How to Take a Wrist Shot

How to Take a Wrist Shot How to Take a Wrist Shot Wrist shot is considered as the most effective shot used while playing ice hockey. This shot can be released very quickly, but with exact accuracy. The player has to learn the wrist shot paying techniques before practically applying the same in a game of hockey. A wrist shot normally takes more time than the slap shot, but still one can play this powerful shot with proper technique, regular practice and upper body strength. While taking a wrist shot you have to ensure that your body weight starts on the back leg and as the shot progresses the strength transfers through the front leg. You will also have to roll the puck from the back portion of the blade to the toes as the stick sweeps from the back swing through the follow through. But still you need a lot of regular practice to improve your wrist shot taking skills and make it more effective while playing a hockey game.

Instructions

While taking a wrist shot you have to concentrate on the exact location of the puck. You can draw puck back from behind or your back leg. The process is similar to throwing a ball, because as you pull the ball back you will get more power to throw. You can raise the puck off the ice without pulling it back; still pulling the puck back adds more power to your wrist shot.
Also you have to ensure that the puck should be at the heel or much closer to the blade of the stick when taking the wrist shot. While executing the shot the puck will roll forwards towards the toe of your stick which will give the puck a spin and enables you to aim where you want to shoot.
While shooting, use your top hand to hold the top of the stick and place your lower hand at no more than half way down the stick. Just like other players your hand position will vary based on the type of wrist shot you are taking. There are variations of wrist shots like close to the net, cutting in, and angle which will make you change your hand position according to the shot.
While you start taking the shot, put most of your weight or power on your front leg and move the weight more to your front leg while taking the shot. Then you can push off using your front and back legs, and put more power and energy into your wrist shot.
You have to do a follow through by aiming where the puck is going as it is of great importance in a wrist shot. Also a good follow through makes sure that you are getting full power from your wrist shot. You can continue to push through with your shot while keeping the puck on the blade of your stick for longer. As a result, you will be transferring more energy to the puck and adding more speed to your shot. Also while doing the follow through, you should roll your wrists over and point at where you want the puck to go. After shooting it should appear like as if you are looking down the scope of a rifle.
When you are executing the wrist shot, have the puck drawn back, place your hands in proper position, and place the puck at the heel of the blade of your stick. After being properly set up start taking the wrist shot, pull the puck towards the net with the blade of the stick. After the puck has moved a bit on the ice, pull with your upper hand simultaneously pushing with your lower hand. This will generate flex on the stick and lift the puck off the ice. When the puck is off the ice and on the blade of your stick, you need to roll or flick your wrist to get full power from the shot. You also have to point the toe of the blade of the stick as where you are shooting and do the follow through.