Hitting aka Attack aka Spike
A hit – also called a spike or an attack. The ball can be hit in several different ways, depending on the speed and height of a set, the location of the opponent’s blockers and defenders, and the game situation.
Spikers typically use a three or four step approach. The first step should be a short, slow step toward where the ball has been set. On the second step, the spiker makes a longer, faster, and more explosive forward movement. On this step, spiker plants the hitting-side foot ont the ground while swinging the extended arms straight back an as high as possible for greater power and leverage on the takeoff. Spiker then takes the last step – a shorter closing step into the jump – with the nonhitting foot. As this closing step begins, the arms drive forward and up in a full sweeping motion to help drive the player high up off the ground to attack the ball. As the foot strikes the ground on this last step, the player should attempt to push off the floor into the jump as quickly as possible to transfer her momentum from the forward approach into the vertical jump. When contacting the ball, players should imagine the arm as a whip and the hand as the tip of the whip. The snap of the whip begins with the shoulder rotation away from the ball, with the elbow of the hitting hand drawn back high and away from the shoulder – elbow to the back wall. In sequence, the shoulder, elbow, hand, and wrist then whip forward again to contact the ball. The spiker makes contact at the top of the center back of the ball with the palm of a firm and open hand; spike rolls the palm up and over the ball using the wrist snap action. After contacting the ball, the spiker should follow through quickly by moving the hitting arm through the ball and toward the target and down.
1. Hard-Driven Spike
A forceful hit when the spiker contacts the back of the ball with the heel of an open hand, forcibly snaps the wrist and drives the arm and hand through the ball, following through. The wrist snap imparts topspin, causing the ball to drop quickly to the floor.
2. Off-Speed Spike
Often called a roll shot – is a controlled placement of the ball into an open space on the opponent’s court.
It’s used to deceive the defense by changing up the timing or placing the ball into an area that is not being defended.
When contacting the ball for an off-speed spike, the spiker begins with a full swing but then lets up just before contact and hits the ball softly, with slow topspin, directing it over the blockers or to an open area of the court.
3. Open-Handed Tip
Another type of hit used to deceive the defenders by changing up the timing of the hit.
Spiker use the open-handed tip to try to softly place the ball over the blockers or into other open areas of the opponent’s courts.
Spiker contacts the ball with the finger pads of an open hand similar to the hand position for an overhead pass. Contact is made just below the center back of the ball when the hitting arm and hand are slightly in front of the hitting shoulder at full arm extension. This hit should direct the ball to barely clear a block and then drop quickly to the floor.
4. Back-Row Attack
A back-row attack can be hit by any player in the area of the court, from anywhere behind the attack line.
It can be performed as a standing spike or as a jumping attack.
When hitting a back-row spike, back-row players must jump from behind the attack line and may land in front of it after contact with the ball.
Contact is made at a higher point than in a frontcourt attack – with full extension of the hitting arm and with a wrist snap – so that the ball can travel to and over the net.
Common Performance Errors
- Broad jumping into the net
- “Cheerleader” jump
- Failing to use arm lift
- Using a closed fist
- Hand is not “wrapped” around the ball
- Jumping too late and contacting the ball too low
- Contact made under the ball
- Incorrect approach angle and speed
- Lack of power
* Failure to contract abdominal muscles
* Incorrect contact point on the ball
* Poor arm control
* Not getting hips open
- Not reaching and hitting into the ball