Improper use of the glove (pics to follow ;) )

[leaferguy]

Well, ever since I read that thread a long time ago where Keeks (I believe it was him) mentioned his biggest problems with goalies or something along those lines. Anyways, something I got from that thread was that a lot of goalies use their glove as a blocker, merely swatting down or away shots that need to be caught. From that time, I've been watching myself to see if I do this. I think that too much of the time, I do.

I have taken pictures of my glove to show the evidence.

http://leaferguy.iwarp.com/Pics/P1010023.jpg

Here you can see that there are a few marks on the glove, but a LOT are in the portion of the glove where it will deflect away and not into the pocket. The more I look at it, the more it looks like I'm late on a lot of my saves. I say this because there are marks on the cuff and the thumb area while there are few on the palm area. Granted, many pucks went into the pocket and not the palm, so they can't be seen, but it looks like too many haven't.


http://leaferguy.iwarp.com/Pics/P1010021.jpg

Here is a view from the front. Obviously, there are some marks on the thumb area.

So what do you guys and gals think? Am I right, wrong, or wasting my time in my analysis of my glove? Please give me some input, some experiences of your own, and photographic evidence if at all possible. Oh, and to those who think that there aren't enough puck marks, I spend a majority of my time on a roller rink, so there

[Matt#30]

Gtting all the puck marks there may not necessarally (sp) be because of being "late" on saves, it might be the way you position your glove.

[hockeyshifter]

well i have an all black glove with a hint of red. and i can't tell were the puck has hit.(expect when i get a zinger..ouch) . as for being late i thing you are over thinking this. did you make the stop. YEA; YES . i know the idea is to catch the puck . but is this any different than scoping the the puck on a low shot that could be had with the butterfly.. just a thought.

[Squealagig]

Well I looked at my glove and it's black where you have your puck marks so I can't tell but I know there arn't enough marks where there is white in my glove (pocket and pocket aproach). I think I'm probably doing the same thing as you. Actually I know it. I'm pretty bad at catching the puck and often take it off the cuff. Glove hand has always been one of my weak points it's getting better though.

[gr8sav]

There are goaltenders at all levels that use the trapper more as a blocking tool than a catching tool.
While it would be great for every goalie to have this skill fully developed, in reality this is not what you see.
Even at the pro-level goaltenders become known for their great glove hands, their ability to play the puck, or their constant use of one save over and over and over again.
One problem i have seen is that retail gloves continue to get larger and larger. While this provides more coverage, it doesn't give the goaltender using it any more skill. Regardless of the weight a larger glove will be harder to control than a smaller glove. You will not have the feel in a larger glove (as to the location of the puck in the glove itself) that a smaller glove can provide. The smaller glove also makes your save motions more accurate (or you will miss the puck). This could just be my preference, but i think it has merit.
gr8sav

[BKLYNNetminder]

Personally, I only care if the puck hits my glove and ends up in the net. I don't catch pucks too often, but they drop in front of me when they hit me, so I can still cover up.

[bedris]

Judging by the angle and break of your glove, anything in the shaded region, given that your hand is properly positioned, should deflect into the pocket.



Those puck marks probably led to clean glove saves. The other marks, other than the ones in the T or the lacing, probably popped out.

As long as you can smother the rebound or get those to a corner via a sweeping motion (which we seen Cujo do quite often) then you should be fine.

[daveB]

I was going to say the same thing -- ok so NOT exactly the same thing -- that bedris said. im going to take a few more minutes of analysis and check out some more things before I give you a hypothesis.

dave

[daveB]

Just something to think about, I took a look at the puck marks and guessed which way they would have deflected.

The arrows start at the puck mark and show which way it most likely deflected, Red circles show puck marks that didnt deflect, so the force of the shot went right to the palm (stingers).

of course im no expert but hey, its just something to think about.

[leaferguy]

Thanks a lot for the pics guys! One thing I'm good at is studying something and then making my body do it, so if I just look at the area of my glove I need to catch with and get a better feel for it, most likely I'll see improvement. I'll try it before the regionals this weekend and let you all know. Again, thanks!

[stollie_the_goalie]

I do the exact same thing, and I think it's because my glove is just so gigantic. This never happened with my old glove. Shots would just go into the pocket.

[Phil-Old-Goalie]

Dont get too hung up on glove marks. Remember alot of shots that are from close in you are not going to able to catch cleanly. (A player walks in and fires a bullet slap shop from the face-off circle) The reason that there are marks there is due do the fact that glove has hard plastic or similar material under the leather whereas the pocket is pliable and will absorb the puck's impact. All that matters is you got enough of the puck to stop it from going in the net.