We’ve focused on how to hit a volleyball step by step In another article, But what are effective volleyball hitting drills?
What If you’re brand new to the sport and briefly start learning volleyball hitting?
Don’t worry, the Seven key progressive hitting drills in this article will help you to get down the core basics of attacking.
Here are the most effective drills for volleyball hitters!
Table of Contents
Hitting Drills In Volleyball
Volleyball hitting or spiking is a full-body movement that demands coordination among your arms, legs, and torso. Speaking from my experience, it leads to no effective spikes without coordination.
A progressive drill is the most efficient way to get the spike skill.
1. Volleyball Footwork Drills
Is practising a three-step approach necessary? Absolutely, higher approach speed can be translated into more height.
Considering you may have limited knowledge about spiking, the approach is the best place for you to start. It serves as the most basic move in spiking, and It’s essential to attain proficiency in this skill before advancing to more complex spiking techniques.
Athletes in closed-skill sports like the high jump will always practice their approach. In open-skill sports like volleyball, you’ll get a spin when you attempt to jump if you neglect your approach practice.
Getting Started
Begin by practising your footwork without a ball. Mentally count “left-right-left” as you take three steps.
As You Progress
Speed up your pace until you become good enough to do the basic hitting footwork for volleyball. You can practice the “left-right-left” footwork on your way to school, the cafeteria, your dorm, or even your home.
I would suggest practising the footwork 1,000 times or more at the start:
15 perfect repetitions per hour * 10 hours per day * 7 days per week = 1,050 repetitions
By doing these volleyball footwork drills for beginners, you can fix footwork by working out even at home.
2. Approach and Jump
Continue practising without a ball, focusing on the jump.
As you jump, ensure your final step acts as momentum, pushing your body upwards, not forward. You can use the basketball hoop or backboard to practice, making sure not to cross the baseline when landing.
You have to figure out how to put approach footwork and Jump together and be there when the ball is at the height and location you want to hit it.
Getting the ball over the net and inside the opponent’s court is a big deal, while the approach and jump are the most essential steps for hitting drills in volleyball.
3. Fixed Volleyball Hitting Drills in Place
This exercise helps you establish the correct relationship between yourself and the ball.
Pay attention to your body’s rotation and flexion, and feel your arms whipping.
It would be best if you find the sensation of your palm wrapping around the ball and the forward pressure of your wrist.
You should also properly open up and use hip rotation. Keep in mind that without hip rotation you are losing a lot of power and you are risking injury. It applies to many sports i.e. Boxing, tennis, and golf.
4. Self-Toss and Spike Drills in Place
Find a clean wall and hit the ball you toss up.
You can go about 7-10 feet (2.1 – 3.0 meters) from a wall. Then start tossing and hitting the ball down, so it bounces to the floor and the wall, then back to you.
Ensure that your entire body works together to generate power, and focus on the whipping motion of your arms and the feel of cradling the ball.
Hitting is mentally different for everyone, but my big cue is to think about whipping your elbow through. If you think about speed at your hand or shoulder, you will end up muscling it and lose the fluidity of a good swing.
Besides, you should practice hitting higher and control where you hit it! Every single receive will require a more athletic stance.
This beginner volleyball hitting drill can help you to know when to hit the ball, and it helps you to adjust.
5. Hitting Fixed Balls in Mid-Air
Before spiking, ensure your approach, jump, and timing are on point. Then, you can begin practising your mid-air spikes. Have a partner hold the ball with three fingers, and practice spiking with a complete approach, jump, and hitting motion. Make sure to maintain the correct form.
A good way to do this is to head outside and hit leaves on a tree. You can practice and commit it to memory when you don’t get a setter.
6. Spike and Toss Drill
Have your partner toss the ball to you. This is when you need to master the ball’s landing point. Additionally, understand the timing of your approach and jump.
You will see that timing has to be adapted to the set. Sets vary in height, distance from the net, and distance to the antenna, you must consider all that.
If your approach is too slow you have to start early to compensate for setter variations, this will limit your hitting ability.
Speaking from my experience, Practice jump serve works on your timing and strength, it’ll help you a lot on spikes.
7. Complete Spiking Practice
Pass the ball to the setter, and then, based on the speed and height of their set, assess the ball’s landing point. Choose the right tempo and approach route for your spiking drill.
Whenever hitting sets in practice, aim to hit the ball with your arm fully extended, slightly in front of your body, and aligned with your shoulder.
Many players go for a result of hitting the ball hard and compromising on technique in the set-pass-hit drills. I suggest not dropping your arm because you’re late and the ball is low, Let it go and start earlier or approach faster next time.
Final Thoughts
You cannot learn sports skills by watching, they need practical experience. Do these volleyball attacking drills as much as you can, feel the connection between yourself, the ball, the people around you, and the environment is very important.
Remember to focus on your form, coordination, and feeling the ball throughout this spiking training. It’s through practice and dedication that you’ll refine your skills in volleyball.
Please bear in mind that these drills are really the most basic drills.
If you practice at least 2 to 3 times a week, you’ll soon find that these drills are a breeze for you!
