Quick answer
The floorball wrist shot is a short, sweeping shot where the ball stays on the blade while you pull it forward and then flick your wrists at the end. Put the ball beside your back foot, press the blade into the floor so the shaft bends, shift your weight from back foot to front foot, pull with the top hand and snap the wrists as the ball leaves. Finish with the blade pointing at your target, below waist height.
Key takeaways
- The wrist shot is the most useful shot because it is quick, accurate and needs almost no backswing.
- Keep the ball on the blade as long as possible; the pull does the work and the wrists add the final snap.
- Weight moves from back foot to front foot during the shot, not before and not after.
- The blade stays below waist height in the backswing and the follow-through.
- Hands about 30–40 cm apart, knees bent and your head up as you finish the shot.
- Master it standing still before you add a run-up or a defender.
What is a wrist shot in floorball?
A wrist shot (handledsskott in Swedish) is the basic shot of floorball. You do not swing and hit the ball. Instead, the blade is in contact with the ball for the whole movement: you pull it from beside your back foot to just past your front foot, and the shaft and your wrists add speed at the very end. Because the movement is short, you can shoot from a standing start, while receiving a pass or after a quick dribble.
A word on grip. Instead of left-handed or right-handed, think about the side of the body the blade is on. Pick the side that feels natural (blade on your left side or on your right side) and keep it consistent.
How do you take a wrist shot step by step?
1. Stance
Stand side-on to the goal with your knees bent. Your front foot points toward the target and your weight is on the back foot. Hold the stick with your hands 30–40 cm apart, the bottom hand about halfway down the shaft.
2. Ball position
The ball is beside your back foot and slightly outside it, on the blade. The blade should touch the floor, with the ball in the middle of the blade. If the ball sits too far in front, you will push it instead of pulling it.
3. Load
Press the blade into the floor, with your bottom hand pushing down and the top hand pulling back toward your hip. You will feel the shaft bend slightly. This is the load. Stay low.
4. Pull and transfer
Pull the ball forward along the floor while moving your weight onto the front foot. Your hips open toward the target and the ball slides along the blade.
5. Snap and finish
When the ball reaches your front foot, snap your wrists so the blade turns slightly over the ball and fires it away. The follow-through points at the target, with the blade below waist height. Hold the finish for a second.
What are the key checkpoints?
Use this checklist when you film yourself from the side or let a teammate watch. Check one item per set rather than everything at once.
| Checkpoint | What it looks like | If it goes wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Ball position | Beside the back foot at the start | Ball too far forward gives a weak push |
| Shaft load | Blade pressed into the floor, shaft bends | No bend means slow shot |
| Weight transfer | Back foot to front foot during the pull | Staying on the back foot makes the ball float |
| Wrist snap | Quick turn at the end of the pull | Snapping early loses the ball off the blade |
| Follow-through | Blade points at the target, below waist | Blade pulled up high is a rule risk and flies the ball up |
| Head | Eyes up on the target at the finish | Looking only at the ball makes you miss the goalkeeper's position |
What do you need to practise it at home?
Wrist shots need a smooth surface and a lot of balls. The ball has to slide, otherwise you cannot feel the load. Better Floorball is a Swedish brand with no middlemen, and our products are designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability. For a wrist shot, I would start with a pad or tiles, a goal and a pack of balls.
| Product | Price | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme Floorball Shooting Pad 120x60 cm | €59 | Smooth, portable surface for shooting anywhere |
| Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack (0.9 m²) | €79 | Snap-together surface, easy to expand |
| Extreme Floorball Goal | €149 | Official 160 x 115 cm size |
| Extreme Floorball Shooting Targets (set of 3) | €34 | Targets for the corners |
| Floorball 50-Pack | €89 | 50 balls for a full round of shots |
The tiles and the targets are Made in Europe. If you want a goal and pad in one box, the Extreme Floorball Shooting Kit costs €199. Browse everything in the shooting collection.
Coach Erik's tip: Practise the wrist shot first with no goalkeeper, no goal and no pressure. Just shoot at a spot on a wall or a net from 3 metres and feel the shaft bend. Once the feeling is automatic, add the goal.
Which drills build a good wrist shot?
- Load and hold (3 minutes). Without a ball, press the blade into the floor, feel the shaft bend, hold for 3 seconds and release. 10 reps per side. Cue: push down with the bottom hand, pull back with the top hand.
- Standing wrist shots (8 minutes). From 4 m, take 5 sets of 6 shots at the whole goal. Rest 30 seconds between sets. Cue: weight on the back foot at the start, on the front foot at the finish.
- Corner targets (8 minutes). Place targets in the top corners. 3 sets of 10 shots, count the hits. Watch for: lifting the blade high after the shot.
- Pull-and-shoot (6 minutes). Start with the ball 1 m to the side, pull it in front of you, then shoot in one motion. 3 sets of 8.
- Receive and shoot (6 minutes). Pass to a wall or a partner, receive, and shoot within two touches. 4 sets of 6. Cue: your first touch should put the ball in the shooting position.
That is about 30 minutes. Do it three times a week for four weeks and film yourself in week 1 and week 4. For power, read how to shoot harder in floorball; for the next shot to learn, see the drag shot.
Common mistakes
- Hitting the ball instead of pulling it. This turns the wrist shot into a poor slap shot. Fix: keep the ball on the blade all the way through.
- Standing upright. No knee bend means no load. Fix: bend your knees until you feel your thighs working.
- Snapping the wrists too early. The ball rolls off the blade sideways. Fix: pull first, snap last.
- Lifting the stick high after the shot. It is dangerous and can be penalised. Fix: finish with the blade pointing at the target, below waist.
- Always shooting to the same spot. Goalkeepers read patterns. Fix: change target each set.
- Not looking up. Fix: take a quick look at the goal before the shot and again at the finish.
FAQ
What is a wrist shot in floorball?
A wrist shot is a short, sweeping shot where the ball stays on the blade while you pull it forward and finish with a quick wrist snap. It needs very little backswing, so you can use it from standing, after a pass or after a dribble.
Where should the ball be for a wrist shot?
Start with the ball beside your back foot, in the middle of the blade. Pull it past the front foot as you move your weight forward. If the ball starts too far forward, you will push rather than pull it.
Why does my wrist shot float or go too high?
Usually because your weight stays on the back foot or you lift the blade too soon. Keep the blade low on the floor through the pull, move your weight to the front foot and finish with the blade pointing at the target.
How far apart should my hands be on the stick?
Most players shoot well with the hands about 30–40 cm apart, the bottom hand roughly halfway down the shaft. Smaller players can move the hands slightly closer together.
How many wrist shots should I take in training?
Three sessions a week of 60–100 focused shots is a good base. Count the shots and the target hits, and stop a set if the technique starts to fall apart.
Do I need a goal to practise the wrist shot at home?
No. Start by shooting at a wall or a net from 3 metres on a smooth surface, such as a shooting pad or tiles. Add a goal and targets when the technique feels natural.
Summary
The wrist shot is quick, accurate and easy to hide from the goalkeeper. Pull the ball from the back foot to the front foot, load the shaft, snap at the end and keep the blade below waist height. Practise 100 quality shots a week on a smooth surface and film yourself now and then. More shooting guides are in the Floorball Shooting hub.
