Advice: Practicing shooting in driveway or yard?

[youthoftoday]

I started playing last year and my shots are horrendous. I have no confidence to try a slapshot in a game and my wrister is weak. I've been watching videos and get what needs to be done, but I can't seem to put it together yet and the 5 minutes we have to warm up before games isn't enough time to practice. I want to start shooting with real pucks at home, but what's the best surface to shoot from? Some sort of plastic mat or plexiglass?

 

[redbranch]

http://howtohockey.com/hockey-products/hockey-shooting-pad-information

this site's been a godsend to me, in learning how to play hockey, and how to practice better. Good product reviews, good videos. Just wish there were more videos

 

[lilphill23]

hit up Hockeyshot.com they have all sorts of hockey training aids.

 

[LateNightOilerFan]

My son lived in the driveway shooting pucks - it really helped him - although there is a difference between shooting on pavement and shooting on the ice - so just keep practicing.

The garage doors tell that story, along with the siding, as well as the puck stuck in the gyproc inside the garage. Only 1 broken window over 7 years though.

 

[izzy3]

The best surface is ice, if you can create your own lil ice rink.

Well, I was in your shoes, and a shooting pad (actually I got a tape2tape), a goal and ~30 pucks was one of my best investments so far in hockey. Actually any kind of hard, relatively slippery surface (PE, plexi, etc) will do, you can also use some kind of lubricant (I used silicone) to make it more ice-like.

You still need to adjust a little bit, when you get on the ice, but your mechanics and technique will be much better, so you'll see a big improvement.

When I started I used to shoot ~300 pucks a day, mostly forehand, now I shoot ~500 / week, and it's more of a wrist, snap, backhand, one-timer, slap festival, whatever I feel like I need improvement on.

Do it, you will not regret it.

 

[christianbk]

I recently followed the instructions in this thread to make my own, DIY shooting pad. While not an exactly replica of an ice surface, it feels pretty darn close and it was nice not to spend an arm and a leg for a shooting pad (more like... I think it came out to $18?).

 

[youthoftoday]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Priced out some options at Home Depot the other day, but I haven't decided to do my own or just get one those boards from HockeyShot.

 

[lilphill23]

I had made one of my own following that tutorial and it worked fine it was just annoying that it needed to be "lubricated" on a fairly regular basis as well as once the silicone spray was on there it attracted dirt and and pine needles. I currently have the roll up shooting pad from Hockeyshot and there is no maintenance involved.

 

[youthoftoday]

I had made one of my own following that tutorial and it worked fine it was just annoying that it needed to be "lubricated" on a fairly regular basis as well as once the silicone spray was on there it attracted dirt and and pine needles. I currently have the roll up shooting pad from Hockeyshot and there is no maintenance involved.

What's the deal with the rolled up ones? Since it rolls up, I envision it curved on either end and not laying flat. Does it have any issues like that?

 

[lilphill23]

no after i receieved it i laid it out in my garage and it was flat in about 2 hours. plus with the hockey shot onetimer attached to one end it keeps it pretty flat.

 

[youthoftoday]

no after i receieved it i laid it out in my garage and it was flat in about 2 hours. plus with the hockey shot onetimer attached to one end it keeps it pretty flat.

Cool, thanks.

 

[dr robbie]

I personally practiced shooting at random concrete buildings in my area. Like a school after hours or a closed building. As long as there aren't any windows or people near, you should be good.

 

[nystromshairstylist]

no after i receieved it i laid it out in my garage and it was flat in about 2 hours. plus with the hockey shot onetimer attached to one end it keeps it pretty flat.

Any thoughts on the durability of the rollup vs. the flat hard one?

Here are the two links:

http://www.hockeyshot.com/HockeyShot-Professional-Shooting-Pad-30-x60-x3-p/shooting-pad-004.htm
http://www.hockeyshot.com/HockeyShot-Roll-up-Shooting-Pad-p/shooting-pad-011.htm

 

[Lonny Bohonos]

Any thoughts on the durability of the rollup vs. the flat hard one?

Here are the two links:

http://www.hockeyshot.com/HockeyShot-Professional-Shooting-Pad-30-x60-x3-p/shooting-pad-004.htm
http://www.hockeyshot.com/HockeyShot-Roll-up-Shooting-Pad-p/shooting-pad-011.htm

I have the large rollup and the smaller rigid one. No issues with the rollup. Very durable.

 

[Snow Dog]

Remember to use a shorter stick,or,put rollerblades on.It will totally screw you up if you practice with the same length stick that you use with skates on.

 

[Devil Dancer]

Remember to use a shorter stick,or,put rollerblades on.It will totally screw you up if you practice with the same length stick that you use with skates on.

This is what I came in here to say. When I practice my shot off-ice I always have rollerblades on. It's obviously not the same as ice, but it's much, much closer to on-ice shooting mechanics than shooting with shoes on.

 

[Starbuds]

I found that developing my core strength really helped with every aspect of shooting. My stick handling improved (through better overall balance) and both my wrist and slap shot had smoother, stronger releases. It's something you should look into if you are serious about having a good shot. Obviously this comes after nailing down basic technique.

 

[Snow Dog]

A couple hundred wrist shots a day is a killer core workout,especially your butt.