Slapshot Directions

A slapshot, the most powerful shot in hockey, is an easy skill to learn yet takes years to master. However, a slapshot involves accuracy as much as power. Simply swinging at the puck as hard as you can is not enough to create a quality slapshot. As with a golf swing, a slapshot requires proper body mechanics to be effective.

Things You'll Need

  • Hockey stick
  • Puck
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the stick tightly in both hands, one hand at the top and your naturally-dominant hand in the middle of the shaft. Keep your legs shoulder-width apart. Begin your backswing with the puck two to three feet away from your body and centered between your skates. Bring your stick back between your hips and your shoulders; any further and you will have less control. Take a look at your target and then focus fully on the puck throughout your shot.

    • 2

      Aim three to five inches behind the puck. To take a good slapshot, you do not aim for the puck itself. By hitting the ice first, all of your weight is channeled through the shaft of your stick, giving your slapshot more power. Your stick will flex as it makes contact with the ice, which helps propel the puck forward.

    • 3

      Shift your weight from your back leg to your front leg as you swing the stick. Proper weight transfer is essential for an accurate and powerful slapshot. Lead with your hips, allowing your shoulders to follow naturally. Your motion should be fluid yet quick. Use the natural momentum of your backswing to propel your shot.

    • 4

      Stay low to the ice and allow your body weight to shift to the stick. This gives your shot more power while also giving you more balance as you take the shot. The more weight you transfer to your stick, the smaller the wind-up you need. In turn, that allows a quicker release of your slapshot.

    • 5

      Strike the puck with the middle of your stick's blade to ensure accuracy. For more power, aim between the middle and the heel of the blade. Point your front skate towards your target to help aid in accuracy. Keep your bottom arm straight as you make contact.

    • 6

      Follow through after making contact with the puck, which promotes control of the shot. Follow through low to keep the puck low while, if your follow through is high, your shot will rise. Don't look up as you shoot, but keep your eye on the puck as it leaves your stick.