Hockey players quickly learn that where their hands are placed on the stick is vital to their success on the ice. Hand placement will vary from player to player and also from task to task. Your hands might be fairly close together when stick handling on the open ice but farther apart when you are about to shoot the puck. Wise use of practice time will help you learn where your hands should be positioned.
Stick Handling
Stick handling is the art of maneuvering the puck up the ice while skating quickly. Players who can stick handle confidently can set themselves or their teammates up for a quality shot on goal. According to Improve Your Hockey.com, you should hold your hands about 10 to 12 inches apart. This is basically the distance from your wrist to your elbow. Holding your hands at this distance gives you control over the puck and makes it difficult for your opponent to predict which way you will maneuver the puck.
Slap Shot
When taking a slap shot, you need to hold your bottom hand about halfway down the shaft. This is about 14 to 16 inches. This will help you get the speed you need on the shot to overpower the goaltender and will give you enough control that you have a pretty good idea of where the puck will go when it leaves the blade of your stick. Holding the stick lower than that will make it feel awkward in your hands and keeping your bottom hand higher will make it difficult to control.
Backhand Pass/Shot
Move your hands about 10 to 12 inches apart when you are going to try a backhand pass or shot. One of the biggest advantages to a backhander is that it's quite difficult for an opponent to read. This is particularly true of a backhand pass. You might be stick handling down the ice and then make a backhand pass without breaking stride to a teammate. A backhand shot will require you to bring the puck toward your back foot in order to gain proper leverage, but this also should be fired with speed and quickness
Wrist Shot
Keep your hands about 12 inches apart on the shaft of the stick when you are shooting a wrist shot. You will propel the puck toward the goal with a quick twisting motion of your hands. The power comes from shifting your weight to your back leg as you release the puck. Your hand placement will help you shoot the puck accurately.
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