Quick answer
A snap shot (snärtskott in Swedish) is a very quick shot with almost no backswing. The ball is already near the blade, you press the blade into the floor, and a short, sharp snap of the wrists sends the ball away while your weight moves forward. Its strength is the release: the goalkeeper has no time to set. Keep the stick below waist height and practise from receiving, not only from standing.
Key takeaways
- The snap shot is defined by a very short motion, often with the ball close to your front foot.
- Pressing the blade into the floor loads the shaft in a fraction of a second, and the wrists add the final snap.
- It is less powerful than a long wrist shot but much harder to read, which is why it scores.
- A good first touch is half the shot: receive the ball where you can shoot it.
- Aim low and to the corners, because a quick shot to the goalkeeper's body is simply saved.
- Always keep the stick below waist height, even with a short motion.
What makes a snap shot different?
A wrist shot uses a pull of 50 cm or more. The snap shot cuts the pull to a few centimetres. You receive the ball, let it touch the blade, press down and snap. There is no visible windup for the goalkeeper to read, and the defender cannot get a stick on it.
| Wrist shot | Snap shot | |
|---|---|---|
| Pull distance | 50–100 cm | 5–20 cm |
| Time to release | Medium | Very short |
| Power | Higher | Medium |
| Best aim | Anywhere, including power shots | Corners and low shots |
| Typical situation | Time and space | Close to the goal, in a screen, after a pass |
How do you take a snap shot step by step?
1. Be ready before the ball arrives
Keep your knees bent, your weight on the balls of your feet and your blade on the floor. Look up at the goal and the goalkeeper before the pass arrives.
2. Receive in the shooting position
Take the ball on the blade slightly in front of your back foot. Your first touch should leave the ball where you can shoot it without another touch. Cushion the ball by moving the blade back a few centimetres on contact.
3. Press and snap
Press the blade into the floor, feel a short bend of the shaft and snap your wrists. The top hand pulls toward your hip. The shot is nearly one movement.
4. Move forward
Even with a short motion, step slightly forward onto the front foot. A shot taken from a flat-footed position loses speed and accuracy.
5. Follow-through
Point the blade at your target and keep it below waist height. A short follow-through is fine, and you can start the next action immediately.
Where do snap shots score most often?
Because the snap shot needs so little time, it works best close to the goal and from short passes. A few typical places: from the edge of the slot after a pass from the side, in front of the goal when a teammate screens the goalkeeper, after a rebound, or when you receive a pass while moving toward the goal. Aim for the low corners or just above the goalkeeper's pad; the goalkeeper has the hardest time reaching those.
When the goal is far away, use a wrist shot or a drag shot instead. A snap shot from distance is too weak to beat a set goalkeeper.
What do you need to practise the snap shot?
You need a passer or a wall to bounce the ball back, a goal, and a smooth surface. A rebounder is especially useful because it feeds you balls quickly. Better Floorball is a Swedish brand that makes its own products without middlemen. They are designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability, and some of the world's best floorball players use them.
| Product | Price | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme Floorball Passer | €129 | Rebounds your passes so you can receive and snap, alone |
| Extreme Floorball Passer Pro | €149 | Two slots, 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 Shooting Targets (set of 3) | €34 | Corner targets for accuracy |
| Floorball 50-Pack | €89 | Balls for high-rep sets |
The passer, the Passer Pro, the tiles and the target set are Made in Europe. For more tools like these, see the passing and stickhandling collection.
Coach Erik's tip: Say "ball, goal, shoot" in your head. Look at the ball as it arrives, look at the goal, then shoot. Players who skip the second step shoot into the goalkeeper's body. A single glance at the corner makes your snap shot much more dangerous.
Which drills improve the snap shot?
- Press-and-snap without ball (3 minutes). 20 reps per side. Cue: the shaft bends and unbends in less than a second.
- Stationary snap shots (6 minutes). Place the ball 30 cm in front of your back foot. 4 sets of 8 shots from 4 m. Cue: no windup, only press and snap.
- Receive and snap (8 minutes). Pass against a wall or passer, receive within two touches and shoot. 5 sets of 6. Cue: the first touch must leave the ball in your shooting position.
- Corner snap (8 minutes). Targets in the low corners, 3 sets of 10. Count hits. Watch for: shooting high on the first rep when you are tired.
- Rebound snap (6 minutes). Shoot, follow your shot and snap the rebound off the goal frame or a wall. 4 sets of 5.
For the speed of the whole process, read quick release: shoot before the goalie is set, and for the shot from a pass, how to score one-timers in floorball.
Common mistakes
- Taking a big windup. It defeats the purpose. Fix: shorten the motion until it is a press and a snap.
- A heavy first touch. The ball runs away from the blade. Fix: cushion the ball and keep it in front of your back foot.
- Shooting flat-footed. Fix: take a small step forward during the shot.
- Aiming at the goalkeeper. Fix: choose a corner before the ball arrives.
- Shooting high. A low shot is harder to save in floorball. Fix: keep the follow-through low and close to the floor.
- Always taking the same shot. Fix: mix snap shots with drag shots and wrist shots so the goalkeeper cannot predict you.
FAQ
What is a snap shot in floorball?
A snap shot is a very quick shot with almost no backswing. You press the blade into the floor and snap your wrists, so the ball leaves before the goalkeeper or defender can react. In Swedish it is called snärtskott.
What is the difference between a snap shot and a wrist shot?
A wrist shot uses a longer pull of the ball, while a snap shot uses only a few centimetres. The snap shot is quicker but a little less powerful, and it works best close to the goal.
Why is my snap shot weak?
Common reasons are shooting flat-footed, not pressing the blade into the floor, and receiving the ball too far from your body. Take a small step forward and keep the ball near your back foot.
Where should I aim a snap shot?
Aim low into the corners or just above the goalkeeper's pad. A fast shot straight at the goalkeeper's body is easy to save.
Can I practise snap shots alone?
Yes. Use a wall or a passer that rebounds the ball, a goal and a smooth surface. Receive and shoot within two touches, and count the hits on targets.
How many snap shots should I take per session?
Between 40 and 80 focused shots, in sets of 6–10 with a short rest. Stop a set if the technique starts to slip.
Summary
The snap shot works because nobody sees it coming. Keep the motion short, press the blade into the floor, snap the wrists and aim low into a corner. Practise it from receiving, with a passer or a wall and a few targets. Explore more in the Floorball Shooting hub, and follow us on Instagram @better_floorball.
