Quick answer
A quick release means shooting before the goalkeeper has set their feet and found the angle. You get there by shortening the motion, preparing your first touch so the ball arrives in the shooting position, and deciding to shoot before the ball arrives. Practise receive-and-shoot within two touches, use a short press-and-snap motion and keep the shot low in a corner. Speed of decision matters as much as speed of hands.
Key takeaways
- A quick release is mostly timing and preparation, not just fast hands.
- The first touch decides the shot: take the ball where you can shoot it without another touch.
- Shorten the motion: wrist shots and snap shots are quicker than slap shots.
- Decide before the ball arrives. Look at the goalkeeper once, pick a corner, then shoot.
- Count the time from receiving to shot. Aim for under one second.
- Keep the stick below waist height, and the ball low.
Why does a quick release score?
A goalkeeper needs time to move across the goal, square up and read the shot. A shot that arrives while they are still moving is much harder to save. A quick release does not mean a hard shot. A medium-speed shot into a low corner before the goalkeeper has set is usually more dangerous than a hard shot into their body after they have settled.
It also helps against defenders. They need to close your shooting lane with their stick, and every tenth of a second you save means less chance that a stick gets in the way.
What slows your shot down?
| Delay | What it looks like | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy first touch | Ball runs away from the blade | Cushion the ball by pulling the blade back a few cm |
| Extra touch | Control, adjust, then shoot | Receive into the shooting position |
| Big windup | Backswing and long pull | Press and snap, with a short pull |
| Indecision | Looking at the goal for too long | Pick the target before the pass arrives |
| Flat feet | No step, no weight transfer | Small step onto the front foot during the shot |
| Poor positioning | Arriving late for a pass | Move into the lane early |
How do you shorten the shot?
Prepare the first touch
Before the pass arrives, decide where the ball should be. For a wrist shot or snap shot, the ball should land in front of your back foot, on the blade. Open your body toward the passer so the ball arrives where you want it. Receive and shoot is a single movement, not two.
Shorten the pull
A wrist shot with a 70 cm pull takes longer than a snap shot with a 10 cm pull. Train both, then choose by the situation. If the goalkeeper is moving, use the snap shot. If you have time, use the wrist shot. Learn the details in snap shot technique for floorball.
Decide early
Look at the goalkeeper before the pass, choose the corner and then keep your eyes on the ball. The decision then takes no time at all when the ball arrives. This is the difference between a player who shoots and a player who thinks about shooting.
What do you need to practise quick releases?
Quick-release training needs balls that come to you fast and a place to shoot them. A passer is ideal because the rebound arrives quickly and you must be ready. Better Floorball is a Swedish brand that sells its own products without middlemen. The gear is designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability.
| Product | Price | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme Floorball Passer | €129 | Fast rebounds for receive-and-shoot |
| Extreme Floorball Passer Pro | €149 | Straight and volley passes |
| Extreme Floorball Tiles 15-Pack (1.6 m²) | €139 | Smooth surface for quick touches |
| Extreme Floorball Goal | €149 | Official-size goal |
| Extreme Floorball Goalie | €129.95 | A goalie target to shoot around |
| Floorball 50-Pack | €89 | Fifty balls without a break |
The passer, the Passer Pro and the tiles are Made in Europe. The Extreme Floorball Passing Kit Tiles (€239) bundles a passer and 15 tiles (1.6 m²); see also the passing and stickhandling collection.
Coach Erik's tip: Time yourself with a phone. Film from the side, find the moment the ball touches your blade and the moment it leaves. Count the frames or seconds. Players are often surprised at how long "quick" is. Try to cut a quarter of the time in four weeks.
Which drills build a quick release?
- Two-touch rule (8 minutes). Pass to a wall or passer, receive and shoot within two touches. 4 sets of 6. Cue: the first touch should already point at the goal.
- One-touch rule (8 minutes). As above, but shoot on the first touch. 4 sets of 5. Watch for: swinging too big.
- Three-second shot (6 minutes). Start the clock when the ball touches your blade. You must shoot before 3 seconds. 3 sets of 8.
- Call the corner (6 minutes). A partner calls "left" or "right" as the ball arrives. You shoot at that corner. 3 sets of 8. Cue: eyes up, quick decision.
- Tired release (5 minutes). After 30 seconds of fast stickhandling, take 6 quick shots.
For the fundamentals of receiving, see receive and shoot in one motion, and for a deceptive alternative, the drag shot.
How do you progress over four weeks?
| Week | Rule | Reps per session | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two touches, no time limit | 40 | Clean contact |
| 2 | Two touches, 3-second limit | 50 | 6 of 10 on target |
| 3 | One touch where possible | 50 | Shoot before looking at the ball |
| 4 | Add a goalie target or a partner | 60 | Compare with week 1 on video |
How do you measure a faster release?
Feel is a poor judge of speed, so use your phone. Film yourself from the side at the standard 30 frames per second, take ten shots, and count the frames from the moment the ball reaches your blade until it leaves it. Thirty frames equal one second.
Write down your average and aim to cut it by two or three frames over two weeks. Look at what happens in the slowest shots: a second touch, a long backswing or a look at the goal before you decide. Fix that one habit first. Film in the same place and with the same ball each time, and never trade accuracy for speed. A quick shot that misses the target is just a fast turnover.
Common mistakes
- Taking a long windup. Fix: press and snap instead of swinging.
- A heavy first touch. Fix: cushion the ball and keep it near your back foot.
- Shooting hard but high. Fix: aim low into the corners.
- Waiting for the perfect shot. Fix: shoot when the lane is open.
- Only practising standing still. Fix: add receiving, moving and pressure.
- Looking at the goal too late. Fix: look before the pass arrives.
FAQ
What is a quick release in floorball?
A quick release is shooting very soon after receiving the ball, before the goalkeeper has set their position. It depends on a good first touch, a short motion and an early decision.
How can I shoot faster in floorball?
Shorten the motion, receive the ball in the shooting position, decide on your target before the pass arrives and practise with a one- or two-touch rule.
Is a quick release the same as a hard shot?
No. A quick release is about timing, not power. A medium-speed shot into a low corner before the goalkeeper is set is often more effective than a hard shot after they have settled.
Which shot is best for a quick release?
The snap shot and the short wrist shot are the quickest, because they need very little pull. The slap shot takes longer to prepare.
How can I practise quick shots alone?
Use a wall or a passer that rebounds the ball, a goal and a smooth surface. Receive and shoot within two touches, then one touch, and time yourself.
How long should a quick release take?
There is no fixed number, but aim to shoot in under a second from receiving the ball and try to improve week by week. Film yourself to measure it.
Summary
A quick release is built from preparation, a good first touch, a short motion and an early decision. Practise receive-and-shoot with a passer, time yourself and aim low. Find more shooting guides in the Floorball Shooting hub.
