Honing Your Handle: A Guide to Developing Puck Handling Skills

Today, we are going to explore an essential skill in the sport of hockey: puck handling. Puck handling, or stickhandling, is the ability to control the puck using your stick, and it's what separates average players from the greats. Players like Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers are masters of this art. Let's dive into some specific strategies and drills to help you develop this essential skill.

1. Understand and Master the Basics

The first step in improving puck handling is understanding the basic mechanics. Your top hand controls the movement of the blade while the bottom hand loosely supports the stick, sliding up and down as needed. Keeping your knees bent and the puck close to your body will allow for maximum control.

2. Use The Right Equipment

When selecting a stick, ensure it's the right height and curve for you. The stick should generally reach between your chin and nose when you're in skates. Each player will have a personal preference for the curve, but beginners may find a moderate curve easier for controlling the puck.

3. Develop Soft Hands

Having "soft hands" refers to the ability to make quick, fluid movements with the puck. A great drill for this is the "Puck Handling Obstacle Course." Set up a series of obstacles (cones or other markers) and weave through them while controlling the puck. As you improve, increase your speed or make the course more complex.

4. Practice Off the Ice

Improving your puck-handling skills doesn't require an ice rink. Off-ice stickhandling drills can be extremely effective in developing your skills. You can use a weighted puck, ball, or a street hockey puck on any flat surface. Regularly practicing off-ice can help improve your hand quickness and overall control.

5. Head Up Drill

Keeping your head up while controlling the puck is a vital skill in a game. Start by stickhandling while standing still, and once you feel comfortable, try to look up and not at the puck. As you improve, start to move around while keeping your head up. This will help you see open lanes, incoming defenders, and scoring opportunities during a game.

6. Incorporate Both Hands

In most stickhandling situations, your top hand does most of the work while your bottom hand provides support. A drill to develop your top hand control is to practice stickhandling using only your top hand. This forces you to use your wrists more, which helps improve overall control.

7. Use Training Aids

There are numerous stickhandling aids available today. Products like stickhandling balls, attack triangles, and SweetHands can help you improve your skills. These tools mimic game situations and help you work on specific aspects of puck handling.

8. Learn from the Pros

One of the best ways to develop puck-handling skills is to watch and learn from professionals. Watch how they maneuver the puck in different situations and try to mimic their techniques in your drills.

9. Consistent Practice

As with any skill, consistency is key to developing puck-handling abilities. Even just 15-20 minutes a day can lead to noticeable improvements over time.

Remember, developing exceptional puck-handling skills takes time and dedication. The most important thing is to keep practicing and pushing your boundaries. Keep your stick on the ice and your eyes on the prize!

If you would like help with improving your puck handling, sign up for a Katz Bros private training session so that we can take you to the next level!