Quick answer
To train shooting accuracy, stop shooting at "the net" and start shooting at a specific spot. Hang physical targets in the corners, pick one before every shot, keep your eyes up on that spot, and follow through with the toe of your blade pointing exactly where you want the puck to go. Score your reps out of 10 so you get honest feedback, and add a constraint — a time limit, a step closer, a puck in your feet — only once you can hit a called corner 7 times out of 10. In a game you get maybe five real scoring chances, so every rep you spend aiming at a defined target is a rep that shows up on the scoreboard.
Key takeaways
- Accuracy is a trained skill, not a gift — aiming at a real target instead of open net is the single fastest way to build it.
- Look at your spot before you shoot. Head-down shots either miss the net or hit the goalie in the chest.
- The low corners are the highest-percentage targets. Picking the top corner looks great but misses the net far more often.
- Your follow-through decides where the puck ends up: point the blade toe at the target, finish low for low, high for high.
- Keep score every session. "I hit 7 of 10 short-side low" tells you far more than "I took some shots."
- Add difficulty with constraints — less time, tighter angles, smaller targets — not just more power.
Why does accuracy matter more than power?
In a real game a hard-working forward gets about five genuine scoring chances a night. Five. The game has changed in a hundred ways since I started coaching, but that number never has. That is not many, so each one has to count, and a 90 mph shot that sails a foot wide counts for nothing. The players I watch score the most are almost never the hardest shooters on the team — they are the ones who put the puck where the goalie isn't, on time, again and again.
Here is the mental model I give every player: the puck sees the net differently than your eyes do. From your standing height the whole net looks open, but from ice level, through the "eyes of the puck," the goalie covers most of it. Accuracy training is really about learning to find and hit the small gaps the goalie actually leaves. That is a skill you can build in a driveway, and it does not require you to shoot any harder than you do today.
Coach Erik's tip: Accuracy has always been a decision before it is a skill — you have to look where you want the puck before your hands can send it there. The first thing I check when a player says "I can't score" is where their eyes are at release. Nine times out of ten they are staring at the puck. Cue: "eyes up, pick the mesh." Glance at your spot, then let your hands do the shot — you already know where your blade is without looking at it.
Where should you aim?
Not every target is equally smart. Players love picking the top corners because a bar-down goal looks incredible, but the math is against you: shoot a little high and you miss the net, a little wide and you hit the post, and if the goalie reads it he catches it clean with no rebound. The low corners give you a much bigger margin for error — miss low and you still hit the net, miss slightly wide and you might still catch mesh, and even a save often produces a rebound.
Here is how I rank the target zones for a player still building accuracy:
| Target zone | Margin for error | Rebound chance | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low blocker (far, low) | High | High | Train first |
| Low glove (short, low) | High | High | Train first |
| Five-hole | Medium | Medium | Train second |
| Top blocker | Low | Low | Add later |
| Top glove | Lowest | Lowest | Add last |
Build the low corners until they are automatic, then earn the top corners. When you do go high, remember the mechanics change slightly: follow through high and keep the blade face slightly open to lift the puck. For a low shot, finish low and roll your wrists over to keep the blade closed so the puck stays down.
How do you set up targets at home?
See it in action:
You cannot train accuracy against an empty net — you need something to aim at. A set of shooting targets clips into the corners of your net and instantly turns every shot into a pass-or-fail rep. For a full setup, the heavier-duty pro shooting targets hold up to hard shots season after season, and the compact XDT target 4-pack lets you place four distinct aim points and run "around the world" games. If you want to work on beating a goalie's positioning specifically, a shooter tutor covers the net the way a goalie does and leaves only the real gaps open.
Two things make target work actually transfer to the ice. First, shoot off a smooth surface: a shooting pad gives the puck near-ice glide and protects your blade, so your release feels the same as it does on the rink. Second, contain your pucks so you spend the session shooting, not chasing — a full-size steel goal plus a backstop tarp behind it catches everything that misses. Set the goal at proper distance (start 10–15 feet out) and you have a real accuracy gym in the garage.
Accuracy drills and progressions
Work these in order. Every drill is scored, and you only move up when you clear the standard — that is how you know you are actually improving and not just repeating.
- Called corner (base drill). Say the target out loud before each shot ("low blocker"), then shoot. 4 sets of 10. Standard to advance: 7 of 10 on the called corner.
- Around the world. Hit all four corner targets in sequence. Count how many shots it takes to clear all four; try to beat that number every session.
- Around the world — perfection. Go 4-for-4. Miss any target and you restart the set. This one builds the pressure of a must-make shot.
