09/07/2026
Sometimes the easiest way to improve a hockey shot is to slow it down enough to actually see what’s happening.
We recently took a sequence of photos during training so we could break down a player’s shot frame by frame. At full speed, small mechanical issues can be difficult for a player to see or feel. Freeze the movement, and those details become much easier to recognize.
Swipe through the photos →
5167 — EFFICIENT BASE & RELEASE
This is one of the better reps. His feet are underneath his center of mass, giving him a stable base through the release. His hand position also allows him to create better leverage and a more efficient push-pull action through the stick.
5150 — BASE OF SUPPORT
Here the base gets too wide and his weight shifts too far toward his stick side. That makes it harder to efficiently transfer force from the lower body and trunk through the stick while maintaining balance and control.
5159 — TOP-HAND MECHANICS
Here the top elbow becomes elevated and starts to interfere with the shooting sequence. We want the top hand free from the body so the hands can work together efficiently through the push-pull action and release.
5183 — BLADE CONTROL & FOLLOW-THROUGH
The base and hand position are better here, and we’re starting to see the stick load. The next piece is controlling the blade through the release—rotating the wrists and directing the follow-through toward the target.
The goal of breaking down a shot like this isn’t simply to point out what a player is doing wrong.
It’s to give the player a visual reference for both the positions that work and the ones that don’t. Once they can recognize the difference, we can work toward making the better mechanics repeatable at game speed.
That’s player development.
Wednesday’s 4:40 PM small group at Canlan West Dundee is nearly full this week. A few spots are still available.
📩 Message Alvarez Hockey School for availability.
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