Question

Hi Folks,

I'm interested in knowing how important IHC's readers feel it is for a forward to have a great slapshot in inline hockey.

Mine's always been worse than wimpy, but except for the embarrassment of having a crummy slapper, I've still been able to enjoy the game and score a lot of goals on wrist shots and backhanders.

I can see the value of a slapshot for a defenseman, especially on a power play, where there are a lot of tip-ins, but besides ego, is a slapshot really that imporant for a forward?

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

from observed evidence (in others; I will challenge Mr. Graham's for the World's Wimpiest' title), it is not which technique that is critical.

I am certain that our house league is like everybody else's...we have three guys that are capable of totally controlling a game all by themselves. We have a couple of others who are "the man" when it comes to a specialized shot. Skylier, Jimmy, and Brian can shoot anything, and the accuracy is uncanny. Terry is the "old school" guy with the wrist shot so quick you never know it's coming. Jim H. is "mr. backhand guy."

All of these seperate techniques have a single common factor: the speed of the puck when it leaves their stick is the fastest in the league.

Our (admittedly questionably accurate) radar box shows each of these guys capable of clocking a good one at over 85 mph, which ain't bad for pvc off of sportcourt. Skylier has hit one at 96, and he's the tall, skinny guy of the bunch.

Having fast twitch muscles goes farther in this situation apparantly than sheer power or strength.

Rich, from another guy who, on a 1-to-10 scale of muscle speed, is a minus-23, you get the technique as perfect as you can get, work on a quick release, and become the best you can...

-however-

if I need one goal to tie, with 1.3 seconds left on the clock, and I get the puck to Skylier's forehand at the point, or Jimmy's backhand low outside the goalline, then I am going to feel pretty good about my team's chances in those last ticks of the clock.

That's hockey life, letting the pucks fall where they may...

I think the slapshot for fowards is mostly an ego thing. I am a foward, and about 9/10 of my goals is probably a wrist shot. I have a fairly good slap shot in travel league but the only time I ever score with it, is by pure luck. The slap shot espically with guys around my age is much more of an intimidation thing, I ocassionally even do it. I am sure everyone has seen it done, the kids team is winning 5-0, he gets on a breakaway and fires a huge slapshot, and it usually hits the boards or plexiglass. The only way I could consider the slapshot important to a fowards game is by deflecting and tipping the defensman slapshots :)

Definitley it is used alot more by travel players in house league than during a travel game. The slaptshot is younger divisions is often used, as missionhockey21 said, for intimidation but if you want to get really young (8-10) the slapshot is all about letting everyone know that "Hey look I can take a slapshot so I'm better than you," silly little things like ego play a part but a wrist shot is a much better shot to take for a forward. You have more control over the pucks direction with a wristshot than you do with a slapshot.

I have only found that as a forward in a none-house game twice that I have taken a slapshot during 4-4 play (I play point on the powerplay). Those two time were:

Time running out and the game was tied so I took a slapshot from center ice with 3 seconds left..or somethin like that.(shot got blocked tho so there was really no point in taking it)

And:

When my team was changing on the fly and I was carrying the puck up and the other team was also changing so I just let go a long slapshot then got off.

Really in a game where there is not one player who dominates the game there is no need for a forward to take a slapshot, leave that to the defenseman.

There used to be (probably still is) a study floating around on the web about shot types and goals in the NHL during an entire season. Not surprisingly, wrist shots accounted for a very high (something like 75%) of all goals scored in the NHL. I always laugh when I see guys on the opposition team blasting slap shot after slap shot past their own goalie during warmups. I worry about the guy who's by himself along the boards working on his back-hand.

You just received an outlet pass from your defenseman, who's obviously tired... Your offensive partner is already on the bench sucking wind... Your defense is hoping for a chance to make a change...

For some reason, their defense isnt pressuring you like they should be, and they give you the red-line... at the red line you see a hole towards middle, and behind you, there is plenty of support, so you take a step center... now, however it is a 1 on 3 situation, and all you can do is get the puck low. You see a little more room below the red line, so this time you cut hard toward the middle... now you got the goalie moving hard just for an instant, and you see 3 or 4 different holes... a 50 mph wrist shot isnt gonna get the puck there in time, so you let 'er rip... you miss the net, or dont get a hole, thats fine, you got the puck low enough to make a change or get support from the other guys on the floor... you find a hole, even better...

