How are your hockey shots? Do you want to improve accuracy to get better at scoring? There is no secret, you must practice, practice, practice... but you don't always have a goaltender to stand in front of your goal.
Below is all you need to know about alternatives:
- the best hockey net targets,
- the best shooter tutors,
- and the best shooting tarps
to practice your skills, have fun and become a champion.
This article may contain affiliate Links (info on the Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.
Best hockey goal targets and shooting tarps - Summary
Ice hockey is a sport of speed and accuracy.
Mastering the puck only comes with practice, being on the ice or at home with a shooting pad.
You want to shoot at specific targets, instead at just shooting into a goal or a net.
Today, 3 types of hockey training aids exist to practice shooting:
- Single targets that attach to Hockey goals
- Hockey goal covers also known as shooter tutors
- Hockey shooting tarps
Below is my selection of the best options for all 3 categories. Detailed reviews are available later in the article.
BEWARE - All target products are sold without the goal!!!
Best hockey goal targets
- Easy to install
- Move the targets, as you need to practice specific angles
- Extra bonus with HockeyShot - can be attached to something else than a goal to practice anywhere
#1 Top Shelf Targets Magnetic Shooting Targets
Best hockey shooter tutor (goal covers)
- Mimic real game conditions with a goalie preventing you from scoring
- Easy to attach to and remove from the goal
- Beware: there are other shooter tutors available online, but many can only withstand street hockey balls and not pucks (this NHL one for example)
Best hockey shooting tarp
- Easy to install on a garage door
- Also mimics the position of a goalie over a goal
- Quality tarps are stronger than goal covers and can withstand better the puck being shot at full force
Complete your setting for shooting practice at home
The first 2 categories can be used on the ice and at home.
Whilst the 3rd one can only be used at home.
If at home, you need to complete your setting with either:
- A shooting pad - see my selection of the best shooting pads
- An area with Synthetic Ice (so that you can even wear your skates - see my selection of the best synthetic ice
- A shooting passer to imitate receiving a pass before shooting - see best options
For example:
Criteria to choose your hockey shooting tutor
Wondering which product is best for you?
Below is a list of criteria to consider before you purchase your hockey targets.
They make for great gifts for hockey players.
Types of hockey shooting training aids
First things first, as you can see, there are mainly 3 types of hockey shooting targets. They all are great for shooting practice.
Here are the pros and cons for each:
Single targets
Pros:
- More flexibility You can set it up anywhere around the border of the goal to practice shooting
- Easier to collect puck after as they don't go behind a cover
- Easy to transport to use at home and on the ice
- Can make a satisfying noise when hit
Cons:
- Some models cannot set up a target in the middle of the net (to copy the position between the legs of a goaltender)
- Does not imitate real game with the impression of having the whole goal covered by the goalie
Goal covers
Pros:
- Realistic representation of the little spaces that remain to score a goal, once the goaltender is in position
- Practice exactly where there is space to score around a goalie
- Easy to transport to use at home and on the ice
- Longer to attach than the targets
- You must to roll up the cover to get you pucks back if you score all the time
Garage door hockey shooter target
Pros:
- Great for residential area and to protect the home - the large area will block the puck from going anywhere else
- Practice exactly where there is space to score around a goalie
- Needs a large area to practice
- It is not exactly like having a net - lacks the satisfaction of seeing your puck go inside the net
Durability / Resistance
Once you have chosen the type of product you prefer, the next most important criterion to look at is the durability / resistance of the product.
The puck is a hard and heavy object. And it can be shot very fast.
You need something that is strong enough not to tear apart after just a few shots.
You have to be very vigilant. For example, many goal cover products list in their description that they are only to be used with street hockey balls. This is because they would break down if facing repetitive puck shots.
So, always read carefully the description and reviews.
How it attaches
Check out the details of how it attaches and detaches from your set up (either from the goal or the garage door).
You want it to be easy, so that you can change exercises quickly (accuracy vs power or speed, for example).
