A Few Simple Suggestions For Improving Your Shot This Summer

Without Having To Be Inside The Arena ...


By Paul Lubanski

Now that summer has officially arrived, my hope is that most of you have made a conscious decision to put away the skates for the next 30-60 days.

Many years of experience have told me it truly is a good idea to rest and rejuvenate the body--and mind, in preparation for another long season  that lurks just ahead.

That being said, I do have a suggestion or two for you in today's blog that if heeded, will definitively make you a better player once you finally step back on the frozen pond this fall.

And the neat thing is this: it won't take a tremendous amount of money, equipment or even energy to accomplish what I proposed above

It simply involves shooting 100 pucks a day.

That's right--just 100 practice shots a day.


Think about it for a moment...100 shots a day for the next 45 equates to 4,500 repetitions.

Now that's the perfect (and only) recipe for anyone  to build muscle memory, overall strength stamina and endurance.

And don't forget the potential improvement to your shot release time and accuracy.

Sounds like a terrific formula--don't you think?

Ok--so now a few ideas for how to make it happen...

First, I would visit a local Home Depot and ask for any scrap pieces of plexi-glass they may have lying around and could give to you at no charge. The plexi-glass is designed to act as your driveway shooting surface. Keep in mind that the shorter and/or narrower the pieces you may secure--the more you will be forced to work on "quicker:" and more efficient releases--and that's obviously a good thing.

Otherwise, you only need an old net or canvas bags to shoot into. And if you gain access to a radar gun to measure/compare shot velocity before and after your campaign--that would be ideal.

I would certainly advise including the various shot-types  within each and every session. Traditional wrist sweepers', slap and snappers should be combined with backhand efforts.I would also practice one-timing shots, although that may be easier accomplished with a shooting buddy rolling you a tennis ball.

I would vary my shooting angles as well. And don't forget the "crease-area roofer" type shot from both the backhand and fore-hand perspectives--everyone seems to forget the need to work that into their respective arsenals.

Also, I would be creative by practicing ripping shots off of one-foot, wrong foot and even while on your knees lying or the ground. And with the help of your shooting-buddy, I would have him/her hassling, hooking, bumping you while you attempt to launch accurate shots at the cage--just like it happens in real-game action.

Another fun way of keeping your enthusiasm at peak levels is shoot 5-10 times a session while blind-folded. Think about it--yes, there are times in a game when you literally cannot view any open net and sometimes even the net itself. So shooting utilizing only a "feel" for  where the cage is--does makes sense.

In closing, I would advise setting some very clear and attainable goals for yourself. For example, improve shot speed by 10% and be able to recognize a discernible increase in both release efficiency and accuracy.

Best of luck.

Paul Lubanski


BONUS TIPS

-Notice that I haven't said anything about incorporating specific four-corner  targets into the shooting-practice equation.

That is by design.

I personally believe that simply hitting the cage (as often as possible) with the hardest, heaviest shot you can muster--combined with of course, the quickest release imaginable is what will lead to both personal and team success.

Why?

Uncontrollable rebounds foreshadow slam-ins for teammates and helpers for you.

I am not saying that there will never be and occasion for you to have  to "pick-a-spot" and finesse one in--but the overwhelming majority of the time it is best to rip it as hard as humanly possible at the cage--especially from a "team" point-of -view.


-Weighted pucks can and should also  mixed-in your daily shooting efforts.

-I always coach and play with a  mindset that say's the following: shoot, shoot and shoot some more--even from less-than-perfect angles. It is the MOST fun and satisfying way to approach the game--and to me --it make the most sense. So remember, the better your shot becomes--the more effective adopting that philosophy can be.






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