16 Expert Volleyball Outside Hitter Tips

On the volleyball court, the outside hitter, known for their versatility and challenging role, is considered one of the toughest positions.

With the primary responsibility of efficiently killing the ball as the main attacker, you must possess exceptional technical skills.

Having compiled a list of 16 crucial concepts, you need to be aware of them as an outside hitter.

By promising that, with regular practice of each of these things, you’ll surprise yourself at just how quickly you’re transforming into an elite passer hitter.

This article provides 16 Expert Volleyball Outside Hitter Tips to enhance their performance.

So Let’s Start!

1. Practice Tooling The Ball Off The Block

Rarely in an actual match, where there is no block and the set is perfect at a warm-up level, will you encounter such a scenario?

Sometimes, when facing the opposing team’s opposite, you’ll find yourself dealing with extremely tall and dominant blockers.

During a situation where the block is sort of in position, it becomes an ideal time to either tool the ball off the outer edge of the block down the line or aim for the seam if there’s a gap in the block.

Effectively executing this doesn’t necessarily require spiking the ball; instead, you can tip or push the ball off the block, a technique particularly successful against swing blocks.

In the presence of a well-set block, the optimal approach is to target the fingers and execute an aggressive swing, aiming to go high off the block.

This skill can be easily practiced with just three players.

Have the setter toss a volleyball to set your normal outside attack.

Practice blocking against a friend on the other side of the net.

Your task is not to hit around the block but to deliberately practice a variety of shots that strategically make use of the block.

Having successfully tooled the ball off the block 30 times in practice, you’ll discover that it becomes significantly easier in a game.

2. Don’t Be Afraid To Tip The Ball

While emphasizing the importance of hitting the ball hard for the most part, it’s advised not to pursue this approach on every play.

Having only one tool in their toolbox, weak outside hitters often face limitations in their offensive repertoire.

Great outside hitters demonstrate intelligence by discerning the opportune moments for powerful spikes and recognizing when a strategically placed tip-over or around the block would be more effective.

As a middle blocker, an ungodly amount of points at the national level used to be won solely through the strategic use of tipping.

Approaching the ball with the intention of spiking is crucial, but unleashing a last-second tip proves to be seriously overpowered, especially against opponents who commit to blocking and go up a little too early.

3. Spend A Lot More Time Passing

At a high level of the sport, the proficiency of spiking the ball is a common skill among all outside hitters.

What distinguishes the great from the good is their exceptional ability to pass the ball.

To enhance your passing skills, assuming your footwork and platform are decent, the key lies in consistently practicing by passing more balls.

If, while everyone else is passing the volleyball 100 times a week, you double the effort by passing it 200 times a week, it’s evident that you’ll progress more rapidly in becoming better at passing.

To improve at volleyball, locate a friend with the same goal, bring them to the court, and engage in repeated serving sessions, fostering mutual progress.

By emphasizing the maintenance of solid form and aiming to pass each ball perfectly, you can elevate your skills in volleyball passing.

4. Aim For The International Hitting Zone

Coined by my former coach, the “international hitting zone” refers to the outer edge of the backcourt.

When targeting the IHZ, an outside hitter makes it significantly more challenging for the defense to position themselves effectively for a successful dig.

By directing your aim toward the back of the court, you can ensure a high ball contact, rendering yourself challenging to block.

Additionally, more points can be won by inadvertently tooling the ball off the block.

While everyone enjoys practicing spiking the ball straight down to test its bounce height, it’s important to note that this alone won’t enhance your skills as an outside hitter.

Instead, concentrate on maintaining the same level of power in your hits while strategically aiming for the back corners of the court.

5. Increase Your Spike Height

An alternative perspective would suggest improving your vertical jump as a means to achieve the same goal.

Assuming two outside hitters are identical…

One of them consistently makes contact with the ball at an average height of 300cm, while the other spikes at approximately 320cm.

In this scenario, which one would you choose?

The ability to achieve a higher jump translates to a higher contact point with the ball, providing a hitter with an expanded range of options.

• Hitting the ball over the block becomes a viable option in this situation.
• Sharpening your angles in hitting becomes an achievable option.
• Effectively tooling the ball off the block becomes more feasible in this scenario.
• Achieving more effective blocks becomes attainable in this context.