Check also in the reviews that the system of attachment is strong enough. You don't want to have to walk or skate to the goal after each shot to reattach the tutor!!!
Design
Are you ok with a simple design to practice, or do you want something more fun with a goalie, to feel like you are in the game?
I don't think it should be the most important criteria when choosing your hockey targets, but if hesitating between 2, then the design can be the deciding factor.
Price
Of course, price can be an important factor.
Because of the damage that can cause a puck, you need strong quality targets. This has a cost.
The simple targets or goal tutors are less expensive than the large tarps.
Reviews of best hockey net targets
Review - Top Shelf Targets Magnetic Shooting Targets (sold without goal)
Best for price and ease of use.
Specifications:
- Packs of 4
- Bright orange or green
- Material - impact resistant plastic
- Attachment - is with strong magnets (neodymium)
- Size - green are 6 inches and orange are 8 inches
- Can be used in all weather conditions - sustains low temperatures
Review:
These magnetic targets are easy to transport and can attach and detach quickly, for a quick practice in between 2 other activities.
They are colorful for a brighter practice!
Their size and stacking make them easy to transport, even in your hockey bag.
You can start with the larger orange targets, and then, you can switch to the smaller ones for a more challenging practice.
The only drawback is that they can only set up along the goal frame and not in the middle of the goal.
Review - HockeyShot Sharpshooter Targets (sold without goal)
Best for durability and use in any conditions.
Specifications:
- 3 targets
- Color - black, no shine
- Material - High quality rubber - can take shots up to 90mph
- Attachment - Bungee cord
- Size -
- Can be used in all weather conditions - sustain low temperatures
Review:
More expensive but made of rubber. Resistant and without any shine that could bother you during practice. Plus, you can hear the pop when you hit!
They can be attached to goals but also anywhere you can fix both sides, which means you can practice your shooting accuracy almost anywhere.
Easy to transport.
Review - Revolution Shooting Training aid (sold without goal)
Best for versatility.
Specifications:
- 6 targets
- Black and white on one side, colorful on the other
- Material - vinyl
- Attachment - 2 rubber straps + Velcro straps on the targets
- Size - just under 10 inch x 10 inch
Review:
Great set up to practice the typical corners where the puck can score. You can move the targets on the straps to switch up the type of exercise.
Easy to transport.
Great design for hockey practice.
Review - Winnwell Bell shooting target (sold without goal)
Best for durability and hit noise.
Specifications:
- 2 targets
- Color - Black and white
- Material - 3.3mm thick steel
- Attachment - metal wires with S-hooks
- Size - 4"x 5" or 8.5x10.5 inches, choose depending on your level
Review:
This is for those looking for a satisfying "ding" when they hit the target, because it is made of Metal (which also makes it very durable).
They are easy to transport and set up anywhere, even on objects other than a goal.
However, you can only add them to the top part of the goal.
Review - Nine One Shooting kit (sold without goal)
A complete set to practice with a reactive sniper device.
For those who don't have other off-ice training equipment.
Review
A combination of products to make you practice like Tyler Seguin.
In the pack you get:
- 5 targets + bungee cords
- A shooting pad
- Pucks
- A Reactive sniper device - it is designed to improve reactive time by telling you at pre-determined intervals where to shoot
Get a complete set with a shooting pad, pucks and targets - See reviews and buy
Reviews of best hockey shooter tutors (goal covers)
Review - Bauer Pro Sharpshooter
Specifications:
- Size - For regulation goals 6'x4'
- Design - with goalie representation, vibrant representation
- Material - 18,0000D reinforced polyester + PVC backing
- Attachment - 10 bungee cords through metal grommets
- Holes: 5 hole areas reinforced on the edge.
- Extra: weighted bottom steel bar
Review:
Thanks to the bottom bar and the many attachment points, it stays in place really well.
It is a high quality and durable product, that can withstand real pucks.
