How to Take a Proper Slap Shot

To take a slap shot like National Hockey League (NHL) legend Wayne Gretzky requires almost daily practice from a very young age. NHL newbies Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin have taken the slap shot to new heights with improvements to stick quality. But you don`t need to be an NHL superstar to be able to complete the proper form of a slap shot. All it takes is a sharp pair of skates, a quality stick and maybe you could be the next "Great One."

Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure that your skates are sharpened. You want to be able to dig into the ice when you launch your shot. Quality foot positioning is one of the most important things when sending a slap shot into your opponent`s net.

    • 2

      Line the puck up about two feet in front of you. Grab a hockey stick where the stick blade lines up to your chin. It is important to have the right length of stick to take your shot with.

    • 3

      Practice puck handling a couple times, rotating the puck back and forth to get a feel for the ice and the position of the puck as it relates to your body.

    • 4

      Line up your shot. Look at the net, or whatever target you have. Have one hand on the top of your stick---you may want to tape the top of your stick and wear hockey gloves for extra grip---and put the other hand about halfway down your stick so that you are slightly leaning forward. Spread your legs just past shoulder width.

    • 5

      Clear your mind of any distractions. Pull your stick back over your head as high as you can go. You want to gain as much momentum as possible when bringing your stick back down. Aim your stick to make contact with the ice about six inches behind the puck. If your stick is made of fiberglass, you will be able to get a bend. This flexible motion will allow you to gain additional momentum as your stick bends and eventually makes contact with the puck. You want the puck to hit your stick about halfway down the blade.