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Weekend


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September 24, 2004

Strange But True!

  • A weekly column of incidental information, off-the-wall observations and other random facts about the world.
    • By BILL SONES and RICH SONES, Ph.D.
    Special to the Journal

    Q. What's the traveling speed of a hockey puck?

    A. Well over 100 mph for the slapshot, the fastest object in any major team sport, says San Francisco's Exploratorium.com. Player Doug Bodger once said that the power comes mostly from technique, beginning with precision weight transfer from the back legs right through to the stick. Surprisingly, on a good slapshot (not wristshot) the stick hits the ice a foot or more before contacting the puck, bending back like a bow, then snapping forward. Puck spin from wrist twist adds gyroscopic stability and accuracy.


     
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