Ok, so when my Squirt player first started playing hockey I gave him a straight blade stick and let him loose to find his own dominate side (how it was done to me when I was a kid). He ended up favoring his right hand and hasn't gone back. However, I was reading an article the other day that almost made me want to make my 10 year old start shooting lefty. Among the things mentioned:
-Lefties have an advantage shooting at the weak (stick) side of the goalie because 90% off all goalies hold their stick in their right hand.
-Lefties have an advantage poke checking and moving the puck with one hand because their dominant hand is on the stick.
-Lefties are better stick handlers because the top (dominant) hand does most of the work.
Basically the moral of the story was that if your kid is right handed then giving him a right handed stick is about as pointless as telling him to write with his left hand. They said that however they would hold a snow shovel is how they should hold a hockey stick.
After reading this I decided to take a look at the top goal scorers in the NHL and here is what I found:
1. J. Carter - shoots right
2. A. Ovechkin - shoots right
3. T. Vanek - shoots right
4. P. Kessel - shoots right
5. Z. Parise - shoots left
Of course the top 4 on the list could all be left handed for all I know but what does everyone think about this? Is giving a right handed kid a right handed stick handicapping him?
Righty or Lefty?
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O-townClown
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easy for me to answer
I'm right handed and shoot left. I find it hard to believe I could stickhandle, pass, and shoot as well as I do now if someone made me start with a R curve. Won't you be best off shooting the way that feels natural?
Be kind. Rewind.
The snow shovel method is a good one, in my opinion. Over the years, I've suggested using a broom to establish lefty/righty - which is basically the same thing. A kid will go with what feels best for himself/herself, and that's what they should stay with. Many parents shove a stick in a kid's hand and assume right handedness must mean that a right curve is the way to go. Not at all. Straight blades at the early mite levels can help accomplish a correctly dominant sided stick.
If you are right hand dominate you will be a better puck handler if you have your right hand on the top of the stick - this allows the stonger hand to roll the stick side to side and thus become a better puck handler.
But, if you are right hand dominate and have that hand as the low hand on the stick you will find that you will be able to have a stronger snap shot and be able to move the puck front to back (toe pull) faster and stronger.
Some people say that if you have your dominate hand on the bottom of the stick it is a hockey "death sentence"...i can see the advantage of having the dominate hand on the top but I would not consider it to be the determining factor as to which kid is going to excel at the game or not.
But, if you are right hand dominate and have that hand as the low hand on the stick you will find that you will be able to have a stronger snap shot and be able to move the puck front to back (toe pull) faster and stronger.
Some people say that if you have your dominate hand on the bottom of the stick it is a hockey "death sentence"...i can see the advantage of having the dominate hand on the top but I would not consider it to be the determining factor as to which kid is going to excel at the game or not.
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muckandgrind
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I've heard a range of opinions on this topic. I like the idea of giving your 1st year player a stick with no curve and let them decide what side feels more comfortable.
Both me and my younger son are right hand dominate and shoot left. My older son is left hand dominant and he also shoots left, and he can shoot the puck pretty hard.
Both me and my younger son are right hand dominate and shoot left. My older son is left hand dominant and he also shoots left, and he can shoot the puck pretty hard.
gilmour wrote:If you are right hand dominate you will be a better puck handler if you have your right hand on the top of the stick - this allows the stonger hand to roll the stick side to side and thus become a better puck handler.
But, if you are right hand dominate and have that hand as the low hand on the stick you will find that you will be able to have a stronger snap shot and be able to move the puck front to back (toe pull) faster and stronger.
Some people say that if you have your dominate hand on the bottom of the stick it is a hockey "death sentence"...i can see the advantage of having the dominate hand on the top but I would not consider it to be the determining factor as to which kid is going to excel at the game or not.
My thoughts exactly. Assuming they are all Right Hand dominant, look at some great danglers vs. the guys with the big shots.
Lefties: Gretzky, Housley, Broten, Crosby, Datsyuk, Malkin, Orr, etc.
Righties: Ovechkin, Hull, McInnis, Iginla, Selanne, Bossy, etc.
Giving a kid a straight blade is definatley the way to go. Whichever way is most comfortable for him/her is the way they will probably do better with.
