- A stick with some bend will allow you to get a whipping action on the puck. High-caliber players aim their stick about three inches behind the puck. When the stick hits the ice, it bends and whips towards the puck at a greater velocity than if contact was made directly at the puck. In the NHL, fans watch as many players break their sticks from using this method — either they hit the ice with their stick at too sharp an angle, or the integrity of the stick had already been compromised during a previous shot.
- The one-timer is a particularly useful shot when a team is on the powerplay. The player with the hardest shot on the team is often parked at the blue line waiting for a pass. A forward positions himself in front of the goalie to set a screen and to get his stick on a possible tip. When the player winds up for his one-timer a defending player will often fall in front of his shot in an attempt at a block.
- A slap shot is the go-to shot for many players. The slapper isn't as accurate as a wrist shot, but it generates much more power. Good skate positioning and a smooth windup are key to delivering a fast shot. The player's upper-body strength, along with his body positioning will generate the maximum amount of force. Many of the top shooters in the NHL can smash the puck at over 100 mph.
- In the NHL skills competition, fans get to see on a repetitive basis and away from the fast-paced action of the game how a player gets the maximum force on his shot. The players line up from about 20 yards away and then skate towards the puck at nearly top speed before turning their bodies into the shot. The speed already accumulated during the skate is added to the speed of the stick and the whip action on delivery.
Stick
One-Timer
Slap Shot
Skating
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