If you want to get better from your driveway, basement or garage, try these drills with Coach Jeff Lovecchio.
What You’ll Need for This Drill
Follow along with video instruction.
How to Set Up
The simplest way to train at home is to use shooting pads. BAUER makes three different sizes. You can use the pads any way you want to. To start, position your Shooting Pad with its short end parallel to the net. Set it back 15 or so feet. The shooting pad is perfect for mimicking the feel of the ice to help you advance as a player. As a bonus, it can be combined with the BAUER Blade Protector to help to prevent damage to your stick.
TIP: When we’re shooting, we want to face our “hips and nips” to the net. Warm up by taking a couple of stick handles, look where you’re shooting and take your shot!
Here are a few more ways you can use the pad to become a better shooter:
Push and Pull
Nowadays in the NHL, we see players do a huge pull before they release the puck. The reason they do this is to change the angle. If you change the angle before you shoot, it’s going to be a lot harder for the goalie to read your blade.
Try turning your shooting pad so the long end is parallel to the net. Set it back 15 feet or so. In shooting position, try to reach the puck out wth your stick. Then pull the puck back in close to your body and then shoot it!
Clap Bomb (aka Clapper or Slap Shot)
Using a larger pad, turn it so the short end is parallel to the net. Shoot with all your force and keep practicing to improve your slap shot.
Step up your practice by adding the BAUER Clamp on Passer.
What I love about this passer is it’s super lightweight and perfect for home use. It’s portable from your basement to your garage or the street. As a bonus, it also clamps right onto the shooting pad by sliding the feet under the pad and tightening the knobs on the top. It will not move.
Rapid Fire Passing and Shooting
Using the passer will help you get your shots off more quickly. Start with your body facing the net, prepared for a backhand shot. Pass the puck off your backhand. It will hit the passer and rebound to your blade. Then forehand shoot the puck as quickly as you can.
Next, try a forehand pass to a forehand shot. Start with your body facing the net, prepared for a forehand shot. Pass the puck off your forehand. It will hit the passer and rebound to your blade. Then forehand shoot the puck as quickly as you can. The more you do this, the better you’ll get. Just try not to hit a window!
If you want to progress as a player, you’ll want to constantly find ways to level up your training. Don’t be satisfied with level one. Continue to push your boundaries and you’ll improve as a player.
