Tight turns or Hockey turns are an essential skill to develop on the ice, they allow the player to quickly change direction while still maintaining full control over the puck. There are numerous situations where a player will benefit from being able to quickly change direction, either to avoid obstacles or even shake off the opposition. Practising and eventually mastering this skill will add a totally new diminution to your game.
To being learning the tight turns its important to understand the position your body will be in while in the turn i.e. position of arms and legs etc: We’ll begin by taking a look at how your arms will be positioned while turning on your four hand to the left (right handed stick)
Example of tight turn to the left
Turning to the left (right handed)
As you turn to the left, you’ll be rolling your left wrist under your right arm (see image below) In order to do this correctly, you’ll be rolling the hand furthest up the stick (top hand) over or away from your body while tucking it under your right arm. Your right arm will be placed over the left.
Example of rolling your top hand
placing your top (left hand) under your right
Position of hands during the tight turn to the left
Tips
- stay nice and roll
- Roll wrists
- Left leg will lead when turning left
- Stick in front of your body for control over the puck
- Keeping your stick in front will also prevent you from losing the puck in the turn
- Stick and head turn then your body will follow.
Turning to the right (right handed)
This is slightly different from turning to the left, there is not tucking hands under while turning in this direction, you need to keep both hands out and in front of your body to control the puck and keep it on the stick blades. This time your right leg will be leading, stick and head turn then body follows after. It can be sad that a lot of players have trouble keeping the puck on the sticks blade while turning to the right, remember to keep those hands in from of your body and the puck around the mid section of the sticks blades.
Keep both hands in front
The same rules apply
- Arms out
- Stay nice and low while in the turn
- right leg will lead this time
- Stick in front of your body for control over the puck
- Keeping your stick in front will also prevent you from losing the puck in the turn
- Stick and head turn then your body will follow
