Smart Volleyball Hit
Strategies You Use To Sideout Or Score Direct Points 

Use these proven volleyball hit tips when you need to spike a ball in specific situations in order to win the right to serve or to score a direct point in the heat of a competitive rally. 

Volleyball hit: USA Olympian, Pro Player Megan Hodge hitting around the blockVolleyball hit: USA Olympian, Pro Player Megan Hodge hitting around the block


There are a few very specific volleyball hitting strategies pro and top players use in order to vary their attack options when spiking a ball. 

Study these tips and strategies so you too increase your chances of getting the ball past the block in a rally to score points against your opponents. 

The Volleyball Hit from the Middle


If you're a player, let's say a middle hitter, who gets a trap set while attempting to hit a ball from the middle of the net, one of the most effective spiking strategies for you to use is to soft tip the ball into the block on purpose.

Sounds crazy, right? I know.  But don't knock it until you've tried it. 


Instead of actually using a hard hit you should aim the tip into the wrists and upper forearms of the opposing blocker in front of you so that the ball bounces off their arms high and back into your court allowing  your teammates who are covering you have a chance to replay the ball.

This sounds difficult and it does take practice but it is possible to save a broken play by having the courage to actually hit the ball strategically into the block.

Professional beach players will use this tactic to give themselves additional offensive opportunities and allows them to repeatedly attempt an array of spike attacks in order to score points for their team.




Volleyball Hit Questions:
When Should I Tip It Into The Block?


If you are an outside hitter that gets set a ball too close to the net, then you can use the tip to score a point or a sideout by aiming for the outside or external arm of the blocker and then wipe the ball off the outside most forearm of the blocker in front of you.

This is one of the hardest volleyball hit strategies for the opposing team's defense to pick up.




 


Another way to score points with your spiking ability is to be the last player to touch the ball if you and another player contact the ball at the same time over the top of the net. This spiking action is called a joust.

In 99% of the cases if two volleyball players go up to attack a volleyball that's located exactly halfway over the net and if they both end up contacting the ball at the same time over the net, then its the second player who touches the ball last who has the advantage.

You want to wait as long as you can before you put your hands on the ball to push it over into the opposing court. It takes practice but its worth saving a tip gone bad.


Volleyball Hit Strategies Pros and Collegiate Players Use To Get Out Of Trouble


Like pro players do, you too can decide whether to use a short or deep hard hits in the opposing team's court to attempt to score points for your team.

The same options exist when you decide to use a soft hit also known as  tipping the ball.

Spikers should remember that they have the option to tip the ball deep in the court if they want to score some smart points.

Many times during a fast paced game, hitters will get into a tipping rhythm and will repeatedly tip right behind the big block they are intimidated by.


USC volleyball player spiking the ball Photo by Neon TommyUSC volleyball player spiking the ball Photo by Neon Tommy


But between points while the ball is dead and before performing any hits in a game, you can ask your teammates between plays to tell you what space is wide open in the opposing team's defense.


Learn more about how to communicate on the volleyball court. 


Especially if the opposing team is playing man up defense which means they put one of their defensive players behind the block, so if anyone were to tip the ball right behind the blockers there would be someone there to pick that up.

Your teammates should be able to tell you whether that spot behind the block is open or which other deep areas of the court are open for you to tip the ball to. 

In practice, instead of just using hard spikes all the time, you should mix up your attacks in your spike training drills by alternating between tipping short, and tipping deep to the corners.

As hard as it is not to hit the ball on a good set, you should remember that the opposing team is waiting for you to hit the ball on a good set.

You will increase the chances of surprising them by occasionally tipping the ball on a good set.


Brankica Mihajlović is a Serbian professional volleyball player. Mihajlovic has been around in the volleyball scene since 2006 when she joined her first club, VC Jedinstvo Brcko, staying there until 2009. From there Mihajlovic went to Volero Zurich from 2009-11, Hyundai Hillstate from 2011-12, RC Cannes 2012-13, Unilever 2013-14, Volero Zurich 2014, Hisamitsu Springs 2014-15, Fenerbahce 2015-16 and finally Tianjin Bridgestone from 2016-17. • Weight:64kg (141lb) • Height:191cm (6ft 3in) • Laterality:Right • Date of birth :13.04.1991 • Country:Serbia • Spike:282cm (111in) • Block:264cm (103in) . . . #trening #gym #jump #verticalleap #volleyball #beachvolleyball #mikasa #instavolley #serve #spike #digs #game #condition #muslepower #performance #workout #outsidehitter #serbia #klub #verticalreach #vertical #volleyballip #ucan #brankicamihajlovic

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This is one of the more popular volleyball hit strategies that professional players use to make themselves unpredictable and to change up their attack.


The Professionals Spike The Ball, Hard!


You can do the same thing by mixing up the types of hits in practice first. You want to feel comfortable with learning how to hit the volleyball hard even when you get an imperfect set and you want to be able to mix up your attacks with an occasional tip when you get a good set.



Since the opposing team's defense will expect you to hit a great set, they will be dug in on defense, and your tip will keep them off balance since everybody in the gym will expect you to do your best hits on a good set.

Just be prepared to do the opposite! You want to always keep the opposing team guessing.

The more unpredictable you are the more your volleyball hit will work in your favor. 


How To Play Volleyball:
Where Do You Go From Here?


Here are three options: 

  1. Learn more about Spiking by clicking the related links below. 
  2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page    Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
  3. Or visit the pages in the How to Play Volleyball section in the drop down menu at the top of the page to get started. 
  4. Before leaving this page Say "Hi" to Mr T.T. MUGB the Lion, wearing the #7 jersey below. 



Related Links:

How To Spike A Volleyball Strategically Like Pro Players Do

Volleyball Spike Tips: Improve Approach, Armswing, and Hitting Accuracy

Smart Volleyball Hit Strategies You Use To Sideout Or Score Points


Meet T.T. Mugb, aka "Things That Make U Go Boom"
Lion and Ouside Hitter on VolleyBragSwag's All Beast Team

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