How to Improve Your Shooting Accuracy in Hockey
When you think of a goal scorer, what do you picture? Most people would imagine blistering slap shots or rocket wristers. But the truth is, accuracy beats raw power every time. A 60 mph shot that misses the net doesn’t help your team—but a 40 mph shot placed perfectly in the corner can be the difference between a win and a loss.
If you want to score more, you need to hone in on your target and sharpen your accuracy. Here’s how.
The Mechanics of an Accurate Shot
Accuracy starts with fundamentals. Every detail of your shot—stance, puck placement, and follow-through—affects where the puck goes. It’s not just about what you do, but also how you do it.
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Stance – Bend your knees, keep your weight slightly forward, and stay balanced on your edges. A stable base ensures consistent release.
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Puck Position – Place the puck just in front of your back foot when shooting. Too far forward or back throws off accuracy.
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Follow-Through – Your stick should finish pointing directly at your target. Where the blade finishes, the puck follows.
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Head-Up Play – Keeping your eyes on the target rather than the puck allows you to aim with intent and react to game situations.
Common Shooting Mistakes
Even skilled players fall into habits that limit their accuracy. Watch out for these pitfalls:
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Shooting off-balance – Rushing a shot without proper footing often leads to weak or wide shots.
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Eyes glued to the puck – Looking down prevents you from aiming effectively and reading the play.
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Inconsistent follow-through – If your blade isn’t finishing toward the target, your shots will lack precision.
Correcting these small details can have a huge impact on your scoring percentage.
Training Drills to Build Accuracy
Improving accuracy takes reps with purpose. Add these drills to your training sessions:
1. Corner Challenge
Pick a corner of the net (top right, top left, bottom corners) and fire 10 shots in a row at that target. Repeat for each corner. Focus on consistency over speed.
2. Quick Release Drill
Have a partner pass you pucks, or pull them from a pile yourself. Work on shooting immediately upon receiving the puck. This builds the ability to hit targets in tight game situations where time is limited.
3. Moving Target Drill
Game situations are dynamic, not static. Using tools like the Digital Shooter Tutor, which features interactive scoring zones and feedback, allows you to simulate real challenges. The targets push you to stay accurate while adapting to different shooting scenarios.
The Bottom Line
Power can make a shot exciting—but accuracy makes it effective. By focusing on mechanics, avoiding common mistakes, and practicing with purposeful drills, you’ll see your accuracy improve shift by shift. Once you’ve got the accuracy down, then you can push your power threshold.
Consistency and quality matter more than sheer volume. Train with intent, and the results will follow.
