Comparison of the Ice Hockey Wrist and Slap Shots for Speed and Accuracy

Abstract

Abstract Determinations were made of the speed and accuracy of the forehand shots commonly used in ice hockey. Thirty subjects, representing four teams of different hockey proficiency levels, were tested with a ballistic pendulum for shooting speed of four types of shots. Accuracy of the four shots was also investigated. The relationship of grip strength to speed and accuracy of shooting was studied. Analysis of variance was used to examine the differences between teams and between types of shots for velocity and accuracy. Low positive correlations were found between dominant grip strength and velocity of shots, whereas accuracy was uncorrelated with dominant grip strength. The velocity of the slap shot was greater than that of the wrist shot for the standing and skating positions, and the velocities of shots increased according to the proficiency level of the teams. The standing slap shot was the least accurate of the four types of shots and the skating wrist shot was the most accurate.