Volleyball Tip
How to Fix 3 Common Volleyball Hitting Mistakes
Hitting, also known as spiking, is a very exciting component to the game of volleyball. To improve a the hitter position, player should spend time on footwork and swing to ensure the ball goes in the direction they want and at a high velocity. If you are looking to improve your game, it is important to know three common mistakes that may occur while practicing hitting. To practice these tips, you may also want to attend a volleyball position specialty camp focused on instruction specifically for hitters.
1. Footwork in the approach is backwards.
When approaching the net, the player will have the wrong foot on the forward and backward motion of the arm swing. For a right-handed hitter, the player should have the arms going forward with the step of the left foot, and then swing back with the right step. For left handed hitters, this motion would be the opposite.
2. Player is too far under the ball
Some hitters tend to get too far under the ball and must reach back far with their arm swing to spike the ball. If this happens, it can be an indication of two things happening: a player is either not getting far enough off the net to have a great full approach or leaving the floor too early.
For players not getting far enough off the net, it might be helpful to mark a spot on the floor with tape or a cone to indicate where he or she should jump or be at the net when swinging.
To practice not leaving early, a helpful tip is to have the player watch the volleyball leave the setter’s hands. Have the player focus on the location, speed, and angle of the ball when practicing spiking. The more this is repeated, the easier it will be to pick up a change in movement on the ball and timing will be more accurate when spiking.
3. Continually hit the net after hitting ball
Continually hitting the net happens for two reasons, a setter is placing the ball close to the net, or the hitter is jumping forward rather than vertically. To help fix this, the setter needs to work on having the ball not reach the net. For the hitter, start the forward motion further back from the net, and make sure when hitting the ball, you are snapping instead of completely following through with the arm swing.
Bonus Tip
Ladder drills are a great way to improve your footwork. Ladder drills that focus on an in-and-out motion are a great way to improve your speed. Jumping rope is another option for volleyball players to increase their foot speed. Changing the rope speed and alternating feet can make footwork more exciting!
Read more helpful volleyball tips and find a Nike Volleyball Camp near you.