OT: Right shot players.

[McOilers97]

Honestly, I think handedness in hockey is based on however you first pick up a stick as a kid.

There's no other way to easily explain why lefty's can shoot right or left, and righty's can shoot right or left. As a righty myself, I do think it kind of makes more sense logically to swing a baseball bat, golf club and hockey stick from the same side though, for coordination purposes etc.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Honestly, I think handedness in hockey is based on however you first pick up a stick as a kid.

There's no other way to easily explain why lefty's can shoot right or left, and righty's can shoot right or left. As a righty myself, I do think it kind of makes more sense logically to swing a baseball bat, golf club and hockey stick from the same side though, for coordination purposes etc.

I look at it differently...when holding a stick one-handed (to poke check or throwing a hit), right-handed shooter holds it in their left hand

which for me is my dominant hand

 

[McOilers97]

I look at it differently...when holding a stick one-handed (to poke check or throwing a hit), right-handed shooter holds it in their left hand

which for me is my dominant hand

I guess, but it would be awkward to hold the stick with the bottom hand only. Holding with the top hand (which as you've said, is the left hand for a righty), allows the player to set up their shot quickly by just putting their bottom hand on the stick, no need to slide the hands. Also, allows for more reach of course.

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

This is completely anecdotal but I've always thought for right-handed dominant players, hockey righties had more powerful shots while hockey lefties were better stick handlers (due to the position of their dominant right hand on the shaft or butt of the stick).

 

[McOilers97]

This is completely anecdotal but I've always thought for right-handed dominant players, hockey righties had more powerful shots while hockey lefties were better stick handlers (due to the position of their dominant right hand on the shaft or butt of the stick).

That makes some sense to me; perhaps a trade-off between power and control depending on where the dominant hand is on the stick, interesting.

 

[McGoMcD]

Puck Daddy had a great theory: years ago, you got your first hockey at about 3 or 4 years old when your dad gave it to you. Your dominant was already determined, so he gave a right handed stick.

Now, kids get those mini sticks when they are babies. they grab the end with their dominant hand, then years later they put the other hand mid-shift.

Very interesting. I makes sense. There has to be some reason, why would a ton of righties suddenly start to shoot left. There has to be a teaching reason, or perhaps this one.

I am right and shoot right, the idea of shooting left seems weird, of course that is how I learned. When I grew up if you were right, then you started with a right stick. Now I am guessing it is just the opposite. If right, you start with a mini stick that teaches you to hold the right hand at the top, thus pick up a left stick.

Interesting any way, got to think it isn't that lefties just make better hockey players, that would be quite odd.

 

[Halibut]

The only problem with these theories of what has changed is that things havent. I grew up in the 70's and the vast majority of kids playing minor hockey then shot left just the same as now.

 

[McGoMcD]

The only problem with these theories of what has changed is that things havent. I grew up in the 70's and the vast majority of kids playing minor hockey then shot left just the same as now.

Really, don't recal that at all.

 

[Samus44]

The only problem with these theories of what has changed is that things havent. I grew up in the 70's and the vast majority of kids playing minor hockey then shot left just the same as now.

Exactly i grew up in the 80's-90's and most kids were lefties. My Dad says most guys were lefties while he was growing up too.

 

[McOilers97]

Ya, I think the NHL has pretty much always been like 70% lefties, and I'm assuming this holds true for most levels of hockey.

 

[Jepprey]

Shoot right. golf right. throw right. bat right side. write right. Catch better with my right hand.

All that said, ended up playing a lot of left wing most of the time. lol. Even when I was younger, when I played a bit goalie, I had to pull a Cujo, where my glove hand is lefty, but I have to shoot right handed.

I always thought it was weird that many of my friends drove right, but they putt lefty. After awhile, I was the weird one being the only one who didn't do that. lol

 

[tinfish]

Shoot right. golf right. throw right. bat right side. write right. Catch better with my right hand.

All that said, ended up playing a lot of left wing most of the time. lol. Even when I was younger, when I played a bit goalie, I had to pull a Cujo, where my glove hand is lefty, but I have to shoot right handed.

I always thought it was weird that many of my friends drove right, but they putt lefty. After awhile, I was the weird one being the only one who didn't do that. lol

I I'm the same way. Hockey, golf, baseball, tennis. Shoot right in every sport. I think its crazy that other people mix it up. I can't do anything on my left side

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

I I'm the same way. Hockey, golf, baseball, tennis. Shoot right in every sport. I think its crazy that other people mix it up. I can't do anything on my left side

I'm right in everything except hockey. I even had a right stick as a kid but somehow my body naturally wanted to shoot left.

 

[Billy Barou]

The only problem with these theories of what has changed is that things havent. I grew up in the 70's and the vast majority of kids playing minor hockey then shot left just the same as now.

I concur, I saw the same thing in the 80's

The majority of players back then shot left. Being the left handed kid I was one of three guys that shot right.

In Canada the majority of right handed kids shoot left. What's interesting is in the US it's almost the opposite.

Implies a cultural effect.