Surprise The Goalie With A Quick Shot!
It doesn't have the power of a slap shot. Nor does it have the deadly accuracy of a wrist shot. Yet, a good, quick backhand shot often beats the goalie. There are a couple of reasons for this:
- Goalies usually don't expect a backhand shot.
- The shot can rise sharply and is hard for a goalie to read as it comes off the blade.
The backhand shot is basically the reverse of a forward sweep shot. To make sure the shot has power, start the shot with the ball or puck on the backhand side of your body.
- Place your bottom hand on the stick shaft about where you would for a forehand shot.
- Sweep the puck forward with a pulling motion. Your power will come from your front shoulder, arms and a "snap" from your wrists.
- To keep the shot low, keep the angle of the blade closed and release it near your feet.
- To make it rise, open the blade angle, release it farther in front of you, and follow through.
- Try to make the shot come off your blade heel-to-toe, this will make it more accurate.
The backhander is a shot your should only use near the net, it's not powerful enough to beat a goalie from a distance. But close to the net, goalies are often surprised by a backhand shot and will get scored on, even if they are in good position.
Learn more on how to master your Slap Shot with the Bobby Hull Shooting DVD.