Backflick with standard grip
EXPLANATION:
The backflick is a pass from the inside edge/back bevel/hook of the stick. It's useful to throw quick passes sideways across the front of your body or back down your body to your feet as you turn. The stick can be gripped with a standard grip (shown) or a reverse grip (we'll show this in a separate tip later)
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
- start with the puck in the hook of the stick, either in the end of the hook or right next to your thumb... each gives a different kind of pass
- cock the wrist and pull the stick across the puck to generate spin
- don’t try to put too much power in at first, timing is more important
- when you're beginning, keep the stick flat on the bottom and focus on timing and spinning the puck. once you get more confident, you can bring the stick off the bottom to give the puck more loft (or not, if you want to keep your passes low)
- bring your elbow back as far and quickly as you can to spin the puck (like starting a chainsaw or an old lawn-mower with a ripcord)
- once you're used to the timing, add a pop with the wrist at the end of the pass
- once you're REALLY confident, try to add some force from your lower body at the very start of the pass to get the puck up on the bevel, then pull through the rest of the pass... be patient! don't try to do this straight away, build up to it slowly.
IN DEPTH...
As with many more advanced skills, it is key to use this pass in the right situations. It can be very useful on the walls and in melee situations or to clear the puck out of a mess or away from a danger area if a stronger pass can’t be used... however, it can sometimes be unexpected, not only for the opposition but also for your team-mates. i’d recommend making sure you can see the team-mate you are passing to on the bottom rather than passing to a zone as you sometimes might using a regular pass, as it takes time for team-mates to read when the pass is on in order to be there to receive it.
Two methods can be used, firstly the "pop" type pass starting with the puck sitting in the hook of the stick. The puck is flicked in this case using only the end of the hook to generate power and rotation and requires good timing and a lot of strength. you won’t be able to do this immediately but as you practise and your muscles become used to the action your power will develop.
The second method starts with the puck touching the thumb on the inside edge. As much of the length of the edge as possible is used to roll the puck and generate spin as with the front passes. Less strength is required for this pass but it requires more room, in particular it’s important that the elbow isn’t cramped as to generate spin on the puck the elbow must be drawn back as far as possible.
Similar to the inside pass is when the stick is turned in the hand with the thumb on the top face and the puck flicked in the manner of a side arm throw. either of the 2 methods I have outlined above can be used with this side-grip style, which is very useful for generating long low passes.
Lastly, just like a front pass, the backflick is strongest when power from your whole body is going into the pass. Looking at the video above, you will see that each backflick starts with the legs kicking slightly, and the hips snapping. That force should travel up the body, run through the shoulders and into the puck... if it's timed right it may not be obvious but it's still there.
Backflicks using "flat pass" technique
(keeping the stick relatively flat on tiles)
Feedback:
Questions answered here, as much as we are able! Send to liam@snorkelbattleextreme.com and we will answer.
Hello,
Thanks for all the great videos and website! :)
Still can't get the backflick any good.... It would be gorgeous to see a "top view" of you doing the backflicks ;)
Cheers from Portugal
Alex
...i'll see what i can do alex, but to be honest, one of the components of the backflick is strength, not just technique.
for example, i taught myself how to do it but it took me 1-2 years of working it into my practice routine before i could really do it very consistently. i started practicing in 1998, and i still have a lot of things i need to improve.
it takes people a long time to develop enough strength to do front flicks when they are beginning... it's the same exactly with a backflick. having the skill broken down as i've done will hopefully help a lot, but i'd still expect it to take a few months to really start getting results... certainly not in a couple of sessions. and that's not even thinking about learning about when it's best to use it and how to fit it into your style of play. (i have to admit i'm still struggling with that at times.)
definitely be patient!
also, if you really decide to put a lot of practice in, make sure you do some strengthening of the back of your shoulders either in the gym or with elastic exercise bands. it's important to keep the muscles on the back of the shoulder strong as you strengthen the ones on the front with your backflick practice... otherwise it's easy to develop muscular imbalance which can lead to rotatorcuff problems.
cheers,
liam
