3 Types of Hits in Volleyball The Tool, The Wipe and Hitting The Line

There are other names for an attack or hit used in volleyball like 'tool', 'wipe' and 'hitting line' that're 3 types of hits in volleyball used to score points. 

Types of Hits in Volleyball What's The Tool, The Wipe and Hitting Line: These are other names for an attack or hit used in volleyball. (Ralph Arvesen)

Understanding the various types of hits in volleyball is crucial for a serious volleyball player like yourself who needs to know how to use various tactics to score points against a big block.  

Did you know that you can add options to your power hitting game by learning new ways to attack the ball?

Discover how to put more offensive volleyball skills in your tool box by using these hitting tactics and techniques.

The article begins by introducing terms like "the wipe" and "the tool," which describe deliberate actions of hitting the ball off the blocker's hand to gain an advantage. 

These hitting volleyball terms are alternate names for an attack or hit used in volleyball and describe three different ways you can hit the ball to score a point or sideout.

I'm talking about

• the wipe
• the tool
• hitting the line

Types of Hits in Volleyball What's The Tool, The Wipe and Hitting Line: Texas hitter Lexi Sun attacks the ball hitting down the line in this photo. (Ralph Arvesen)

Just like a handyman uses tools to fix things, players have various offensive strategies or  "tools" they can rely on to really go after and attack the opposing team's defense. 

Especially for short players these tools "level the playing field" and give shorter players more ways to score points against tall blockers. 

Types of Hits in Volleyball: Players have various offensive strategies or "tools" they can rely on to really go after and attack the opposing team's defense.

Types of Hits in Volleyball: The Tool. Practice spiking the ball so that you deliberately aim for the outer hand of the blocker who's attempting to block you.

As a hitter, you want to practice spiking the ball so that you deliberately aim for the outer hand of the blocker who's attempting to block you.

Your goal is to do this in a way that the ball gets deflected back to your court but outside of the sideline, so it bounces outside of the court, on your team's side. 

That's an easy point for you and it's one of the toughest volleyball hits that is extremely difficult to play defense against.

That's why it's so effective.

"Tool the block" is also called "wiping the block" or  "wipe the block".

Types of Hits in Volleyball: Wiping The Block describes the wiping action a spiker's arm motion will do when the player is aiming the ball for an opposing blocker's outside hand.

This term describes the wiping action a spiker's arm motion will do when the player is aiming the ball for an opposing blocker's outside hand.

Specifically, the one closest to the antenna, so that when it comes back off of her hand the ball is deflected to outside the sideline on the hitter's side landing outside of the court.

You wipe the block in such a way that you are in control of the fact that the blocker is the last person to touch the  ball before it lands outside of the sidelines, on your team's side.

Types of Hits in Volleyball: "The wipe" this term describes the wiping action a spiker's arm motion will do when the player is aiming the ball for an opposing blocker's outside hand.

Whether you are learning how to play beach volleyball or specializing in the indoor game incorporating these types of hits in volleyball in your attack training drills as essential.

Many female players rely on "the wipe"  as an option to score when they've been given an imperfect set.

Short hitters use the wipe to beat the block as well. 

Types of Hits in Volleyball: Hitting the line shot is another volleyball hitting option for front row attackers. Left handed spiker hitting a line shot from Zone 2. (Michael E Johnston)

Types of hits in volleyball: Hitting the line shot  is another volleyball hitting option for front row attackers.

Hitting the line shot would require you to contact the top 1/3 of the ball so it travels parallel to and within the sideline that you are playing the closest to. 

If you are the right side hitter spiking from your team's zone 2, then you would be making a line shot if you spiked a ball in or near zone 4 or zone 5 of the opposing team's court. (Joy Van Buhler)

Likewise if you are the right side hitter spiking from your team's zone 2, then you would be making a line shot if you spiked a ball or sent an offspeed shot in or near zone 4 or zone 5 of the opposing team's court.

If you are the front row hitter, hitting the ball from your team's  zone 4, then you are making a line shot if you spike the ball or hit an offspeed shot to zone 5 of the opposing team's court.

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