Backhands

[LaJollaRed]

Alright, general question time.

When I played (roller) hockey growing up, I feel like we spent a lot of time learning to shoot backhands. I don't see much of that in hockey. Not at the college level, not at the pro level. Am I missing something? Are backhanded slap shots just not a thing in ice hockey? It seems like every time I see a player high in the slot with a straight shot on net he has to do at least two more touches to get to his forehand side.

What's going on here?

[upprdeck]

my guess is that there is so little control that other than desperation time its not worth the effort.. the pros shot backhands all the time but i dont recall anyone trying slapshots.

[Trotsky]

Am I missed something?  The stick is curved.

[redice]

The backhand shot is something that seems to be limited to the more gifted athletes.....    I've long thought it to be a skill worth developing....

[Al DeFlorio]

I've seen a lot of backhand shots but don't recall many backhand slap shots, which LaJollaRed was asking about.

[ugarte]

my guess is that there is so little control that other than desperation time its not worth the effort.. the pros shot backhands all the time but i dont recall anyone trying slapshots.

Seems like an exciting new way for Cornell players to wind up and miss the net by 4 feet.

[Trotsky]

my guess is that there is so little control that other than desperation time its not worth the effort.. the pros shot backhands all the time but i dont recall anyone trying slapshots.

Seems like an exciting new way for Cornell players to wind up and miss the net by 4 feet.

Better email it to Holden... ::whistle::

I actually think the difference between last year and this year is significant.  With one notable exception (the clockwork doomed reliance on the Buckles slapper from the left circle on pp that will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever produce a goal unless it's a shorty off a blocked shot) I think the team is setting up much better shots, taking lots of quick wristers and short one-timers, and in general being far more creative.

I like this offensive style and wish to subscribe to its newsletter.

[The Rancor]

Back hands would usually take the form of a wrist shot or snap maybe a sweep/deflection.  Slap shot... never.

[TimV]

So is a baseball bat perpendicular to the long axis.  

I didn't take the slap shot part of the question as being the point-  rather that the puck can be propelled to the net from the off hand side.  And as someone already pointed out, the decrease in accuracy and control is not something our team has traditionally worried about.

[Iceberg]

I don't see backhands taken much at the college level, even in situations where they would be advantageous. I find it strange too because backhanders are harder for a goaltender to pick up, and even if not accurate they can create a rebound.

[Chris '03]

http://www.wday.com/sports/4157917-und-ties-denver-gersichs-highlight-reel-goal-clinches-extra-point

Speaking of backhands...

[cue the thread drift about 3x3 second overtimes]

[abmarks]

Back hands would usually take the form of a wrist shot or snap maybe a sweep/deflection.  Slap shot... never.

You can't snap a backhand either- that would be really awkward to try.


There is one advantage to the backhand not yet mentioned- it's a lot easier to roof a backhand than a forehand- takes much less stick action to generate the lift.

[redice]

Angello's first againsy Q was a beautiful backhand.