Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/60989
STIX, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON MY SHOOTING AT HOME. I'M WONDERING IF I SHOULD WORK ON ONE TYPE OF SHOT OVER THE OTHERS? IF SO, WHICH ONE? MIKE SIMON, DETROIT SLAP SHOT!!! SLAP SHOT!! SLAP SHOT! FOCUS ON YOUR SLAP SHOT, SO YOU CAN TAKE IT FROM ANGLE OR FROM BEHIND THE NET. TAKE THE SLAP SHOT FROM ANYWHERE, EVERYWHERE, ALWAYS. THE SLAP SHOT IS JUST SO DARN COOL TO USE!!! USE ALL YOUR CLUBS IN YOUR BAG MIKE, TO PLAY HOCKEY WELL YOU NEED TO WORK ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE GAME EQUALLY, ALL TYPES OF SKATING, TRANSITIONS, PASSES AND ALL SHOTS. SO... THINK LIKE A GOLFER. TO PLAY THE GAME WELL, A GOLFER NEEDS TO MASTER ALL THE SHOTS NEEDED TO GET THE BALL IN THE HOLE: DRIVES, FAIRWAY SHOTS, CHIPS AND PUTTS. DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND SITUATIONS ON THE GOLF COURSE REQUIRE CERTAIN SHOTS TO BE EXECUTED WELL. EVERY SITUATION IN THE GAME OF HOCKEY WILL REQUIRE YOU TO USE EVERY SHOOTING SKILL YOU HAVE IN YOUR "BAG:" WRIST SHOT, SNAP SHOT, SLAP SHOT AND BACKHAND. WORK TO MASTER ALL OF YOUR SHOTS SO YOU CAN USE THEM EFFECTIVELY ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME AROUND THE NET. OF COURSE, UNLIKE GOLF, HOCKEY DOES NOT LET YOU PONDER YOUR CHOICE OF SHOT. SO... BE QUICK & DEADLY ACCURATE ONCE YOU'VE WORKED THOROUGHLY ON THE FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS OF SHOOTING, START WORKING ON GETTING YOUR SHOTS OFF QUICKLY AND ON TARGET. USE RAPID FIRE DRILLS OR, WITH THE HELP OF A FRIEND, WORK ON A QUICK RELEASE OFF A PASS. BE SURE TO SET UP YOUR NET WITH TARGETS THAT REQUIRE YOU GET YOUR HEAD UP AND HIT THE SPOTS YOU'RE AIMING FOR. BESIDES YOUR SLAP SHOT, THERE ARE FEW TIMES WHEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO "TEE" UP OVER A SHOT. YOU NEED TO PRACTICE FOR THOSE SITUATIONS ALSO. TAKE SHOTS BALANCING ON ONE LEG OR USE A BALANCE BOARD. SHOOT WHILE FALLING AWAY OR TOWARD YOUR TARGET. LOSE YOUR BALANCE GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE HOCKEY DOES NOT LET YOU SET UP OVER EACH SHOT LIKE GOLF. SO... PUT YOURSELF INTO AWKWARD POSITIONS AND WORK TO PUT SHOTS ON GOAL AND WITH SOME ACCURACY. TWIST YOURSELF UP IN KNOTS BY SITTING ON A STOOL OR BOX YOU CAN WORK ON YOUR VELOCITY AND ACCURACY OF YOUR SHOT WITHOUT USING YOUR LEGS FOR POWER AND BALANCE. TAKE OUT YOUR LEGS 60 FEET OR 3 FEET, FROM A GOOD ANGLE, BAD USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM APRIL/MAY.2012 35