Secret Weapon

Darby Hendrickson’s tips to developing a dangerous backhand

By: Tyler Mason

DURING HIS TIMEAS A PLAYER INTHE NHL, DARBY HENDRICKSON learned how important a good backhand shot can be. The current Minnesota Wild assistant coach is far from the only former player to sing the praises of that shot as one that young hockey players should develop.

“Wayne Gretzky, he always preached the backhand of how he worked on it and how it helped add to his arsenal,” Hendrickson said. “I’m a huge believer in it. I think it’s not worked on as much as it should.”

OVERLOOKED &UNDERRATED

Perhaps part of why backhanders aren’t as prevalent among younger age groups is the worry that they might lead to an increase in turnovers. As players develop the shot, turnovers might be a byproduct.

In reality, though, it’s a skill that should not be overlooked—even if it doesn’t always seem like the most glamorous shot to work on.

“Guys want the big huge curves on their stick for the big shot where it looks good when they go bardown, but the backhand is a totally underrateds hot,” Hendrickson said. “And not only shooting, but picking up passes on your backhand, picking up rims on either zone, offensively or defensively, on your backhand.”

TOOL OF DECEPTION

Part of what makes the backhander an effective shot is its deceptiveness. Even at the younger levels, goaltenders have an easier time picking up on forehanders and slap shots. There’s less possibility for trickeration in those shots than there is with a backhander.

Mastering the backhand shot, or even adding an adequate backhander to round out a skill set, can mean keeping goalies guessing.

“I think if you talk to goalies, it’s hard to read coming off your stick,” Hendrickson said. “Obviously there’s good shooters who change the angle when they shoot the puck on their forehand. But the goalies I’ve talked to over the years, it’s a deceiving shot. It’s hard for them to pick up or read it as well.”

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

So how and when can young players work on developing an effective backhander?

Hendrickson says putting in time after practice can go a long way in building up the backhand shot. And there are some keys for getting velocity on the backhander to make it an even more dangerous tool.

“As you work on your forehands or wrist shots or slap shots, I would incorporate the backhand. Anything from doing stuff in tight where you can lineup a bunch of pucks around the goal line and just go quick up, elevate, elevate, elevate,” he said. “But then I think to find spots sort of in a soft spot type area where you just feed passes and really incorporate getting your legs in the shot. I think a lot of people, they kind of flip it with their wrists, where you’ve really got to get your legs in.”

So for those who want to give opposing goalies one more thing to worry about, a strong backhander could do just the trick. It’s time to stop overlooking this shot and add it to the tool kit.

Said Hendrickson: “If you can improve on it and work on it, it’s only going to add to your game.”