So that situation will happen what, once a season, maybe, but hey, there is always room for another shot in your bag 'o tricks. And in inline hockey, coaches always preach about filling in for players, and supporting each other, so much that at times on the floor, forwards become defense. So what happens when you are called on to get the puck in on net in a hurry from the point? The best players I've played against make a difference from all 4 corners of the rink...

Just my two cents...

True but now-a-days im pretty sure most everyone under 30 possibly 40 knows how to take a slapshot.

I'm not so sure...

I mean, yea, you might not see the overwhelming majority of under 30 players in the world fall on their face after winding up for a slapshot...

I fit the mold of someone you would think has a good slapshot... 6'4", 195 lbs... orangutan arms... but then again no one would call my shot incredible. And then you have guys like that Andrew Christiano (Marple Gladiators).. He's not a big kid, maybe 5'10", not an entirely huge kid, but he's got one of the hardest shots I've seen in roller hockey... (ask my eyebrow)

What I'm saying is, its obviously all technique, and fine-tuning the shot is quite worth it, in the long run...

It is obviouly all in the technique, I have arms that could be desrcibed as puny. I mean down right stick figure arms. I get all of my power for my shot in my legs, alot of other players do too. It is definitley in the technique, if I hadn't had proper training I could probably run faster than my slapshot would be. (okay maybe thats exaggerating a little but you get the jist.)

I totally agree with you, but aren't the goals that you score with a slapshot even more meaningful, they are rare but still impressive. I can remember every goal I scored in travel with a slapshot, even though I can count them probably by using my fingers. lol

In my opinion, there is a reason for every type of shot in ice/roller hockey. The backhand is an unexpected weapon and if you know how to use it correctly and good wrists, a backhand is lethal. The wrist shot is key for placement when you are in close, and if used properly, a sniper weapon. The snap shot is a quick shot to surprise the goalie, the best way to take this is to keep your feel moving and then shoot on the go, goalies hate it. Then the slap shot, which is convtroversial. Where more power is needed, i.e. from further distances, or if someone has a sniper slap shot, why not take em. Personally, mine is not bad, I have scored several key goals with slap shots from the top of the circles. But there is always a use for every shot and just for the record, a slap shot has nothing to do with how big you are. I am 5'10", 150 lbs, and I can shot like I am big, so it is all technique, and the flex in your stick. Plus, in roller, the puck is lighter, easier to get movin quickly, so it becomes more useful on sport court than ice. Agree with me?

Kurt Wampach

Most definitley I agree I am 5'9 145 and well I have been told my slap shot is nice so I will assume it is, but i have (said it in another post) stick figure arms, technique is everything, obvioulsy you have to have some muscle but the muscle used is not your bicep, its your lats.(i think thats what they are called)

I agree with goalie rick... I have scored a whole lot of goals in boht ice and roller and I would have to say that probably 90% have been wrist and backhand shots. I have the worst slap shot anyways and figiure I am doing fine with the other 2 why worry about it..

True, slapshots are much more dangerous when taken on a sportcourt.

There are really four issues with a slap shot - one of course is the velocity generated, the second is when it is used, the third is how quicly can you get it off, and lastly how accurate are you?

The most effective use of the slapshot in roller hockey by a forward is in using a "one-timer" - usually on a power play or from a preset play like a "give and go" from the offensive corner.

Many players who have a heavy shot in practice may need too much room or time to get it off. The guy who can release it with minimal space and time - and who is accurate gains the benefit of intimidation (against some defensemen) and surprise. However just working on the shot itself as most do - will not get you proficient at quick release and timing. One-timer slapshots should be an element of every practice (at least for elite level teams) and the pace of feed should be gradually increased to simulate game pressure situations. Knowing how to position the body to take a one-timer takes a lot of practice and taking one when you haven't practiced can be pretty humiliating. Much of this is anticipation and being prepared to release.

An effective slapshot is a very powerfull weapon, but the key word is "effective", Most dont spend the time at practice to develop much more than the shot velocity and maybe accuracy - so it's normal that other shots are more effective for most players in a game situation.

As for technique, the legs are the key - a deep knee bend and good lower torso rotation (creatd by leg drive) multiplies the rotation speed of the upper body which in turn accelerates the arm speed and when timed correctly, allows the player to get the body mass behind the shot. This allows maximum stick flex with the least loss of blade velocity (there is much more mass behind the shot than if just performed with the arms).