It’s natural that a hockey player will discover success with a particular shot and work to perfect that shot, making thousands of well-executed shots on net until they can put the puck in each corner and go five-hole consistently. But the best players don’t stop at being a one shot trick pony. Top hockey players train to master all four key shots and are prepared to use any of them to score when the opportunity arises.
We encourage our students to become familiar with the specifics of these four shots and their particular differences during play. We emphasize the importance of practicing each type of shot to the point that players can seamlessly utilize whichever one is required to take advantage of the situation in play without thinking about it. Choosing the type of shot to use must become second nature and that comes with plenty of practice and training both outside of the rink and during gameplay!
THE SLAP SHOT
The slap shot is hockey’s rock star. It’s fast, loud, powerful, and exciting. Because of this it’s the shot that most players want to practice and take during games, but interestingly its success rate in scoring goals actually falls to third or fourth place among the four types of shots. The success of a slap shot is based on its speed and power, allowing players to score from much farther away from the net. But speed and power take time and require a windup and weight transfer from back skate to front skate to impart power to the shot. That gives defensive players time to block the shot and the goalie time to get in position to cut down the angle and prepare for the shot. Despite this, the speed of the puck can beat even a prepared goalie because it’s just not easily to a puck moving that fast, particularly if there is traffic in front of the net. So, the slap shot can still get the job done, even with the setup involved.
THE WRIST SHOT
While the slap shot gets the attention, the wrist shot might be the most useful one to master since about half of all goals scored actually come off of a wrist shot. Used in situations where surprise and agility are more important than the speed of the puck, the wrist shot can still send it. There are two types of wrist shots: 1. One with more power behind it and closer to a slap shot, and 2. A quicker type that is more like a snap shot. Both have their place, but the quick shot will surprise the goalie when they have no idea whether you’re shooting, passing, or just looking for an opportunity. By the time they figure out you’re shooting, it’s too late. The powerful shot adds some miles per hour to the puck to make up for the lack of surprise. The goalie might recognize the shot, but by the time they do, the puck has settled into the back of the net.
THE SNAP SHOT
The snap shot is comprised of speed and surprise. A player can snap a puck into the net when they see a rebound bounce over their way after a teammate’s shot has been blocked, or when they get the puck away from one defender only to find themselves in front of the net with three more defenders coming in on you. There are a variety of situations where a snap shot can be utilized but one of the defining aspects is that it is a split decision with no time to think, either a player shoots or they don’t. There’s no time to reposition the body, switch feet, or move the puck — the player just gets it on its way. The hockey snapshot’s success comes from moving the puck toward the goal before anybody can react.
THE BACKHAND
The backhand shot can be a great reaction for a player in a tough spot. It can be utilized when they have an opportunity near the goal and find the puck is on their backhand side. The player can use the backhand to get a shot off while keeping the puck away from defenders. The backhand shot is best set up for execution when close to the goal. In comparison, the slap shot is fast and powerful and the backhand is quick, deceptive, and deadly. The backhand often follows a stick handle, or receiving a pass, and is rushed before the goalie adjusts or the defense moves in to move the puck away.