Water Polo - Shooting Technique

Any part of the body can be used to score a goal except for a clenched fist. There are three basic outside water shooting techniques. The first is a straight forward power shot. Top level water polo players can generate ball speeds between 50–90 km/h (30–56 mph). The player propels his body out of the water and uses his momentum to shoot the ball into the net. Though very powerful, this shot requires precise targeting. If the shot is off the mark, the ball will either be blocked by the goalie or rebound off the goal post. 

Another shooting technique is the bounce shot or skip shot. Instead of shooting directly into the net, the player throws the ball at an angle directly into the water. If done properly and with enough force, the ball will bounce off the water and into the goal. The bounce shot usually takes the goalie by surprise. But, if done from far enough away the goalie can plan to block the ball low on the water instead of bringing the hands up in the air. Alternately, the ball can be thrown sidearm with heavy backspin. This will cause it to slide along the surface of the water. 

The lob shot is high arching shot intended to pass over the goalie's hands and under the crossbar. It is most effective taken from an angle on either side of the goal post; this provides a large area behind the goalie into which the lob can drop on its downward arc. This shot confuses the goalie and usually forces the goalie to kick up out of the water too early and miss the block. If the goalie is to block the shot, they have to lunge upwards and back, stretching their opposite arm in an attempt to meet the ball's lobbing trajectory.