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jBlaze3000
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So it sounds like there are advantages either way (righties shoot harder, lefties are better at stickhandling). I would think that years of playing hockey would negate any advantages of shooting a certain way, however. The one argument that I think would favor lefties is that against 90% of goalies they will be shooting forehand to the weak side.
Here are some other interesting stats that I found:
-71% of Canadians shoot left compared to only 57% of Americans.
-The younger you are when you start playing hockey, the more likely you are to shoot with your dominant hand on top (younger kids are more likely to grab for a stick with their dominant hand, older kids are more likely to hold it like a baseball bat). This holds true for my boys, my oldest started playing at 6 and shoot right, my middle started playing at 4 and shoots left.
-Only 24% of NHL defensemen shoot right handed. This seems odd to me because I would think teams would want a righty playing the right side.
Here are some other interesting stats that I found:
-71% of Canadians shoot left compared to only 57% of Americans.
-The younger you are when you start playing hockey, the more likely you are to shoot with your dominant hand on top (younger kids are more likely to grab for a stick with their dominant hand, older kids are more likely to hold it like a baseball bat). This holds true for my boys, my oldest started playing at 6 and shoot right, my middle started playing at 4 and shoots left.
-Only 24% of NHL defensemen shoot right handed. This seems odd to me because I would think teams would want a righty playing the right side.
I have a righty that shoots left (dominant hand up), that started swinging a stick before trying baseball. As a result he bats left, even though he is right eye dominant (hunting). Always wondered how much better a hitter he would have been if he would have given his naturally dominant side more of a try. 
Last edited by IMHO on Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
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jBlaze3000
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:25 pm
Re: Righty or Lefty?
[quote="jBlaze3000"]
After reading this I decided to take a look at the top goal scorers in the NHL and here is what I found:
1. J. Carter - shoots right
2. A. Ovechkin - shoots right
3. T. Vanek - shoots right
4. P. Kessel - shoots right
5. Z. Parise - shoots left
[quote]
Also, forgot to make note of the fact that 3 of the top 5 have Minnesota ties. Nice to see.
After reading this I decided to take a look at the top goal scorers in the NHL and here is what I found:
1. J. Carter - shoots right
2. A. Ovechkin - shoots right
3. T. Vanek - shoots right
4. P. Kessel - shoots right
5. Z. Parise - shoots left
[quote]
Also, forgot to make note of the fact that 3 of the top 5 have Minnesota ties. Nice to see.
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Marty McSorely
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:01 am
Old School Range coaches made all lefty's play from the right-side and all righty's play from the left-side. Their story was the control hand at the top of the stick.
We never knew any different as a kid......The problem today is retailers asking parent's of little johnny what hand he is and forcing him into a stick. I've seen numerous mite kids over the years actually end up holding the stick backwards and then having M/D go get the correct stick.
We never knew any different as a kid......The problem today is retailers asking parent's of little johnny what hand he is and forcing him into a stick. I've seen numerous mite kids over the years actually end up holding the stick backwards and then having M/D go get the correct stick.
My son is right handed and also shoots from the right side. I had no hockey experience when he started to play. Our association was small and hadn't been around for a long time, thus we didn't have many second or third generation people in the association. When he went to get a stick, we were asked what hand he was (right) and was given a right handed stick. Not knowing any better, we just went with what he was given. I also noticed that there was three times as many right handed sticks in stores then left handed sticks, so it seemed like he should be a righty.
After several years of playing, coaching and lots of reading, I've come to the conclusion that he should have been a lefty. It makes sense that the majority of Canadian hockey players are left handed simply because of the hockey tradition and experience in Canada. When Grampa and Dad have played and were taught that the dominant hand should control the top of the stick, they automatically give a right hand dominant player a left handed stick.
With the number of non traditional hockey areas popping up the the US (central, southern and western states), its easy to see why the US has a more equal amount of right handed players to left handed players. It comes down to more first generation hockey players in the US that have not been given the information and reason as to why a new player should play as a righty or lefty.
I also feel that a lefty has an advantage shooting off of his strong side at the goalies weak side, but I think that the higher the level, the less of the advantage goes to that shooter. By the time you're at the pro level, the advantage is gone because the skill level of the goalies.
