Why is my slapshot always off the toe of the blade vs. the heel?

Question

A friend in my pick-up league noticed my slapshots are almost always hitting the toe of my stick. I put white tape on to test and sure enough at least 80% of the time I miss the heel and hit it off the toe. How can I fix this?

Answer 1

Practise, practise, practise! Not sure how much hockey you play but, over time you should be able to make contact with the puck on any part of the blade you wish. Normally, experienced players will take a slap shot off the heel to fire a low hard shot. And a shot about 1/2 to 3/4 out to the end of the blade to fire at the upper part of the net. Over time you will be able to do this at top speed. maybe try first taking shots standing still. Then skating into the puck, and eventually at full stride carrying the puck. Take notice to where you make contact and the uses each part of the blade can play in power and accuracy.

Answer 2

You should position your feet different ways and in different spots before you shoot. Take a bucket full of pucks and practice until your arms are tired. Next day start again.
Another trick may be to not just strike the puck but also the ice just before the puck. If you have a composite stick this may give you more power from the whip effect.
You may also try putting your lower hand when shooting higher or lower on the stick if moving your feet do not help.
If you turn the blade when you shoot do it on the follow through and not as you are hitting the puck

Answer 3

I used to have the same problem. Here's what I did to fix it. First try to keep your wrist straight. Also don't wind up so far back. I noticed that I was turning my wrist back in my wind up and it was messing up my shot.

Now I take half slapshots, where you only pull the stick back about as far as your hips, then release. I noticed my shots aren't as hard this way, but they are way more accurate. They also catch a lot of goalies by suprise. Keeping your wrist straight also keeps the puck lower to the ground which is easier for your teammates to deflect.

Hope this is helpful, and goodluck.