Timing of Release

Now that you know how it feels to properly open/close the blade when performing a wrist shot from heel to toe, it’s time to master your release timing. In a typical wrist shot, the puck will start in one position, and then as the shot is initiated, it will move forward along the ice towards the target before it actually comes off the blade. When you’re first learning, the distance the puck travels before releasing is expected to be longer than a more experienced shooter. One thing that everyone can do however, is be mindful of the timing of the release. Or in other words, where the puck is relative to your body when you do release the puck.

When talking about the optimal release timing, it’s important that you keep the puck (and your body) in a powerful and controlled position. If the puck is too far forward when you release, you will miss out on a lot of potential power… if the puck is too far behind you then it will be very hard to improve your accuracy and your power will suffer as well.

Pay close attention to where the puck is being released in the video above. The puck should start to come off the blade roughly where the foot closest to the net makes contact with the ground. We’ll get more into weight transfer and how to shoot by stepping on either foot later on in the course.