1. How exactly can I perform a snapshot? is it in between a wrister and a slapshot? Please explain.
Well, you have asked one of my favorite subjects that I love to teach my players. I have read the complete thread and I like what a lot of the guys have posted here. However, I would like to add just a couple of things. A snap shot can be one of the most deadliest weapons you can use against a goalie. If performed correctly, the goalie will not be able to react in time. To perform this shot correctly, you want to give as little motion or communication of the shot to the goalie. A good goalie, not a great goalie, can read and react to the movement of your stick.
If he sees this big wind up, he knows that you are going to do a slap shot. If he sees you drop your shoulder, he knows you are going to do a wrist shot.
But, if you come down the ice prepared to shoot. One, you are going to kind of freeze him in his tracks the minute you open up that blade. Try to not communicate the shot as much as possable. Once you get upon him, without dropping your shoulder, get the shot off. The shot is more of a wrist shot, but with a snap of the wrist and light pressure on the shaft of the stick(soft hands). Once you are about to get the shot off, you add pressure to the shaft of the stick with your hands. Remember...don't drop that shoulder!
2. I have trouble keeping my head up when I'm stickhandling. Any tips for this?
I did like the golf ball thing! One of the things you will need to do is use your peripheral vision. Hold the golf ball just a little bit a head so that you can use your peripheral vision. Stand in one place while looking up and use your peripheral vision to see the ball. Once you have this down, then I want you to walk around with the ball and control the ball. How is it ok to look down? Yes! every once in a while you have to make quick "camera snap shots" of where you are at and what you are doing. I call it a camera snap shot, because this is the same thing you use when you go into a corner. Before you go into a corner, you always want to take a snap shot of your surroundings. So this way, when you get the puck you don't have to think where you are going to pass the puck. Because you have taken a snap shot of where your team mate is at and you can get it to him without problems. But, you must be comfortable with keeping your head up.
3. I also have trouble getting the puck in the air (somehow I can easily float the puck when I'm passing, but never when I shoot)
Well, getting the puck in the air is a matter of puck placement. If you have the puck a little bit behind you (in line with your skates), the puck will not fly. However, if you have the puck a little in front of you during the release, the puck takes flight.
Then it's just a matter of follow through. And as several members have already posted, where ever you point the blade is where the puck is going to go. follow through low and the puck fly's low. Follow through high, and the puck fly's high.
Now, there are a couple of things you can do to help improve the flight. If you hold the puck just a little ahead in line with your skates, and you place the puck more towards the heal, pull the puck towards your body to that the puck spins on the blade towards the tip of the blade. This spin is going to give the puck a gyro effect. Once the puck gets to the tip, you kind of cup the puck with the tip of the blade and then make a move like you are trying to get the blade underneath the puck. Even though there really isn't any room between the puck and the ice, the gyro effect has help pick the puck off the ice enought to slit a piece of paper underneath it. This space is good enough to help take flight with the puck.
Hope this helps.
Head coach