How Do I Shoot the Puck Better?

Every player wants a harder, more accurate, and more deceptive shot. The problem? Most coaching advice relies on outdated cues like “hands out,” “lean into your stick,” or “shift your weight.” These aren’t necessarily wrong coaching cues but when interpreted the wrong way, they create unnatural mechanics that hold back your shot.

In this article, we’ll break down how to unlearn these limiting cues and replace them with the Slingshot Shooting System principles, built from a mechanics-first approach inspired by NHL stars like Matthews, MacKinnon and Bedard.

Why Traditional Shooting Cues Hold You Back

Some common advice you’ve probably heard:

• “Hands out” → The hand does move out, but it comes back in close to the body. Keeping them locked out or always infront of your body is not what is being done by the NHL's best shooters.
• “Lean into your stick” → NHLers get stick flex from rotation and push/pull mechanics, not by forcing their body weight into the shaft and pushing into the ice.
• “Shift your weight” → Many elite players (like Marchand) shoot off one foot or from a planted base, not by transferring side-to-side.
• “Don’t brush it off” → Over-stickhandling can kill any attack, but NHLers like MacKinnon often use a quick handle to add deception before release.

The Slingshot Shooting System: Becoming the Bow

Instead of chasing isolated cues, focus on a universal mechanic we see across sports: becoming the bow.

Like a bow and arrow, your body preloads by stretching across the back (posterior oblique sling): from your top hand, through your shoulder, across to your opposite hip. Then you release that stored energy into the shot.

Examples in from other spots:

• 🔺Golf Swing: Preload stretch across the back, then explosive release.
• 🔺Tennis Forehand: Hand crosses the body, creating the same preload.
• 🔺Hockey: Top hand pulls across, hip internally rotates, and the shot unleashes with whip and flow.

Mechanics Cues That Unlock a Better Shot

Here’s how to start training mechanics instead of forcing power:

• 🔺 Floating Elbow: Frees the top hand for whip and range.
• 🔺 Setting Your Footwork: Preps the shot, varying from which release you will use.
• 🔺 Posterior Sling (“Inner Spring”): Transfers energy diagonally through the body for explosive release.
• 🔺 Preload & Release (Becoming the Bow): Stretch across your back → unleash like a bow and arrow.

Drills to Train the Slingshot Shot

Off-Ice Drills to Build Awareness:

• 🔺Pass off board Reps (100x): Feel the stretch across your back on each preload on the catch and release.
• 🔺Pass Reps with Rotation (100x): Add extra hip rotation by exaggerating into the catch + shoulder drop to increase the bow stretch.
• 🔺Pass Reps Full Connection (100x): Feel the stretch from top hand all the way down to blade-side ankle.

On-Ice Drills

• 🔺Shooting in Stride: Add the preload while skating, Matthews-style.
• 🔺Outside Edge Release: Shoot from less comfortable edges to build versatility.
• 🔺Quickhandle opposite foot, pull in and release: Allow a quick handle at your opposite foot before releasing to add deception and changing the angle on the goalie.

Improve Your Shot with Train 2.0+

Inside Train 2.0+ Membership, you’ll learn:

• 🔺 The Slingshot Shooting System- Matthews, Bedard, Marchand and MacKinnon mechanics broken down step by step.
• 🔺 The Downhill Skating System- 10+ NHLer mechanics matching chapters and how the principles tie into shooting.
• 🔺 Science-based video analysis to be able to see your mechanics improve (once you see it, you can't unsee it).
• 🔺 Progressions that develop your shot from your personal shooting space to in game goal scoring.