After several years of playing, coaching and lots of reading, I've come to the conclusion that he should have been a lefty. It makes sense that the majority of Canadian hockey players are left handed simply because of the hockey tradition and experience in Canada. When Grampa and Dad have played and were taught that the dominant hand should control the top of the stick, they automatically give a right hand dominant player a left handed stick.
With the number of non traditional hockey areas popping up the the US (central, southern and western states), its easy to see why the US has a more equal amount of right handed players to left handed players. It comes down to more first generation hockey players in the US that have not been given the information and reason as to why a new player should play as a righty or lefty.
I also feel that a lefty has an advantage shooting off of his strong side at the goalies weak side, but I think that the higher the level, the less of the advantage goes to that shooter. By the time you're at the pro level, the advantage is gone because the skill level of the goalies.
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jBlaze3000
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- Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:25 pm
The more I think about this the more I think it makes little difference what hand someone shoots with. Sure a left handed player would have an advantage shooting with their forehand to the goalies weak side but only when coming in from the right side. When coming in from the left a right handed shooter would have a better angle on the forehand shot. As far as the whole stickhandling vs shot strength argument, I could see it making a difference early in a players youth career but after years of practice I don't think you would see a difference in skills based on where a players dominant hand is on his stick.
People can teach themselves to write left handed when they break their right arm. With practice and repitition anyone can make themselves amadextrious.
People can teach themselves to write left handed when they break their right arm. With practice and repitition anyone can make themselves amadextrious.
Some scoring statics:
Scoring Areas
• 62% – 10 to 25 ft out in the middle of zone
• 29% – slight angle to the side of the middle
• 6% – near face off dots
• 3% – bad angle beyond the dots
Area of the Net Goals Score
• 73% – scored to the stick side
• 18% – to the glove side
• 9% – between the pads.
Height of Goals Scored
• 69% – on the ice
• 21% – shoulder high or above
• 10% – knee to shoulder
Here is an article I found on this subject that was written by Hal Tearse when he was with MN Hockey:
LEFT OR RIGHT, WHICH IS RIGHT?
When our children are old enough to play sports it is time to invest (that is the appropriate term in hockey) in equipment. As adults we cringe at the cost because we know that as soon as the season is over we will be buying a new set gear for the next season to accommodate the growing bodies of our kids.
So off to the store we go to outfit little Wayne Gretzky or Cammie Granato. We start with skates and add all of the protective equipment that we can afford. The last item is the stick. You look to the store clerk and say,” Left or Right?” At this point the clerk, who is probably a part time employee while going to school, looks at your little superstar and
says “Left or Right?” Now the decision comes down to the child of which mostly are right handed and they say “right because that is how I write”.
The problem with all of this is that is right is wrong. But you ask, “how can right be wrong when my child is right? In fact, he or she writes right, throws right, and bats right. How can right be wrong in hockey?”
Well the answer is that it is desirable to have the strongest arm in control of the stick and for right handed people that is the right hand. It then should be placed on the top end of the stick with the left hand at the middle of the shaft. There are many times during a game when a player will have only one hand on the stick (unlike baseball and golf) and it therefore makes more sense to have the stronger and more coordinated hand/arm in control for poke checks, sweep checks, and for skating strides. Skating strides you ask?
When a right handed skater starts out going forward he or she will generally stride first with the dominate leg and reach forward with the dominant side arm. When the stick is in the opposite hand it is trailing and can affect balance and forward momentum. This may force the player to begin with the non dominant leg (in most cases left) which for right handed people is the weaker leg. Nothing scientific here but it does make sense.
In the shooting motions the top hand is critical for power in the push pull motion of shooting. Therefore it again makes sense to have the stronger arm in control, so again left would be right for right and conversely right would be right for left.
Twenty years ago most hockey players were left shots because they are mostly right handed. We had a hard time finding right handed shots. Today most players are still right handed but shoot right. Did we evolve as humans over the past two decades to make such a remarkable change? I doubt it. What happened is that with the incredible growth of hockey since Herb Brooks and his gang of college boys toppled the Soviet Empire in 1980 at Lake Placid (think I am kidding about that?) many parents of today’s’ players did not play hockey and therefore they do not know if right is right or left is right. So today I will tell all new hockey parents that left is right if your child is right and right is right if your child is left.
