🏒 Balance Starts With Upper Body Position

Most players think skating speed is all about leg strength.

Power. Push.

At Pro Performance Hockey Lab, we train players to master upper-body positioning.

This is a foundational skill that directly improves balance, speed, and overall skating efficiency.

If your upper body is off?

That speed gets lost.

Let’s break this down.

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The Common Mistake

Too many players swing their arms across their body when they skate.

At first, it feels natural.

You're moving fast, you want momentum, and your arms want to help.

But here’s the problem:

When your arms cross the center line of your body, your shoulders rotate.

That upper-body twist throws off your balance, disrupts your stride, and forces your legs to overcorrect.

Translation: You get tired faster and move slower.

When you’re done with this lesson, check out Get Lower, Get Faster for tips on improving your hockey stance.

What the Pros Do Differently

Watch elite skaters and you’ll notice this:

• Their arms pump straight forward and back.

• Each side of the body stays on its own side.

• There's no twist, just clean, efficient motion.

This creates what we calls “quiet shoulders.” 

The upper body stays controlled while the lower body explodes with power.

How to Practice It

1. Use a centerline. Imagine a vertical line down your body. Your left arm stays left, right arm stays right.

2. Film yourself. Look for rotation in your shoulders.

3. Start slow. Work on control before adding speed.

Why It Matters

The less energy you waste correcting your upper body, the more you have for your stride.

Fixing this one habit will make every stride more powerful, every shift more efficient, and every play more balanced.

And it all starts at the top.

Do the common thing uncommonly well.

When you’re ready to elevate your game, here’s how I can help you:

1. Elite private training to provide the 1 on 1 attention you deserve.

2. Spring 2025 clinics for offseason skill development.

3. Summer Camp 2025 to prepare for the upcoming season.

See you on the ice,

Coach Scott Rutherford
(716) 912-4465