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Table of Comparison
| Feature | Butterfly Save | Paddle Save |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Goalkeeper drops to knees with legs spread, blocking low shots using leg pads. | Goalkeeper uses one or both hands like paddles to deflect the ball, often mid-height or above the waist. |
| Primary Use | Stopping low, fast shots near the ground. | Deflecting shots at medium or high levels, often quick reactions. |
| Advantages | Strong coverage of bottom corners, minimizes rebound chance. | Quick ball redirection, effective in traffic, maintains vision. |
| Disadvantages | Limited reach to high shots, slower recovery from ground to standing. | Less effective on low shots, requires strong hand-eye coordination. |
| Common Sports | Soccer, Ice Hockey, Field Hockey | Water Polo, Handball, Soccer |
| Energy Efficiency | More energy-intensive due to dropping motion. | Less energy-consuming, relies on quick hand movement. |
| Best Used When | Opponent shoots low near the goalpost corners. | Shots come mid-height with limited angle for body block. |
Introduction to Goaltending Saves
Butterfly save and paddle save are fundamental techniques in goaltending, each designed to counter different types of shots in ice hockey and soccer. The butterfly save involves the goalie dropping to the knees with pads spread to cover the lower part of the net, effectively blocking low shots and rebounds. Paddle save uses the flat side of the stick to deflect or stop the puck or ball, proving essential for quick reactions to mid-height shots and controlling rebounds.
What is a Butterfly Save?
A butterfly save is a critical goalkeeping technique where the goalkeeper drops to their knees and fans their legs outwards, resembling butterfly wings, to cover the lower part of the goal and block low shots. This method enhances coverage of the goal's bottom corners and improves reaction time against close-range attempts. Compared to a paddle save, which uses the hands to deflect the ball, the butterfly save emphasizes body positioning and leg extension to maximize blocking area.
What is a Paddle Save?
A paddle save is a goaltending technique in ice hockey where the goalie uses the palms of their gloves or the blade of their stick to quickly deflect low shots away from the net. This method provides a fast reaction to close-range attempts, especially when butterfly saves--where the goalie drops to their knees to cover the lower part of the net--may be too slow or impractical. Paddle saves are effective in situations requiring rapid hand-eye coordination and are essential for stopping rebounds and sharp-angle shots.
Key Differences: Butterfly vs Paddle Save
The Butterfly save technique in goalkeeping involves dropping to the knees with pads spread out to cover the lower goal area, effectively blocking low shots with body positioning. In contrast, the Paddle save relies on quick hand movements and a paddle-shaped glove to deflect shots away from the goal, emphasizing upper body reflexes and hand-eye coordination. The key difference lies in Butterfly save's focus on coverage and stability at the ground level, whereas Paddle save prioritizes reactive, glove-based shot redirection.
Advantages of Butterfly Saves
Butterfly saves offer superior low shot coverage by allowing goalkeepers to quickly drop to their knees with leg pads spread wide, effectively blocking ground-level shots and corners. This technique enhances reaction times and stability, minimizing rebound chances and providing a larger blocking surface compared to paddle saves. Butterfly saves also enable better control over shot direction, helping goalkeepers channel the puck away from high-danger areas.
Strengths of Paddle Saves
Paddle saves excel in close-range shot blocking by providing a larger surface area for deflecting fast, low shots, increasing the likelihood of successful saves. This technique offers superior control and precision when dealing with rebounds, allowing goalkeepers to direct the ball away from dangerous zones. Paddle saves also reduce the risk of injury by absorbing impact efficiently, making them a reliable choice in high-pressure situations.
Situational Usage: When to Use Each Save
Butterfly save is most effective in close-range shots and low shots aimed at the lower corners of the goal, offering maximum coverage and quick recovery for rebounds. Paddle save is ideal for deflecting high-speed shots directed toward the upper corners or when the goalie needs to extend their reach horizontally to block the ball. Choosing between the two depends on the ball's height, angle, and proximity, with butterfly save preferred for low and central shots and paddle save excelling in high, wide situations.
Common Mistakes in Both Techniques
Common mistakes in both butterfly save and paddle save techniques include improper timing and incorrect body positioning, which reduce save efficiency and reaction speed. Goalkeepers often fail to keep their eyes on the ball during the motion, leading to missed saves or rebounds. Lack of core stability and insufficient footwork also compromise balance, making recovery slower after each save attempt.
Training Tips for Mastering Each Save
Mastering the Butterfly save requires drills that enhance knee flexibility, hip mobility, and quick lateral movement to maintain a low stance while covering the lower net. Paddle save training emphasizes hand-eye coordination and wrist strength, focusing on reactive drills that improve paddle positioning and quick outward pushes. Combining balance exercises and reaction time training accelerates proficiency in both saving techniques, optimizing goalie performance under pressure.
Which Save is More Effective?
Butterfly save offers superior effectiveness for low shots by maximizing coverage of the lower goal area through a wide leg spread and butterfly position, allowing goalkeepers to block fast, low-driven balls. Paddle save excels in parrying high or mid-level shots with a quick reaction wrist flick, making it ideal for deflecting powerful strikes aimed at the upper corners. While the butterfly save provides greater coverage and control in blocking low shots, the paddle save is more effective for redirecting fast mid-to-high-range attempts, highlighting the importance of situational awareness in choosing the save technique.
Butterfly save Infographic