Confused? Here is the correct way to determine which stick your child should use. If the child is right handed a left stick will do. If your child is left handed a right stick would be best.
Hal Tearse
Minnesota Hockey, Associate Head Coach
Scoring Areas
• 62% – 10 to 25 ft out in the middle of zone
• 29% – slight angle to the side of the middle
• 6% – near face off dots
• 3% – bad angle beyond the dots
Area of the Net Goals Score
• 73% – scored to the stick side
• 18% – to the glove side
• 9% – between the pads.
Height of Goals Scored
• 69% – on the ice
• 21% – shoulder high or above
• 10% – knee to shoulder
Here is an article I found on this subject that was written by Hal Tearse when he was with MN Hockey:
LEFT OR RIGHT, WHICH IS RIGHT?
When our children are old enough to play sports it is time to invest (that is the appropriate term in hockey) in equipment. As adults we cringe at the cost because we know that as soon as the season is over we will be buying a new set gear for the next season to accommodate the growing bodies of our kids.
So off to the store we go to outfit little Wayne Gretzky or Cammie Granato. We start with skates and add all of the protective equipment that we can afford. The last item is the stick. You look to the store clerk and say,” Left or Right?” At this point the clerk, who is probably a part time employee while going to school, looks at your little superstar and
says “Left or Right?” Now the decision comes down to the child of which mostly are right handed and they say “right because that is how I write”.
The problem with all of this is that is right is wrong. But you ask, “how can right be wrong when my child is right? In fact, he or she writes right, throws right, and bats right. How can right be wrong in hockey?”
Well the answer is that it is desirable to have the strongest arm in control of the stick and for right handed people that is the right hand. It then should be placed on the top end of the stick with the left hand at the middle of the shaft. There are many times during a game when a player will have only one hand on the stick (unlike baseball and golf) and it therefore makes more sense to have the stronger and more coordinated hand/arm in control for poke checks, sweep checks, and for skating strides. Skating strides you ask?
When a right handed skater starts out going forward he or she will generally stride first with the dominate leg and reach forward with the dominant side arm. When the stick is in the opposite hand it is trailing and can affect balance and forward momentum. This may force the player to begin with the non dominant leg (in most cases left) which for right handed people is the weaker leg. Nothing scientific here but it does make sense.
In the shooting motions the top hand is critical for power in the push pull motion of shooting. Therefore it again makes sense to have the stronger arm in control, so again left would be right for right and conversely right would be right for left.
Twenty years ago most hockey players were left shots because they are mostly right handed. We had a hard time finding right handed shots. Today most players are still right handed but shoot right. Did we evolve as humans over the past two decades to make such a remarkable change? I doubt it. What happened is that with the incredible growth of hockey since Herb Brooks and his gang of college boys toppled the Soviet Empire in 1980 at Lake Placid (think I am kidding about that?) many parents of today’s’ players did not play hockey and therefore they do not know if right is right or left is right. So today I will tell all new hockey parents that left is right if your child is right and right is right if your child is left.
Confused? Here is the correct way to determine which stick your child should use. If the child is right handed a left stick will do. If your child is left handed a right stick would be best.
Hal Tearse
Minnesota Hockey, Associate Head Coach
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jBlaze3000
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:25 pm
I'm not doubting but where did you get these statistics?RLStars wrote:Some scoring statics:
Scoring Areas
• 62% – 10 to 25 ft out in the middle of zone
• 29% – slight angle to the side of the middle
• 6% – near face off dots
• 3% – bad angle beyond the dots
Area of the Net Goals Score
• 73% – scored to the stick side
• 18% – to the glove side
• 9% – between the pads.
Height of Goals Scored
• 69% – on the ice
• 21% – shoulder high or above
• 10% – knee to shoulder
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jBlaze3000
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:25 pm
Gotcha. I've never seen stats like that and I was just curious as to where they came from. Makes sense that goalies would keep track of that sort of thing.RLStars wrote:I'd have to dig back into it. I think I got them from a goalie training site. I've seen other stats that were very similar to these.