How to create the perfect wing shot in handball

The study was carried out during the spring of 2026 and, together with two previous projects from Chalmers, represents some of the largest studies ever conducted on handball shooting. A total of 40 handball players, ranging from 12-year-olds to senior-level athletes, participated. In all, 634 wing shots were analysed with the aim of understanding which technical factors influence shooting accuracy and the ability to score goals.

Wing shots are particularly complex to study because the direction of the jump and the direction of the shot do not coincide. To address this challenge, the students developed video analysis software that made it possible to measure variables such as airtime, jump distance, take-off position, jump angle, and arm position. The analysis revealed how these variables differ between age groups and how they interact with shooting accuracy and goal-scoring success.

Jump distance most important for accuracy

Jump distance proved to be the single most important factor influencing shooting accuracy. Another clear conclusion is that shot timing is more important than airtime itself: what matters is making the best possible use of the time spent in the air.

“It is valuable that we can now put numbers on aspects that were previously based mainly on experience. With a statistical foundation, we can identify what actually matters,” says Anders Ekberg, Professor at Chalmers University of Technology and supervisor of the study.

At the same time, the study shows that there is no single optimal technique. Shot velocity is one example of how different paths can lead to success. The study included everything from gentle lob shots at around 40 km/h to powerful shots approaching 95 km/h.

“Different players can succeed in different ways. Some younger players essentially do everything wrong, yet they still score,” says Daniel Husberg, one of the students behind the project.

“There is no perfect wing shot. Players need the competence to execute as many variations as possible. That makes it much harder for the goalkeeper to predict what you are going to do,” says Anders Ekberg.

Provide important tools for player development

The project is part of a long-term collaboration between Chalmers and Redbergslids IK focused on analysing shooting techniques in handball. Previous studies have examined standing shots and jump shots, involving more than 200 players in total.

The hope is that the analytical methods and tools developed through the project can be used for future player development and more data-driven training in handball.

The knowledge is already being applied in Redbergslids IK’s player development programme.

“Having a natural eye for the goal is important, but eventually players need to develop their skills further in order to progress. At the very highest level, success is no longer determined by chance, and all these qualities become important factors. Studies like this help us understand which characteristics matter and make it easier to develop training materials both for our own club and for the sport as a whole,” says Tony Larsson, club manager of Redbergslids IK.

An additional benefit is that players gain a new perspective on how physics, mathematics, and programming can be applied in practical and enjoyable ways, which may increase motivation for academic studies.

“We are very positive about the collaboration between Chalmers and Redbergslids IK and hope it can continue and hopefully expand. For example, it would be fantastic to offer players tutoring in mathematics and physics in connection with training sessions,” says Anders Ekberg.

How to create the perfect wing shot – five lessons from the study

• Create a rapid and powerful take-off and dare to jump close to the defender – this provides better conditions for finishing the attack.

• Build speed and maximize jump distance – jump distance showed the strongest correlation with shooting accuracy.

• Adapt the shot – use your time in the air to read the goalkeeper’s movements and positioning in order to find the best moment to release the ball.

• Develop sufficient shot power and wrist speed – the goalkeeper must always have to account for the possibility of a fast and powerful shot.

• Master several types of finishes – variation makes it more difficult for the goalkeeper to anticipate the shot.

Watch three videos from the candidate's thesis about their search for the perfect wing shot

More about the study

The hunt for the perfect handball shot – a new angle: A study of the movement pattern and precision of the edge shot, is a bachelor's thesis from Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden.

The authors are Daniel Husberg, Josefin Karlsson, Antonio Poljak, Luka Pranjic, Holger Ryding. The students study Mechanical Engineering and Computer Engineering at Chalmers University in Sweden.

Former studies conducted through the Chalmers–Redbergslids IK collaboration

Study on Jump Shots (2024): https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12380/307696

Study on Standing Shots (2021): https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12380/302386

For more information, please contact:

Chalmers University of Technology

Anders Ekberg
Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
anders.ekberg@chalmers.se, +46 70 308 88 34

Redbergslids IK

Tony Larsson
Club manager
tony.larsson@redbergslid.se, +46 70 722 91 37

Student group

Daniel Husberg
Student at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
danielhu@student.chalmers.se, +46 70 726 86 11