This volleyball progression drill focuses on refining hitters’ arm swings and body mechanics for optimal ball contact and accuracy. By concentrating on arm position, core engagement, and footwork without the jump, players hone in on the foundational movements necessary for an effective arm swing. This progression emphasizes the importance of elbow alignment, wrist positioning, and a relaxed hand to create a snapping motion crucial for a powerful swing.
The drill first starts with players on one knee, simulating the attacking stance, and progresses to incorporate full-body movement with a shuffle approach, reinforcing the use of core strength in the attacking motion. The coach, Craig Skinner, emphasizes rhythm by using a non-jumping shuffle to imitate the approach, reinforcing timing that translates to more effective hitting during gameplay.
The second progression in this drill is adjusting the attack for different types of sets, with a focus on both cross-body shots and ‘wrist away’ hits, pushing players to adapt their swing for a wider hitting range. Hitters are encouraged to maintain control and precision through various progressions, such as hitting over the net with topspin and responding to calls that dictate the direction of their swing mid-motion. This requires not only physical agility but also mental flexibility.
Coach Skinner also emphasizes the importance of hitters not predetermining their swings but rather being prepared to adjust based on the set’s quality, the blocker’s position, and their approach. The concept of “no looky cookie” - hitting without watching where the ball goes - is introduced to enhance hitters’ confidence in their technique and ability to predict the ball’s trajectory based on the feel of the hand contact.
The drill concludes with dynamic hitting, pushing the hitters to integrate all components of a successful swing- from proper arm mechanics to core engagement and footwork - while maintaining control and precision. This multifaceted view to hitting mechanics not only sharpens their immediate skills but also builds the foundational techniques for more advanced play.
If you liked this video, check out these other drills that players can do to improve their attacking technique:
Training an aggressive approach for a more powerful swing
Training good arm swing technique for more powerful hitting
Outside hitting: A philosophy on sharp angle hits, line shots and tipping
