This article provides 9 steps for taking an effective slap shot in hockey: 1) Choose a righty or lefty stick based on comfort; 2) Cut the stick to your nose height; 3) Tape the stick securely; 4) Practice shooting from the top circles or blue line; 5) Position the puck far enough ahead; 6) Wind up the stick high overhead; 7) Square your shoulders to the target on the downswing; 8) Make contact with the ice before the puck for power; 9) Follow through toward the target in case of a rebound.

1. How To Take A Slapshot
By Shane Town
Photo by tiffa130 at Flickr.com

2. Step 1: Finding the Right Stick
-Just because you write or throw with one hand doesn’t mean you
will play hockey the same way. Try out both righty and lefty, then see
which one you find more comfortable. Then decide what “flex” you
want your stick to be (flexible=small, weaker and stiff= bigger,
stronger).
• Righty Curve
Photo by Nedral at Flickr.com Photo by Tuchodi at Flickr.com

3. Step 2: Cutting your stick
• The general rule is that you want you stick about to
your nose (off skates), but once again it’s all
preference. Usually defenseman will have longer
sticks than forwards.
Photo by Let Ideas Compete
at Flickr.com

4. Step 3: Tape your stick
• Start taping at the heel of
your stick, getting closer and
closer to the toe as you go.
• Overlap about half the width
of the tape remembering
that any cracks you leave
bare could cause the whole
tape-job to unravel later.
Photo by dooq at Flickr.com

5. Step 4: Choose your location
• Anywhere between the top
of the circles and the blue
line would be the most
game-realistic place to
practice your shot.
• If you don’t have access to
ice then find a hard, flat
surface or pavement.
Photo by Clydeorama at Flickr.com

6. Step 5: Puck Placement
• Practice extending the puck far enough in front of you to get a
strong wind-up, but not so far that a defender could easily
take it.
• Also practice the set-up both on moving and stationary.
Photo byEricMagnuson at Flickr.com

7. Step 6: The wind-up
• Rotate the blade of your
stick back so it’s nearly
above your head, keeping
your bottom hand about
halfway down the shaft.
• Meanwhile dip your off-
hand shoulder down, as the
knee on the same side
slightly bends.
Photo by Clydeorama at Flickr.com

8. Step 7: Pre-Connection
• Stay square to the target and bare in mind the
further away the puck is in front of you, the
higher it will travel
• Rotate your hips as you come down toward
the puck with the blade, as you straighten you
off- hand knee, while bending the other.

9. Step 8: The Connection
• Make sure as the blade comes toward the puck that it hits the
ice at least 4 or 5 inches before the puck.
• This is what determines how much your bottom hand will flex
the shaft. This is where the majority of your power will come
from.
Photo by aepoc at
Flickr.com

10. Step 9: The follow through
• The toe of your blade should point at the target as your follow
through comes to an end.
• Remember to keep moving toward the net because in a real
game your shot might produce a rebound.
Photo by Clydeorama
at Flickr.com