Air Hockey Trick Shots
Overview of Trick Shots
Air hockey trick shots, also sometimes referred to as pot shots or pump fakes, are very popular in professional tournament play. Once you master your accuracy when using the mallet to strike the puck, it opens up a whole new world to your shot sequence that you never had access to before. The pros can fake out their opponent with trick shots by intentionally aiming one of their shots off target at one of the back walls on their opponent's side of the table. This will cause the puck to deflect back towards them where they can quickly attack again with a rebound shot.
Another popular trick shot that is used by advanced players is to take control of the puck and slightly tap it forward and then quickly follow it up with a real shot. This move is called a drift where you tap it slightly ahead into the shooting zone and then take your actual shot. A drift can be used to fake your opponent out and make them second guess your next move. The small tap on the puck will throw off their reflexes similar to the way a change-up works in baseball. You should never shoot more than 10% of your trick shots from outside the shooting zone because it will be a lower percentage of scoring further back on the table.
Air hockey trick shots, also sometimes referred to as pot shots or pump fakes, are very popular in professional tournament play. Once you master your accuracy when using the mallet to strike the puck, it opens up a whole new world to your shot sequence that you never had access to before. The pros can fake out their opponent with trick shots by intentionally aiming one of their shots off target at one of the back walls on their opponent's side of the table. This will cause the puck to deflect back towards them where they can quickly attack again with a rebound shot.
Another popular trick shot that is used by advanced players is to take control of the puck and slightly tap it forward and then quickly follow it up with a real shot. This move is called a drift where you tap it slightly ahead into the shooting zone and then take your actual shot. A drift can be used to fake your opponent out and make them second guess your next move. The small tap on the puck will throw off their reflexes similar to the way a change-up works in baseball. You should never shoot more than 10% of your trick shots from outside the shooting zone because it will be a lower percentage of scoring further back on the table.
You can also telegraph an attempt to shoot a bank shot and instead shoot a different shot selection. For instance, most players think that if you drift towards a wall rather than straight ahead that you are getting the puck in position to shoot it off that wall. You can then shoot an angled shot right at their goal from this position that will throw off your opponent's defense.
Trick Shots Level of Difficulty
These trick shots are actually very difficult to perform properly. Just like a good pitcher can disguise their pitch, trick shots are all about not telegraphing what you are going to do next. Your speed has to be fast enough to not allow your opponent to react and you really have to avoid creating "tells" that make it easy to identify when you are setting these up. Basically, our advice is to vary your shot sequence and limit the amount of trick shots that you attempt back to back.
These trick shots are actually very difficult to perform properly. Just like a good pitcher can disguise their pitch, trick shots are all about not telegraphing what you are going to do next. Your speed has to be fast enough to not allow your opponent to react and you really have to avoid creating "tells" that make it easy to identify when you are setting these up. Basically, our advice is to vary your shot sequence and limit the amount of trick shots that you attempt back to back.