So you want to shoot a Rollover?

In this tutorial I am going to describe to you the methods I used to develop an effective rollover shot.

If you are willing to dedicate time to follow and practice the various steps, you will realize results sooner than later.

I hope to help those who want to shoot a rollover but don't know how, as well as those who currently use a rollover but want to develop it to another level. I will start off by giving the basics/mechanics of the shot, then move on to the advanced aspects one needs in order to have a consistent, effective shot.

Basics / Mechanics of the shot:

Exercise 1:

PULL the ball hard

PUSH the ball hard

Do each of these until the ball goes the same path correctly every time you do it. Then do it again approximately 5-10 times on each side.

Exercise 2:

Practice pulling and striking the ball at the desired depth without any recoil.

Practice pushing and striking the ball at the desired depth without any recoil.

Do these movements until you strike the ball correctly 5 times in a row.

Exercise 3:

Add a hitch to the opposite side and then strike the ball without a recoil.

IE: If you are shooting to the pull side, add a hitch to the push side.

Do this on both sides until you strike the ball correctly 5 times in a row.

Exercise 4:

Add a hitch to the side you are shooting, followed by a hitch to the opposite side before striking the ball.

IE: If you are shooting push side, hitch pull, then hitch push, then shoot pull.

Do this on both sides until you strike the ball correctly 5 times in a row.

Add as many hitches (rocking the ball) to each side until you can comfortably rock the ball back and forth.

Intermediate:

Once you have completed each of the previous exercises you are ready for the next lesson.

Tap Shooting:

Start with the ball in the middle of the table.

Practice tapping the ball to the push side. DO NOT SHOOT IT. You want the ball to land in the 3/4 spot on the goal.

Do this until you can comfortably tap in that spot and then rock the ball.

Tap to the push side and then shoot straight.

Practice adding a pause or a hitch while still shooting the ball straight.

Practice this until you are comfortable executing a straight shot.

Tap to the push side and shoot a pull side. The object is to shoot back down the middle of the goal.

Practice this until you are comfortable, and the ball goes to the middle of the goal effectively.

Tap to the push side and shoot to the push side. The object is to shoot as close to the post as possible without it missing the goal.

This will seem unnecessary at first but will be useful later.

Practice this by adding pauses and hitches, while still executing to the post.

From the middle of the goal, practice tapping to the pull side. DO NOT SHOOT. You want the ball to land in the 3/4 spot on the goal.

Tap to the pull side and then shoot straight.

Practice adding a pause or a hitch while still shooting straight.

Practice this until you are comfortable in executing the shot.

Tap to the pull side and shoot a push side. The object is to shoot back down the middle of the goal.

Practice this until you are comfortable, and the ball goes to the middle of the goal effectively.

Tap to the pull side and shoot a pull side. The object is to shoot as close to the post as possible without it missing the goal.

Practice this by adding pauses and hitches and still executing to the post.

Make sure you are comfortable with these shots before moving to the next step.

Advanced Tap Shooting:

Being able to tap to the pull or push side is important. It is helping you build the ability to move the ball around the goal by tapping.

In this step you will double tap. Either push-push or pull-pull from the center. Then you will practice push-push from the near side of the goal.

Followed by pull-pull from the far side of the goal.

Once you can do that effectively you can add shooting to the double tap. Pull-Pull, shoot push/pull. Push-Push then shoot push/pull.

From the center of the goal practice tapping push then pull. DO NOT SHOOT. You want to be able to do this in a way that will give you the option of shooting push, pull, middle without having to think about it.

The objective when tapping the ball is to create an opportunity to make the goalie commit to something. If you can tap the ball effectively and shoot all 3 options of your normal shot, you can effectively expand the goal and make the goalie try to block the entire goal.

Master:

The split / cut back is generally something most rollover shooters can’t execute regularly. When practicing the cut back you don’t want to use your full stroke to move the ball to a hole. Rather, adjust the ball to one side and strike it like you would a bank shot. This can be effective when tapping the ball to one side and cutting it back to the opposite side. I use this technique when I shoot off the set up or when I want to split the 2 rod and the goalie rod.

When I say “adjust” the ball I mean rock or hitch to one side making your man almost come off that side of the ball. Then strike the ball causing to cut it back to the other side.

Practice adjusting to the pull side so that your man doesn’t come off the ball. Once you are comfortable doing that you can strike the ball. You know you are doing it correctly when the ball goes in the goal opposite from where you struck the ball.

Do the same on the push side until you can effectively execute the shot.