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How To Shoot Like A Pro

Let's talk about how to shoot like a pro. It all comes down to: 

Add that all up and you can take your game to the next level with crisp passes, tight stickhandles, and an uptick in goal production.

Sports Zone has been operating in Waterloo for over 16 years. We are committed to providing hockey players with high-quality sticks at unbeatable prices both in-store and online and helping them to find the stick that will be the best fit for them - contact us today to learn more!

Now let's take a look at how you can shoot like a pro by finding the right stick for you.

How To Shoot Like A Pro

Find The Right Stick

If you want to shoot like a pro, you need to get your hands on a stick used by the NHL's top scorers. Here are the NHL's top 5 goal scorers as of December 10 2019 as well as the sticks they're currently using, according to Gear Geek:

Player Goals Stick
David Pastrnak 25 Bauer Nexus 2N Pro
Alex Ovechkin 21 CCM Super Tacks AS2 Pro
Nathan MacKinnon 19 CCM Ribcor Trigger 3D PMT
Leon Draisaitl 19 Warrior Alpha DX SL
Connor McDavid 19 CCM Super Tacks 2.0

Let's take a look at each stick and what makes them special.

Bauer Nexus 2N Pro - Balance of Release Speed and Power

Beginning with the construction of the shaft, the 2N Pro Hockey Stick features Bauer’s Monocomp Technology. This is a one-piece molding process that provides players with ultimate consistency when shooting, passing, and stickhandling.

Click the image to get this stick!

The Nexus line of sticks are known for their mid-kick points allowing for a great balance of release speed and power, and the 2N Pro Hockey Stick encapsulates this perfectly.

The 2N Pro Hockey Stick features Bauer’s Sweet-Spot-Technology, which gives players the option to easily fire off a quick snapshot from the hashmarks or launch a powerful slapshot from the blue line.

Pastrnak recently used it to score this beauty:

Want to shoot like a pro? Start with Bauer Nexus.

CCM Super Tacks AS2 Pro - Modern Mid-Kick Performance Powerhouse

The CCM Super Tacks AS2 Pro delivers cutting-edge technology and an optimized design to make it “a modern mid-kick performance powerhouse.”

You can learn much more about it here, and the following infographic offers all you need to know about why legendary goal scorer Alex Ovechkin has chosen it as his stick of choice.

CCM Ribcor Trigger 3D PMT - Seamless Energy Transfer Equals More Snipes

Nathan MacKinnon has emerged as one of the very best players in the game over the past few seasons, and his stick of choice is the CCM Ribcor Trigger 3D PMT.

Click the image to get this stick!

What makes this stick special is the quick release. This is due to the Trigger 3D’s redesigned Pop-Matrix Technology and optimized Ribcor low kick point. Quick and easy loading, combined with a more efficient and seamless energy transfer leads to more snipes.

MacKinnon's quick release was on full display during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs with this overtime goal in Calgary:

Take goalies by surprise with the CCM Ribcor Trigger 3D PMT

Warrior Alpha DX - Low Kick-Point With Stable and Powerful Release

The Warrior Alpha DX Senior stick is new for the 2019-20 season. It's the second iteration of the Alpha stick line and features upgrades to both the shaft as well as the blade. Leon Draisaitl scored 50 goals in 2018-19, and he's not at all slowing down with this new twig.

Click the image to get the Warrior Aplha DX!

Headlining the technology of the Alpha DX Hockey Stick is Warrior’s exclusive Sabre Taper Technology. This taper design, starting at the midpoint of the Warrior logo and extending to the top of the blade, combines a low kick-point with a stable and powerful release, making it a great option for players who like to take quick snapshots and heavy slapshots as well! 

The Alpha DX uses a FuelCore Blade. This lightweight polymer blade core enhances puck feel and control, helping players get the puck of their blade as quickly as possible.

The Warrior Alpha DX is also used by Drew Doughty and Dylan Larkin

CCM Super Tacks 2.0 - Two Optimized Loading Zones

Connor McDavid is the best player in the game today, and his stick of choice is the CCM Super Tacks 2.0. It's an earlier version of the stick used by Ovechkin, but clearly no less effective. 

If you want to shoot like a pro, consider the kick point of the Super Tacks 2.0 and its responsive dual flex profile. This stick features two optimized loading zones, one for wrist shots and one for slap shots, while also making the bottom of the taper softer for a more responsive feel when puck handling.

This stick has an extremely stiff blade with great durability offering better accuracy when shooting due to reduced blade deflection and higher torsional rigidity.

Click on McDavid to get your hands on the same stick he uses!

Shoot Like A Pro - The Right Technique

Another great resource to learn how to shoot like a pro is a series of videos by Coach Jeremy on YouTube. Whether you're a young player trying to improve your hockey skills, a parent looking for hockey tips, or a beer leaguer looking for some fun hockey videos, he has something for you!

The Right Exercises

You also want to increase personal strength with the right exercises. In the video below, you'll see four great exercises that will help improve your hockey shot.

  1. Pronated Grip Pullup
  2. Dumbbells Farmers Walk
  3. Elbow on Knee Dumbell External Rotation
  4. Rotational Med Ball Throw

These exercises will help you shoot like a pro

Begin To Shoot Like A Pro With Sports Zone's Stick Fitter

In 2018, CCM introduced a revolutionary stick fitter designed to recommend the best stick for the individual player, bringing pro-level insights to players of all ages and abilities.

The CCM Stick Fitter is an online tool that asks you a series of questions to determine which CCM stick (Ribcor, JetSpeed or Super Tacks) and flex is best suited for your height, weight and style of play.

Designed to ensure the most accurate results are secured, the tool asks different questions per age group ranging from favorite players, skills the individual aims to improve, most used shot and more.

You now have direct access to key knowledge and information that makes the process of selecting and purchasing a stick simpler and more efficient. This an amazing place to start your quest to shoot like a pro, and Sports Zone is proud to be the home of one of the CCM Stick Fitters. Visit us today to try it out!

Sports Zone is located at 92 Lodge St, Waterloo, ON

Want To Shoot Like A Pro? Start At Sports Zone!

As Waterloo's largest independent sports retailer, we've provided hundreds of hockey players with high-performance sticks - and we can do the same for you.

The Sports Zone difference is our personalized level of service. We pledge to offer the customer a personal, small-store service experience but with all the sports equipment and apparel athletes need to excel at their sport.

Whether you need a skate sharpening, hockey equipment, skates, hockey sticks, goalie equipment, figure skates, or other sports equipment, Sports Zone has what you need at the best price, guaranteed!

What Sports Zone Customers Are Saying:

"Amazing store. Didn't know it existed. Alex in the store spent almost two hours with my son shooting pucks and helping him choose a stick that he loves. We'll definitely be back!" 
- Luke Piasecki

Visit us today to get the best sports equipment you need to compete and take advantage of our in-store services. Or, you can order online if you're outside the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

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