- Time trial. How fast can you hit all four targets? Now you are training accuracy and a quick release together, which is what a real chance demands.
- Quick-release call. A partner shouts a corner as you receive the puck; you have one second to get it away on target. No partner? Glance up, pick a corner in the air, and shoot before your planted foot settles.
Notice the progression: you start with all the time in the world and slowly remove it. Cue on every rep: "follow through at the spot" — hold the finish for a beat with the blade toe pointing at your target. Watch for the front shoulder flying open early; that pulls almost every shot wide to the glove side.
Coach Erik's tip: In thirty years I have never once seen raw shot speed earn a player a roster spot — placement does. When a drill gets easy, don't back up and shoot harder — shrink the target. I have players fold a corner target in half, or aim for the inside half of the five-hole. Hitting a smaller spot on purpose sharpens your real-game accuracy far faster than blasting at a full corner ever will.
How do you track improvement?
Accuracy is the easiest shooting skill to measure, so measure it. Keep a simple log: date, drill, and your score out of 10 for each corner. After two weeks you will see exactly which corner is your weak side — for most right-handed shooters I coach it is the far low blocker — and you can spend extra reps there. Numbers keep you honest on the days you feel great but are actually missing.
Add a speed layer once your placement is solid. A shot speed radar lets you confirm you are not sacrificing velocity to hit targets — the goal is an accurate shot that still has pace, not a soft one you can aim. A useful benchmark: can you hit a called corner 7 of 10 times while staying within 5 mph of your maximum shot speed? When you can, you have real, game-ready accuracy. Track both numbers and let them pull each other up.
Common mistakes
- Shooting head-down. No eyes on the target means no accuracy. Fix: glance at your spot before every shot, then trust your hands.
- Aiming at "the net." Open net gives you nothing to sharpen against. Fix: hang physical targets and call a corner every rep.
- Only hunting top corners. Great when it works, but it misses far more often. Fix: master the low corners first, then earn the top.
- Cutting the follow-through. A short finish scatters the puck. Fix: hold the finish, blade toe pointed at the target for a full beat.
- Front shoulder opening early. Pulls the shot wide glove-side. Fix: keep your chest square to the target through release.
- Never keeping score. Without numbers you can't tell progress from a good-feeling session. Fix: log your hits out of 10 every time.
FAQ
How do I improve my shooting accuracy in hockey?
Aim at a specific target instead of the open net, keep your eyes on that spot as you shoot, and follow through with your blade toe pointing at it. Hang corner targets, call the corner before each shot, and score your reps out of 10 so you get honest feedback. Add difficulty with time limits and smaller targets once you can hit a called corner 7 of 10.
Where should you aim when shooting in hockey?
Start with the low corners — low blocker and low glove side. They give the biggest margin for error and produce more rebounds than the top corners, where a slightly high or wide shot misses the net entirely. Build the low corners until they are automatic, then add the top corners and the five-hole.
Do shooting targets actually help accuracy?
Yes. A target turns every shot into a clear pass-or-fail rep, which forces you to aim at a defined spot instead of the whole net. That focus is exactly what builds accuracy, and it lets you score your sessions and track which corner needs work.
How many shots a day should I take to improve accuracy?
Around 100 focused, scored shots a day builds accuracy quickly, and quality matters far more than quantity. Fifty reps where you call a corner and hold your follow-through beat two hundred careless ones. Consistency over weeks is what moves the number.
Should I train accuracy or power first?
Train them together, but let accuracy lead. A hard shot that misses the net does nothing, while an accurate shot with average pace scores. Use a speed radar to make sure your placement work isn't costing you velocity, and aim to hit targets while staying within about 5 mph of your top speed.
Can I practice shooting accuracy at home?
Absolutely. A shooting pad for smooth glide, corner targets to aim at, and a net with a backstop tarp to contain pucks give you a complete accuracy gym in a garage or driveway. You can run every drill in this guide in your own space with 100 shots a day.
Summary
Accuracy wins games because chances are rare — put the puck where the goalie isn't and average power becomes plenty. Hang real targets, keep your eyes up, follow through at your spot, and start with the forgiving low corners before you chase the top. Score every session out of 10, add constraints as you improve, and use a radar to keep your pace honest. For the mechanics behind each shot, see our guide to the four types of hockey shots, sharpen your hands with these stickhandling tips, tighten up your passing, and build the leg drive behind your shot with off-season sprint training. Browse the Hockey Shooting hub for more drills and gear, and start logging your reps today — accuracy is built one called corner at a time.
