the deadbar thing is totally overrated -
First - it can be hit, just not as easily/often
it is literally only 3/16 inch different which is literally this much | |
if your shot is accurate enough that this is a big deal, then you should be good enough to change your stroke in less than 50 shots (probably less than 20)
Second - the actual "need" to shoot deadbar is so small it shouldn't even factor into a game...when do you absolutely "need" to shoot deadbar...you can have the very best pull in the world and never be able to shoot deadman...now you probably will for show or fun but actually trying to shoot deadman in a tournament is a silly notion even if someone is posting you up
if they post you up, they have to be dead on the post when you shoot to stop you..if they come off the wall, even the smallest amount, lets say | | this much (which only requires the smallest movement or bounce off the wall) then you can still smoke a squared off or cutback pull
and, if the defense is so paranoid of your long they are trying to post a guy deadman, the goalie is left to cover the entire rest of the goal which for a good pull shooter should be like shooting ducks in a pond
I was taught early to never practice deadman...we practice starting with putting 3 fingers between the bumper and wall so you are 3 fingers away from a deadman post...when you can do that 19 out of 20 times in a row, no problem, move down to 2 fingers...when you can do 18 or 19 out of 20 time in and time out move to 1.5 fingers then when you can do 18/20 every time move to one finger and when you can do that 18/20 times in a row every time by then you will have a smoking good pull shot people are afraid of
at 1 1/2 fingers start stacking the goalie right behind the 2 man so you can see that you are sqauring the shot off or cutting it back
practice each stage rolling and setting the ball up and learn to shoot each position from a stand still first but also from a roll and from various ball positions (so the ball doesn't have to line up under your bar exactly right each time to still be effective)
when you get to two fingers, start practicing straights, slices, and various splits
by the time you get to one finger you will have a super good pull...in the end, when you want to push it the final bit, move the man to 1/2 finger and when you can do this 18 or 19 out of 20 every time you will have one of the best pulls in the nation without ever having practiced deadman
I was taught early and still believe, if you can do the 1 finger or 1/2 finger every time when you get into intense games your adreneline will carry your stroke that little bit more...so, we never tried to shoot deadman but if it happens it happens
and last, we were taught it is better to shoot a bad shot on goal than to smoke something into the wall...the first goal is on goal with every shot every time and then you build it to be more accurate and versitle as you go...practicing for deadman makes you hit the wall a lot more often....if you work inside to the out while developing your stroke, you will develop a habit of on goal every time
similiar with rollover or any shot though with the roller you might start at 2 fingers and work your way out from their
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