig. 4).
- Slide your bottom hand down the shaft of the stick to generate more power.
- Grip the stick firmly.
- Look at the puck not the net - unlike the the wrist and backhand shot
(see Fig. 5).
- Draw your stick back to shoulder level as your weight is shifted to your back leg
(see Fig. 6).
- Begin to bring the stick down towards the puck with your top hand pulling and your
bottom hand pushing the puck in the direction of the target (see Fig. 7).
- Transfer the weight from your back foot to your front foot.
- Lean into the
shot by using your entire body.
- Your stick should strike the ice just before hitting the puck (see Fig. 8).
- Snap your wrists when your stick strikes the puck.
- You should bring your stick three to four feet off the ice on the follow through
with your stick blade pointing at the target (see Fig. 9).
As you can tell from the description above, the slap shot has many
steps and takes a long time to perform. That is why few
offensive players use the slap shot when in traffic. A defender can easily poke
the puck away from an attacker using the slap shot because of the
time it takes to execute. However, the slap shot is a great tool
for defensemen parked at the point. The reason blue-liners get
a number of assists throughout the season is because many of their
slap shots from the point are deflected in by offensive teammates
near the net. This is not to say only defensemen should learn the
slap shot. All good hockey players know every skill not just those
needed for their position. Although, you will find offensive player using
a slap shot through the course of a game, they are more likely to
use a wrist shot or a snap shot when being closely defended.
Shooting Drills
The best way to improve your shooting is by...shooting. You can practice either on or off
the ice. The most important thing to be thinking about is hitting your target. On the ice
you can aim for a part of the goal post or a spot on the boards. Off the ice you can draw a
box with chalk on the wall of your local playground and concentrate on hitting the square.
It does not matter. What does matter is that you wear your hockey gloves, use your
ice hockey stick and a regulation hockey puck when practicing. You want to get the
same feeling of the stick in your hands and the puck on your stick blade when practicing
that you will during a game.
Next Class
I hope you enjoyed this session of "The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen."
The next time
we get together we will discuss face-offs.
"The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen" Archive
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