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Three-dimensional analysis of blade contact in an ice hockey slap shot, in relation to player skill

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the three-dimensional movement profile of the blade during a stationary slap shot, as a function of player skill level. A total of 15 subjects participated; eight were classified as elite and the remaining seven were recreational. Performances were evaluated by simultaneously recording the movements of the stick’s lower shaft and blade with high-speed video (1000 Hz), the time of stick-ground contact with two uniaxial forceplates and time of blade-puck contact with a uniaxial accelerometer mounted within the puck. Data were analysed with a two-way MANOVA for several dependent variables including linear kinematics, temporal phase data and global angles. The results indicated that skill level affected blade kinematics, with elite shooters tending to alter timing parameters (i.e. phase length), magnitude of linear variables (i.e. displacement, etc.) and the overall blade orientation to achieve a higher velocity slap shot. These analyses identified a unique ‘rocker’ phase within the execution of the slap shot in both groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education, McGill University, 475 Pine Avenue West Montréal, H2W 1S4, Québec, Canada

    K. V. Lomond, R. A. Turcotte & D. J. Pearsall

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  1. K. V. Lomond
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  2. R. A. Turcotte
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  3. D. J. Pearsall
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Correspondence to K. V. Lomond.

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Lomond, K.V., Turcotte, R.A. & Pearsall, D.J. Three-dimensional analysis of blade contact in an ice hockey slap shot, in relation to player skill. Sports Eng 10, 87–100 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02844206

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