The Hit
Preparation:
Grip and arm position
- Have a double V grip, and make sure your hands are together. You have more control over the stick if you hold it in the middle of the grip, and your hit will be harder and more accurate.
- When the ball is in the correct position swing the stick back. Turn your shoulders and flick the wrist back.
- Don’t bring your stick back too high, as it can be dangerous, and you don’t necessarily need a lot of back swing to make a strong hit, and the longer your stick isn’t in contact with the ball then the more likely it is that a member of the opposition will take it off you.
- If hitting the ball while moving and the ball needs to travel quickly but you are likely to get tackled, then a small swing back will do, so it is a short sharp hit.
- If taking a free hit or hitting the ball over a large distance, or if you have enough space and time, a bigger swing can be used, this will increase the speed of the ball when done correctly, although a bigger swing means there is a larger margin for error.