Just read an article by Kevin Maywood of The Columbus Dispatch yesterday–perhaps inspired by Alex Ovechkin’s impending visit that night?–on the mechanics of the hockey slapshot.
“They compress the stick into the ice 6 to 10 inches behind the puck; that bows the stick, storing energy,” said Terry Walker, a physics professor at Ohio State University.
“The key . . . is the speed they push the stick into the ice.”
Try that with a golf club.
The telltale sign of the slap shot is its sound — a “click-click” just before most of us see the puck flying into the net or gobbled up by a goaltender’s glove.
Click here for the story, here for video of slapshot and goaltender demonstrations, and here for a graphic illustrating the evolution of the hockey stick. Nice work, Dispatch!
2 Comments
Damn it, that illustration makes me feel like I should have purchased a stick with more curve. Next time I get a stick, I’m going for the banana curve! Someone bring the radar gun! I might hit double digits…
The Dispatch is a major sponsor/partner in the Blue Jackets ownership so they do a great job covering the BJs. That said, Columbus is a strong hockey market with a huge adult and youth league. The just need to make the playoffs to gain some respect. The Caps didnt help them last night – but I’m ok with that!
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