How would using a hard rubber ball instead of a puck change the game?

[canuckster19]

Sorry mods if this is the wrong place for this.

Now believe me I'm not suggesting they remove the puck and use a ball, this isn't what this thread is about. I'm merely interested in how people think the game would change. Would there be more scoring or less?

I'm thinking with a ball, shooters will have better scoring shots because they will be able to lift the ball higher closer to the goalie. On the other hand will passing a ball on such a fast paced game make overall possession control difficult?

Would it be easier to clear the zone by lifting a ball for a popup to the neutral zone?

Will goalies be more prone to give rebounds because of it's shape? And is it more predictable because of it's shape or less so than a puck?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

More scoring in tight, slower passing, tougher rebounds to corral, ineffective aerial passing.

Would be interesting to see it play out for a game.

 

[DingoAteMyBaby]

Probably a lot more shots over the net. However, easier to control as you wouldn't have to worry about rolling pucks.

 

[Inkling]

Doesn't bandy use a ball rather than a puck? Perhaps some Swedes would have an opinion on how it would impact the game.

 

[canuckster19]

I'm thinking neutral zone traps might be easier to break, I remember playing ball hockey players would take a run at a defender, flip the ball at about 8-9 feet high passed them and break in on goal. Harder to do with a puck.

 

[canuckster19]

Doesn't bandy use a ball rather than a puck? Perhaps some Swedes would have an opinion on how it would impact the game.

Yeah I live in Sweden, sticks are much different, they swing them more like golf clubs than hockey sticks, and they're playing on soccer field sized ice.

 

[Mypetrobot]

What type of ball?

Solid core? Hollow with Liquid inside?

 

[Moncherry]

It would make long passes obsolete.

 

[canuckster19]

It would make long passes obsolete.

How so?

What type of ball?

Solid core? Hollow with Liquid inside?

Something similar to a puck size and density/weight.

 

[HFBS]

It would put Don Rickles out of business.

Let's do it!

 

[Playmaker09]

Lie down and block all passing lanes. GG EZ.

Hal Gill would become a #1 Dman.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Might make 'baseball' style goals more common. Giving the impossibility of saucer passing, and the ease of knocking a ball out of the air, would imagine we'd see more 2 on 1's ending in balls being hit out of the air.

And a lot more passes being gloved down.

 

[Coily]

More strike outs that's for sure.

 

[Machinehead]

The density of the ball is important. There's no shot blocking in lacrosse because you would actually die.

 

[takumi111]

Wouldn't the ball have crazy movement in the air, like baseball? If so, I'm liking the idea of players shooting knuckleballs towards the goalie

 

[The Cheat]

The density of the ball is important. There's no shot blocking in lacrosse because you would actually die.

I still have no idea how people play goalie in lacross

 

[Playmaker09]

Wouldn't the ball have crazy movement in the air, like baseball? If so, I'm liking the idea of players shooting knuckleballs towards the goalie

Yup.

If you're left handed it curves to your right and vice-versa. You only really notice it on slap shots though.

 

[canuckster19]

Yup.

If you're left handed it curves to your right and vice-versa. You only really notice it on slap shots though.

It curves a lot though because the ball is so light, I mean even pucks curve on slapshots, physics simply dictate they do, the only difference is the curve is so subtle/non-existant it's unnoticeable.

 

[bland]

They would have to play in a netted dome. Somebody in the crowd would go to the hospital during every period.

 

[weastern bias]

The ball would roll around more than a puck does

 

[JIMVINNY]

Shootouts would be ridiculous. stickhandling becomes a lot easier when you don't have to worry about a puck staying flat.

 

[TriFF51]

Could be wrong but just looking at the difference in shape I don't think you could put the same velocity on a ball as you can on a puck. Especially a slapshot.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

It would become ball hockey on ice. It would be atrocious.

 

[TrillMike]

If the ball is like those stick handling/same weight as a puck ones, there would probably be some really bad injuries.

 

[mantis toboggan]

Shots would be a lot slower that's forsure. It would also bounce around everywhere way more than a puck.