Volleyball Hitting Drills

As the only way to offensively move the ball forward, hitting is a key skill for volleyball players. From footwork to speed and accuracy, there are also several elements of hitting that must be practiced to become a great player. Listed below are all the hitting drills that a volleyball player should know.

List of Volleyball Hitting Drills

• Approach Step Drill
• Back Row Attacks
• Hitting From the Box
• Hitting Lines
• Location Hitting
• Offensive Kill Drill
• Team Approach Jumps
• Tip Drills
• Turn-Go-Hit

Approach Step Drill

Approach step drill helps players work on their offensive footwork. Lines of players at the ten-foot line will approach the net and go through the hitting motion. Importance is placed on the steps more so than the actual hitting motion while in the air. If players are right-handed, their first step will be with their left. Left-handers will use their right foot as their foundation.

Back Row Attacks

Back Row Attacks help players hit from the back row. There will be two players on each side of the court: a middle back and a setter. The coach will send the ball into play, and the middle back must pass to the setter and then hit the set ball from the back row to the other side of the court. Then, the other side does the same. When the play ends, the middle back player will rotate out, and another player will come in.

Hitting From the Box

Hitting From the Box is a drill used to practice a hitter’s form when swinging at the ball. Rather than make an approach and jump at the net, they stand on a box at the net and just practice their swing. This way, their coach can watch their swing and give them instructions on how to adjust. They can also practice hitting specific spots during this drill.

Hitting Lines

Hitting lines helps players hit the ball quickly and accurately towards one part of the court. One setter will be located near the net while the rest of the players line up along a side of the ten-foot line with a ball in hand. Players will toss the ball to the setter, who will then set the ball up for a hit. It is important that hitters do not start their approach until the ball leaves the setter’s hands. Hitters can either retrieve their own ball or shaggers can be placed on the side of the net where the balls land.

Location Hitting

Location hitting improves accuracy among players and will help create close calls in a game that may confuse the opposing team. Using the same setup as hitting lines, players will have a specific target when hitting the ball. Common locations include the outside lines of the court, the ten-foot line, or the back line.

Offensive Kill Drill

Offensive Kill Drill is a game simulation where hitters get points by getting kills against the other team. On one side of the court are lines of hitters, and on the other side is a team of six defenders. If a hitter can get a kill against the defensive side, they gain a point. Teams play to a determined amount of points, and whoever reaches that line first wins.

Team Approach Jumps

Team Approach Jumps help hitters practice their hitting approach from anywhere on the court. No volleyballs are used for this drill. Instead, players simply practice the movements that lead up to a hit. They will start on one side of the court and make a hitting approach to the net. Then, they will shift over and approach from another part of the court. They will do this from several positions on the court to practice moving from anywhere.

Tip Drill

Tip Drills help players practice lightly and accurately hitting the ball.Place players in normal hitting lines with a setter. On the approach, instead of hitting the ball with full power, players are instructed to lightly tip the ball over the net. Tipping the ball to the side rather than forwards is more effective. This will allow hitters to avoid getting blocked. The ball will also fall closer to the net, making it more difficult for the opposing team to return the ball.

Turn-Go-Hit

Turn-Go-Hit is a drill that helps hitters transition from passing to hitting. On the court, the player will start in a passing position and pass the ball to a setter. Once they have passed the ball, they will transition to a hitting position and then hit the ball over the net. The repetition in this drill helps hitters to better know their positioning on the court and how to move into a hitting position.

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