This article appears in the April 2020 edition of US Lacrosse Magazine. Don’t get the mag? Head to USLacrosse.org to subscribe.

Considered one of the fastest players in pro lacrosse, Brent Adams knows what it takes to make quick decisions — and those decisions are often the right ones.

“Some of our best guys in our league can operate in a phone booth,” Adams said when explaining the importance of being able to dodge and get your hands ready to shoot almost simultaneously.

When analyzing how to use a defender as a screen, Adams broke down his thought process and shared with us how you can also capitalize on these in-game situations.

1. Recognize the Opportunity

Realize when you’re in a position to shoot. “If it’s too much spacing, it wouldn’t be as deceptive of a shot,” Adams said.

2. Stay Out of Sight

When defenses break down, they tend to crowd the interior and occupy shooting lanes. Add to the confusion for the goalie by hiding your stick in your windup. “When there’s a defender there, it’s so much harder for that goalie to see the head of my stick,” Adams said.

3. Bait the Defender

“I constantly have my stick up by my ear,” Adams said. “It’s the triple-threat position. I want him to think I’m going to get rid of the ball before I decide to shoot.”

4. Pick Your Spot

“I know I’m going to go with my bread-and-butter shot,” Adams said. “If I’m going down the right alley, most of the time I’m going bottom-right or top-left. Sometimes if I see a little bit of the short side, I’ll go for that. Down the alley, I’m mostly going to shoot high and go for that opposite-low corner.”