10 Hitting Tactics Short Volleyball Players Use Against Big Blockers

These are 10 hitting tactics that short volleyball players, can rely on hit against and sideout and score against teams with big blockers in the front row.

10 Volleyball Hitting Tactics Short Volleyball Players Use Against Big Blockers (photo Shakes KC)

These hitting strategies are things to work on during your practices that will help you improve your scoring abilities when hitting in the front row.

The good news is that alot of these tactics give shorter hitters options to use to score when they face two big blockers at the net.

Practice your roll shots that go over the block to the middle of the court.

Hitting Tactics: Practice your roll shots that go over the block to the middle of the court.

This spot is often out of the opposing defenders reach.

I have plenty of video of Vegas players during rallies this past season continuously tipping the ball behind the opposing block, where the defender is waiting to pick up balls.

You can end rallies alot faster if you learn to make points by aiming for the middle of the court with off speed or roll shots.

By doing this regularly, especially when your team is in serve receive and you need to sideout, you could see plenty of playing time as well as score a ton of points.

"The majority of the best volleyball players in the world right now are 6’4″ or very near! Speed is something that a smaller player can bring to help offset any disadvantage there might be. That is what I try to do offensively… hit as fast a ball as possible to maximize my chances of success.

It would be silly to listen to any coach that says you can’t do it!"

Volleyball Coach Quotes From Olympic Gold Medalist Reid Priddy To USA Development Coach John Kessel

from the USA Volleyball article "Am I Too Short To Play Volleyball" by USA Volleyball Coach John Kessel

Hit to the deep corners of the opposing court

Hitting Tactics: Hit to the deep corners of the opposing court

In long rallies, quite often the defensive players on the opposing side usually start creeping up in the court towards the ten foot line, leaving lots of area in the back row wide open.

10 Volleyball Hitting Tactics Short Volleyball Players Use Against Big Blockers

Remember Zones 1 and 6 are usually wide open in long rallies so just hit high and aim long to the back corners to score a point or sideout.

Hitting Tactics: Remember Zone 1 and Zone 6 are open during long rallies

You can be any height to hit high and deep. This takes practice so learn to do it when you have scrimmages and competitions in practices.

Learn to hit high, contacting the ball at its highest height

Hitting Tactics: Learn to hit high, contacting the ball at its highest height

You may have to tell your setter to set you a bit further off the net to stay behind the ball and still be able to see the court and the block while hitting deep and long.

Hit a lot of “high, long, and deep” hitting reps so your body and arms learn and memorize what strength and ball speed it takes to get the ball to fall in these deep corners

Hitting Tactics: Learn to hit deep shots to far corners of the court

Playing doubles, triples, and four against four in practice is a good time to do this.

10 Volleyball Hitting Tactics Short Volleyball Players Use Against Big Blockers

Hit the imperfect set, not just the perfect set.

Learn to hit those balls that the op- posing team and everybody in the gym thinks you are going to tip or roll shot over.

Hitting Tactics: Hit the Imperfect set not just the perfect one

That means the ball that is above the height of the net but a little outside or a little inside or a little off the net.

Learn to be comfortable, with doing the uncomfortable.

Want to become a fearless and respected hitter? Then get good at hitting the imperfect sets.

Attack high free balls over to the opposing team and reduce the number of easy free balls you give them.

Be aggressive.

Think about attacking the ball first when it is high enough to make a decent approach.

If it’s coming at you fast, then pass the free ball deep, deep to Zone 1 to force the opposing setter to pass the first ball.

But if you can take an approach, then take the approach and send a more powerful ball over the net.

Don’t give the opposing team anything free or easy if you can help it.

Your job is to make it difficult for them to score points on you, not make it easy for them.

10 Volleyball Hitting Tactics Short Volleyball Players Use Against Big Blockers

Against a tall block in front of you, imagine the blocker’s arm closest to the antenna has a bull’s eye with your name on it, where you take aim at as a target