How To Spike Hard...

Mr. Owl · **How To Spike Hard... -** 11-21-2005, 01:01 PM

1. Wait near the 10 foot line, watching the setter

2. Keeping your weight forward, anticipate and plan your approach

3. Wait until the ball's trajectory is at its peak and then begin your approach

4. Start your approach using a couple of steps with the last two steps being a right and close left, or step to jump

5. Swing your arms back and together to at least waste level and bend your back and knees

6. Explode into the jump, jumping as high as you can and swinging both arms straight up in front of you

7. Point at the ball with your non-hitting arm and bring your hitting hand to your ear

8. With your fully extended arm contact the center back of the ball in front of your hitting shoulder with heel of open hand

9. Snap your wrist and hit through the ball

10. Bring your hitting arm down across your body and land on both feet, cushioning your landing by bending your knees

Tips:

1. You can gain even more speed and power on your hit by crunching your stomach muscles and bending at the waste when hitting
2. Big arm swings mean bigger jumps
3. Contacting the ball in front of your shoulder allows for more visibility of the court and more ball control

strazzere · 08-28-2006, 04:03 PM

An extremely useful tip a friend taught me helps make sure your doing a full arm swing...

When your bringing you hitting hand back. Dont assume the "shot-put" form with that hand. Bring your hand ALL the way back - and have your thumb, touch your shoulder.

If this is confusing I can try to find some pictures - however, if you do what I'm saying (just sitting there at the comp) - you can see the difference.

*Supposively* this is how brazil trains thier hitters, thats what he told me anyway. I couldn't find any actual proof of that - but I'd believe it.

tbarbera · 08-29-2006, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Owl

3. Wait until the ball's trajectory is at its peak and then begin your approach

I think you should start your approach right after the ball leaves the setters hands. Your first step goes toward the general direction the ball is going to be hit, your next step finds the ball and your final step explodes into it. This is assuming you are hitting a high outside (or weak-side) set on the net. Your approach is going to be different if you are hitting out of the middle or the backrow or are hitting a shoot or a hut.

If you wait for the ball to be at the top of its trajectory I think it will be difficult to approach, jump and swing and put the ball away. You won't have enough time.

james330i · 08-29-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strazzere

An extremely useful tip a friend taught me helps make sure your doing a full arm swing...

When your bringing you hitting hand back. Dont assume the "shot-put" form with that hand. Bring your hand ALL the way back - and have your thumb, touch your shoulder.

If this is confusing I can try to find some pictures - however, if you do what I'm saying (just sitting there at the comp) - you can see the difference.

*Supposively* this is how brazil trains thier hitters, thats what he told me anyway. I couldn't find any actual proof of that - but I'd believe it.

I agree completely. This is the only way you can generage enough arm speed to hit it hard. Swinging from a shot-put form gives you a half-arm swing..so you really have to bring it back to get that arm speed.

Actually, I assume the shot-put form as I approach but bring it back right before the swing.

Also...keep eyes FOCUSED on the ball and VISION swinging on top of the ball and through it.

strazzere · 08-29-2006, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james330i

I agree completely. This is the only way you can generage enough arm speed to hit it hard. Swinging from a shot-put form gives you a half-arm swing..so you really have to bring it back to get that arm speed.

Actually, I assume the shot-put form as I approach but bring it back right before the swing.

Also...keep eyes FOCUSED on the ball and VISION swinging on top of the ball and through it.

Thats what I do mainly - do to bad habit. The point fo touching your shoulder with a thumb is to make sure you don't swing from shot-put form. While you can bring your arm back in shot-put form and do a full swing, you can also cheat yourself.

It's more of a helpful hint when teaching new people - it forces a full swing, not chance to just do a half swing.

BHitterDPasser · 08-29-2006, 03:12 PM

Perhaps it is my bulging biceps or more likely my lack of flexibility but I can hardly touch my same shoulder with thumb!!

NewEnglandRT · 08-29-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHitterDPasser

Perhaps it is my bulging biceps or more likely my lack of flexibility but I can hardly touch my same shoulder with thumb!!

He can't scratch his ears either! Sounds like you need more pilates?

BHitterDPasser · 08-30-2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewEnglandRT

He can't scratch his ears either! Sounds like you need more pilates?

There you go again... Pimping wifey's business... Didn't she have enough of me already in class?

Air Diney · 08-30-2006, 10:16 PM

Of course not! You gotta keep coming to class!!! Don't give up now, your abs are startin' to look good!

mycena · 08-30-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Diney

Of course not! You gotta keep coming to class!!! Don't give up now, your abs are startin' to look good!

Look at Diney checkin out BD's abs!! KVB did you get a sneak preview the other rainy day?