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Shooting Form at the Wall

Learn the high elbow and wrist snap of a shot from a stable position.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Tread 3 yards from the wall.

Core: Medium. Beat your own best out of 10.

Ages
7 and up
Time
10 min
Players
Just you
Space
Pool
Bring
Pool, water polo ball
Level · skill
Beginner · Shooting

The steps

How it works

  1. Tread 3 yards from the wall.
  2. Lift the ball with your elbow above the water.
  3. Shoot at a spot on the wall and snap your wrist.
  4. Do 30 shots.

Coaching point

Elbow high, legs under you.

Safety: Only swim with a lifeguard or coach watching and, under 14, a grown-up within arm’s reach. Wear a polo cap with ear guards and use a ball your size (Size 1 for the youngest). Shoot only at the goal or wall, never at a person.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Target-corner game: two teams of two take turns shooting at floats hung in the goal corners. Each team counts only its own hits.

Challenge

Pick a target: Less (big), Core (medium), More (small). Beat your own best out of 10.

Story

You are an aiming star: hit the treasure buoy.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own best out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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