In the latest deke of the week (or month :P) we bring you the toe drag. The toe drag is a very effective move IF you can master it. This is one of those moves that you don’t want to try in a game unless you have done it flawlessly 10 times in a row during practice. The first video shows you the deke of the week version with in-game scenarios, and the second video is our “how to toe drag” video that we shot last year. (If you are from the United States of Amurica remember, it’s called the toe drag, not a curl and drag)
On Ice Toe Drag Video
How To Toe Drag
Tips for performing the toe drag
- You have to practice this move a lot before you can master it, I recommend using a nice smooth surface like the roll-up shooting pad and a puck instead of a ball, for the most ice-like feel try a shooting pad and the green biscuit
- If practicing at home or on the ice start with a wall behind you, that way if you miss the puck you don’t have to go and get it each time
- When gripping the stick with your top hand loosen your grip while rolling the blade over and let it fall into your fingertips. Hold it in your finger-tips while you start to pull the puck back, then while pulling the puck back and catching the puck tighten your grip and hold the stick in your top hand how you normally would
- Practice pushing the puck out and toe-dragging back in on your side and in front of you.
- During the game try toe-dragging the puck in towards your feet, that way if you don’t catch it, or a defender knocks the puck off of your stick you still have the option of kicking it up to your stick with your feet
- The trickiest part to learn is actually catching the puck after you drag it back with your toe, you need to quickly roll the blade over and catch the puck, if you practice a lot you will get it!
Hi my name is Jeremy Rupke. My goal is to break every hockey skill down into easy to understand articles and videos. I explain everything step-by-step to help others improve. I'm active on Instagram, Facebook and more, you can follow through the links above.
If you want to learn more about me you can read my about page. Thanks for reading and sharing!
If you want to learn more about me you can read my about page. Thanks for reading and sharing!
I made a way of doing it so when you’ve been toe dragging for a long time in a game and the defense catches on and knows your gonna toe drag, you do it but this time in the middle of pushing it back you quickly move it forward, going around the defense
Hey Jeremy say thank you! Last week we had a game in kawartha and we beat them 10-7 I was so hyped about that and I was bolting around then rink I couldn’t shut up to my teammates because I was so excited it was awesome!
Thanks Jeremy – awesome tips here!
Not sure if this is possible, but it would be sweet if you could show some of these in slow-mo. You pull them off pretty fast and sometimes it is hard to see what is going on.
Thanks for posting this, I didn’t get a chance to use it in my game last night but that just means I have more time to perfect it! 😉
Great article and video, thanks allot for your helpful insight and tips. Thanks to you this is now one of my favorite moves to use and is really effective, I use quite often. Thanks again
Got 1 word for your toe drag “SMOOTH”!
Nice video and tips. I’ve watched your previous toe drag a million times (love it) and it has helped me.
But this is really helpful to because I get to see you do in action, especially your footwork.
I always wondered about the footwork part.
Thanks!
ryan
Thanks Ryan, one of my friends has the toe drag perfected, it’s even smoother than mine and I noticed he usually pulls the puck towards his feet which is usually what I try as well. That way if you mess up you can just recover the puck by kicking it up to your stick again. Also you can protect the puck with your skates so it’s even harder for the opposing player to get it from you.
I’ve performed the toe drag more in the past two weeks than ever before after watching this clip. I practiced it, but i never used the correct technique. My technique still needs more fine tuning, but i have reached the point where i can use it in games with success. Thanks Jeremy
Actually, i started practicing with a green biscuit for the backhand and forehand toe drags and it helped a lot.
I find the Green Biscuit is the best for practicing this off the ice
Nice video and great explanation. Players have to be careful not over do the toe drag. It has its place, too many younger players get carried away with it.
Totally agree with you on this one! You need to know when to use it, there are lots of other moves that are just as effective and not quite as dangerous
Same. I’m from California, but I’ve never heard it called a curl and drag. But I have heard pick-up hockey vs drop-in hockey.
Great site. Where did you get your jersey?
I got it during the olympics at Sport Check, probably not for sale anymore though.
Born & raised in Boston & never heard of a curl-and-drag. People call it that?
I’ve heard it a bunch of times from NHL announcers while watching teams from the states.