The art of the hip check

[wildfan1833]

So I'm a big fan of the hip check. I know a lot of people call it a dirty hit. But imo it's a cleaner hit than going in with the shoulder.

So my question is why is it not used like it was in the 80's and 90's. I would rather see someone laid out with a hip check than getting hit in the head with a shoulder/elbow

 

[27Leafs27]

I agree Cole, I like the hip check a lot more than the shoulder to head shots that abound in the game these days. I think it gets called a low bridge type of check which takes out a players knee in some instances but if delivered properly that doesn;t have to be the result. I watched the Leafs junior farm team the Marlies back in the early seventies. The defense corp all knew how to give a hip check and I don;t recall any serious injuries because of it.
I look forward to hearing others chime in on this.
Good topic.
Dan.

 

[99goals]

1. A good hip check while great, hurts a bit to give as the person getting it. The only difference is your adrenaline sheilds you from the lower back pain. A great way to shorten your career
2. The speed of the same now is 5 to 10 times faster than eons ago.
3. Equipment is solid, hitting in the 80s was mostly body on body, now its a licence to get hurt big time if an elbow comes up part way through the inertia of the hit.
4. Back to speed, players like McDavid can turn corners on a dime and score. Once you are out of the play you are screwed.
5. Stick work as in craftiness to take the puck away with the stick is way better now than years past due to lighter sticks. Have you tried to poke check with an old TITAN or KOHO?

Those are a few reasons.

 

[27Leafs27]

Ameet, you're right about the speed of the game these days, does make it hard to use the hip check. As you said if your timing isn't spot on, you're hung out to dry. Great points.
Dan.

 

[will-411]

I have to agree with Ameet on what I think is the main point - it's a high risk play from a defensive standpoint. Even if you do connect, it's not certain that you're the first one up after the play.

Keep in mind too - due to the foot speed and puck speed of the game, if a guy is going down the boards offensively, that's actually where you want him to be, out on the periphery of the ice. Defensively, you're better off to contain and smother him out there then risk missing him and allowing a small area outman situation.

The few hip checks we've seen over the last few years always come under scrutiny for low hits too...

I miss them, but I don't think there's much room for them in todays game, except as a desperation play.

Cory

 

[warsawknuckles]

Ask a Plager. ‘Nuff said.

 

[plubers]

Doughty said it best, I’ll hip check the **** out of you