How do I get a harder shot?

[Kirbz]

i was wondering how to really improve the power of your shot.do you really need an extreme wind-up or am i jsut doing somehting wrong , most of the time when i wind up it just goes flying off course, do i need to pratice more or is there somehting i am doing wrong. ? i see teamates and other people with there boomers , and i know i am stronger than 3 quaters of them , there must bee something i am doing wrong , could it be something to do wiht my pocket, too muhc hook? no enough? please help.

thank-you

- Kirbz

[petejobu22]

Your form determines a LOT about your shot, ask a coach or someone to watch your form and to give you points if needed to improve it.
Practice shooting, with said good form.

[GAlax3]

its not just about strength, although it helps its not the only thing you need..technique is also very important

to get faster shot try, of course, shooting and a lot..on a goal and work on ur accuracy at the same time..or on a wall from far away, just shoot at a certain spot on the ball many many times and itll come back..and do this both hands

i would tell u about the form, but personally i think that its kinda hard to describe in text..ask ur coach or any coach to help you with the proper technique

[Kirbz]

ok thanks alot guys

[Lax.53]

also might want to check how your stick is strung, if its whippy or no whip all could have an affect on where you put the ball.

[Canadian Lax]

To get more power try moving your hand down your shaft more, and try to transfer the weight of your legs better. Like throwing a baseball, shift your weight from your back leg to the front one. And make sure u follow through on the shot, dont just stop moving your hands after the bll has come out of your stick, like a slap shot in hockey follow all the way through. So.....

-lower hands on the stick ( bring the top hand down more)
-shift your weight
-and follow through more

[zim]

Make sure you do a little stutter "hop" before your shot.
This will turn your hips and release all your power into
the focus point [stick head]. When i don't hop, my shot
is noticably slower.

[jimd619]

I find that a lot of players don't lift their arms a bit. You need free movement, I tell players that for a good hard shot elbows should be about chest high (but don't stick that left elbow forward or a D will lift it). If they are down stomach high you will lose some velocity. Step deeply, like you are pitching, lift the butt-end slightly and let loose using your fore-arm and wrist strength primarily.

[pantherLax]

http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=70226

http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=78215

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http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=72067

Theyre all on shooting, especially the last few. Read it up.

All for the Instruction Page from InsideLacrosse.com.
http://insidelacrosse.com/page2.cfm?display=8

[Riot]

I've found that the longer my step is the faster I shoot (within reason). Also, make sure you snap your hands. Push forward with your top hand and pull in with your bottom hand.. I think.. somebody correct me if I'm wrong on that point.

[the next 'one']

try shooting without your top hand. it should pretty much be all your bottom hand as it pulls the stick down and across your body. the top hand is pretty much just a guide/stabilizer. all the power comes from your bottom hand. really turn your shoulders and twist your hips as you shoot. its almost as if you want to be facing a little away from your target. if your shooting righty, your front shoulder should point about 20 degrees right of the target. opposite for lefty. if your hands are in close to your body, it will dramatically reduce shot speed, and your shot is pretty much relying on how fast you unwind your windup. its like a golf swing in the air, or atleast the way your hands should be. your bottom arm is almost completely straight. and it stays that way. just keep shooting with good form and you will be fine.

[laxpro]

Besides just working and trying to get your shot faster by practicing, you should also try working out some of the key muscles used in a fast shot, which include:
~Back
~Triceps
~Legs
~Forearms

Also trying working on your stance, a good stance is key to a fast shot. Set your feet before shooting.

Good luck.

[Laxmann019]

Besides just working and trying to get your shot faster by practicing, you should also try working out some of the key muscles used in a fast shot, which include:
~Back
~Triceps
~Legs
~Forearms

Also trying working on your stance, a good stance is key to a fast shot. Set your feet before shooting.

Good luck.

exactly. well put. But also work on accuracy because a fast shot isn't enough. there's no point in having a fast shot unless u can aim it

good luck though hope this helps

[laxpro]

exactly. well put. But also work on accuracy because a fast shot isn't enough. there's no point in having a fast shot unless u can aim it

good luck though hope this helps
Well put, yourself. Work on accuracy first, power second. Going into detail about Laxmann's statement, a goalie can stop a poorly aimed fast shot over a well placed (well...) slower shot any day.

[Kirbz]

wow guys really helps , thats awesome , and i see both ur points there, accuracy first, power second. got it. thanks a million .

[laxpro]

Anytime, if you have any questions feel free to PM me.

[Keeley28]

To get a harder shot u must have the right form, form is one of the most important things, also strength plays a role but form is much more important there are many instuctional videos out there but when i first started i purchases mark millons offensive wizardry video and it was a real help ...

[LaxDr]

i wouldn't want a hook in my stick if i wanted a hard shot, if your stronger than most of the team you should be able to shoot harder than most of them, i know my first year of lacrosse i had one of or the hardest shot on my team and i just threw the ball but theres probly some sort of tequenique that will improve it

[MIExLax]

To get a harder shot u must have the right form, form is one of the most important things, also strength plays a role but form is much more important there are many instuctional videos out there but when i first started i purchases mark millons offensive wizardry video and it was a real help ...


Agreed... Form is of utmost importance... and those videos are very helpful

some tips from my experience...

to get a good shot when you wind up don't just try and put the stick back as far as you can, you need to wind your body up...

get a good stance(base) with your back foot firm in position... then wind your torso like you are streching you back during warmups.. all the while keeping your stick in proper position (over hand butt of stick towards target). now is where it gets tricky (you need to do multiple things at once to make it work....

once you are wound up as much as you can (like a spring) unleash that energy by taking a decent sized step with your front foot ( to your comfort) and plant it. while doing this make sure your stick has started its motion strat towards the target... Make the snap by pulling the bottom hand and pushing with the top (this should be limited because too much will cause you to shoot down depending on your head)... follow through and make sure your stick stays in line with the shot... this may feel akward but practicing it will keep your shot true. alot of guys will shoot and veer of the path of the original shot and totally hook it... also a follow through will 99% assure you hit your target.

for anyone who plays baseball the winding up of the body is the same as pitching the ball as it is for shooting the ball in lacrosse... It is also similar to a wind up on a golf swing... same concept to acheive maximum momentum.

Once you get the form and the windup down then any extra training of the musle group that "LaxPro" listed will definately help

here is a good video out there on to see some demos of Gary Gait explaining how to shoot.

rtsp://128.121.19.16:555/lacrossechannel/gary_gait/020723_garygait.rm

(copy the link above into a browser and have real player installed)

[MidiLine1]

lift like 5 - 20 poud dumbbell and do wrist curls. They get your forearms stronger which gets your shot faster. At a camp an instructor told me to do that at home and I improved my shot 3 mph after 4 weeks.

[LaxMaxVince]

You need a good follow through, and you need to snap your wrist. It takes practice.

[Laxdude]

my form is far from perfect but i have seen a big improvement since i started turning my shoulders more and then uncoiling them on the shot.

[teamLI07]

hit the weight rooms

[LaxCheck101]

i found that if you just get a bucket of balls and get a goal and just shoot 3-4 times a week, your shot speed will gradually increase. but as a lot of other ppl are sayin, practice w/ good form that you can learn from a coach or a fellow player that has a fast accurate shot.

[laxdevil666]

I got a low bounce ball and went to the wall. Put some tape 6'x6' on the wall and shoot at it. you wont have to chase the ball if you miss and you dont have to dig it out of the net if you only have one. you will get tons of reps and i gaurantee you will notice improvement if you do it with serious intensions of getting better.