The Golf Ball and the Tennis Ball

Here I will discuss two regular items that have turned into some of my most invaluable training tools. I feel that most youth hockey players (in the South Jersey area at least) are not exposed to these tools to improve stickhandling. Since the emphasis in the Atlantic District seems to be on big hits and fancy stick handling, let's take a look at taking stickhanding and adding training to make it more function than flash.

We'll start with the golf ball. The golf ball is a great stand in for either smart hockey ball or fly puck price wise and that a golf ball contacts the stick at nearly the same level as a hockey puck. Stickhandling a golf ball on hardwood or tile flooring is second to none in increasing hand speed since the hard golf ball rolls as fast as possible on the hardwood or tile. Increasing your hand speed and reaction time is never a bad thing. A tile floor with deeper grouting between tiles can also help simulate tired ice at the ends of periods or games depending on your level.

The tennis ball  is again much cheaper to buy in quantity than a "hockey specific" training ball. Tennis balls are slower and bounce a lot more than the golf ball or the smart hockey ball for that matter. We have a saying around the rink that we start telling the kids around their pee wee season; "If you can stickhandle a tennis ball on rough pavement and not lose the ball, you can stickhandle on anything". There is nothing to better simulate tired ice than a tennis ball on carpet or to simulate the puck hitting a hole in the ice than a tennis ball on pavement.

There of course are more structured training methods like Turcotte Stickhandling Camps, but I feel as though I gained the most from just setting up some "cones" and stickhandling while I watched TV before bed. Improving your stickhandling is about improving your hand speed as well as your quick reactions to the opposing player or bumps in the ice. Using the basic setups above with both the golf and tennis ball along with getting a little creative on your own part will go a long way to making yourself a better hockey player.

Now get to work, the season is starting.

Quick feet x quick hands