Review - Forza goal cover (sold without goal)
Specifications:
- Size - For regulation goals 6'x4'
- Design - no goalie representation
- Material - vinyl tarp
- Attachment - 11 attachment points with bungee cords through metal grommets
- Holes: 5 hole target with reinforced seams
Review:
Thanks to the attachment points, it stays in place really well.
It is a high quality and durable product, that can withstand real pucks.
To choose between this one and the one above, the main difference is the position of the 2 lower side holes. It depends on what you find best to practice.
Reviews of best hockey shooting tarps
Review - Sniper's Edge Shooting tarp
Specifications:
- Size - 7x16 ft or 8x16 ft
- Design - goalie representation and 5 shooting areas
- Material - tough vinyl tarp reinforced with Nylon Edging to protect the surface it is attached to
- Attachment - strong grommets
- Typical Installation Takes 20 Minutes or Less
- Can be used by any temperature
Review:
A well-known quality product to attach to a garage door or a dry wall.
With a good design to practice shooting around a goaltender.
Review - Rave Sports attack zone
Specifications:
- Size - 8x16 ft (4.88 M x 2.44 M) - Can be mounted to either a 7' or 8' garage frame
- Design - goalie representation and 5 shooting areas (12" diameter target holes)
- + pockets to collect the pucks
- Material - 18 oz., 1000 denier commercial grade vinyl
- Attachment - strong grommets
- Bottom sleeve pocket for a wooden dowel to weigh down tarp
Review:
A great and strong tarp with interesting features to make your life easier: pockets to collect the pucks (and not chase after them) and a picket to weight down the tarp so that it stays perfectly straight in position.
Review - HockeyShot Extreme shooting tarp
Specifications:
- Size - 7 x 16 foot
- Design - goalie representation and 7 shooting target areas
- No pockets
- Material - tough vinyl tarp
- Attachment - strong grommets
- Strap to attach reactive sniper tool from HockeyShot
Review:
Another strong contender for your garage door hockey shooting tarp.
This one does not have pocket and they say it is better because you don't have to go collect them inside... it depends on your preference.
4 tips to improve your shooting skills with the targets
And now that you have chosen the equipment, below are a few tips to help you make the best of your hockey off-ce workout.
TIP 1 - Use a shooting pad to mimic shooting on the ice
True you can practice on your courtyard or driveway. But to mimic best shooting on the ice, you should use a shooting pad.
And even better, if you want to practice on your skates get synthetic ice.
Want to learn more?
- Check out my article about the best shooting pads
- Check out my article about the best synthetic ice
TIP 2 - Change your shot angle
You never know where you will have to shoot from, so make sure you frequently change the angles from which you shoot into the targets.
TIP 3 - Change your position
During a game, you won't often be able to shoot well balanced on your 2 feet.
Make sure you practice shooting in different positions:
- standing up
- low sitting
- on one leg
- on the other leg
- half twisted
- ....
Some even practice while balancing on a balance board such as the Revolution balance board (See latest price / Read reviews) - or read my article about the best balance boards for hockey players.
If practising at the ice rink, you can also add a fake opponent (like a stick on the ice) to have to move around it before shooting.
TIP 4 - Also practice for shot power
This set up can help you practice for accuracy and a little for speed, by repetition.
But if you want harder shots, you need to strengthen your muscles but not by shooting.
Check out this article about the best exercises to shoot harder.
Complete your hockey equipment set!
Protective gear for hockey players:
- Best hockey helmets - read article
- Best hockey gloves for players - read article
- Best hockey mouthguard - read article
- Best hockey shin guards - read article
- Best hockey elbow pads - read article
- Best hockey shoulder pads - read article
And to work out off ice:
- 10 essential elements to cover in your off-ice workouts - read article
- 10 best off-ice hockey training equipment - read article
- Best hockey shooting pads and tiles - read article
- Best slide boards for hockey training - read article
- Best synthetic ice for hockey players - read article
- Best hockey passers and rebounders - read article
- Best balance boards for hockey players - read article
- Best stick handling tools - read article
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