For those approaching the game with seriousness, regular gym sessions dedicated to strenuous efforts in increasing your vertical jump should be prioritized.

6. Make Good Use Of The Roll Shot

When there isn’t a clear opportunity to terminate the ball, the roll shot proves to be an excellent method for launching an effective attack.

This could be the case if the block is well positioned or if the set wasn’t executed very well.

Rather than forcefully hitting the ball into the net or the block, opt to aim for the open court and execute a skillful roll shot, maneuvering the ball around or over the block.

Instead of employing the top contact used in spiking, choose to contact the ball lower and smoothly roll your hand over it when executing the roll shot.

Furthermore, a roll shot can be employed even when the set is well-executed, serving as a strategic move to catch the defense off guard and keep them guessing.

Executed effectively, a roll shot should be challenging for the defense to anticipate, catching them off guard.

Therefore, you should approach the roll shot with the same intensity and technique as you would when preparing to spike the ball.

In executing the roll shot, it remains crucial to maintain a quick approach, achieve a high jump, and employ an aggressive arm swing.

The sole adjustment lies in reducing the pace of the ball at the final moment; otherwise, all other elements of the shot remain consistent.

7. Talk To Your Middle Blocker More

Being an outside hitter entails a significant responsibility to exhibit strong vocal communication, especially in the front court, with a particular emphasis on effective communication during blocking.

Maintain a continuous flow of information to the middle blocker, fostering a collaborative effort to develop a more effective blocking strategy.

Call out specific information about opposing players, highlighting their preferred hitting zones and preferred angles during the game.

In the course of the game, actively communicate and alert your teammates to be aware of potential combination plays that the opposing team might employ.

When the setter is in the front court, communicate with your middle to inform them of your intention to stay close to the center of the court, providing support for an effective block.

In scenarios where you are facing a formidable opposite hitter, it might be necessary to adjust by committing more on the outside.

Ensure effective communication by promptly informing your middle of the adjustment.

8. Practice Hitting ‘Release’ Balls

In certain instances during serve-receive, your team may encounter a situation where a poorly executed pass fails to reach the setter effectively.

In such situations, the setter or another player may need to sprint deep into the backcourt to set, resulting in a frequently high set that is often too distant from the net, deviating from the ideal hitting window.

To connect with this type of set, it’s probable that you won’t be able to achieve the same height in your jump as you would under more ideal circumstances.

Additionally, the challenging angle from which the ball is approaching makes it difficult to generate power in your hit.

Moreover, dealing with a triple block is a common challenge in such situations.

Despite the challenges, your role as the outside hitter is to maximize the potential of the second ball sent in your direction, even when faced with a suboptimal situation.

In training, simulate challenging shots by having a setter intentionally set the ball as high as possible from the back/right corner of the court to a location around the attack line.

Your responsibility as the hitter during this drill is to refine your ability to time your spike, enabling you to effectively return the ball with power despite its challenging trajectory.

Emphasize both achieving a high jump and ensuring precision in ball placement, directing your focus towards landing the ball within the court.

If you have teammates capable of blocking, the situation becomes more challenging, requiring you to employ crafty shots, similar to the one mentioned earlier, to navigate the ball around the block.

9. Run Faster Attacks

As your proficiency in volleyball increases, the pace of your offensive plays will naturally accelerate.

This refers to the setter executing faster offensive plays by swiftly delivering a lower-arcing set to you.

In high-level volleyball, you seldom encounter great big looping sets as they are not a common feature of the game.

Due to the acceleration of your offense, the challenge for the opposing block increases as they find it tougher to get into a stable position.

In a 2nd step attack, the outside hitter initiates their approach on the second step, synchronizing with the setter’s contact with the ball.

Mastering these plays can be intricate, relying heavily on the expertise of a setter who comprehends the dynamics of the game.

Achieving precise timing as the hitter is notably difficult, adding an extra layer of complexity to the execution of these plays.

While not ideal for beginners, it’s an aspect to bear in mind as you progress in the sport.

10. Practice Block To Spike Transition

Being an outside hitter poses a significant challenge, particularly when transitioning from blocking at the net to swiftly sprinting back into position for the next hit.

Insufficient emphasis on practicing this specific scenario during training often results in poor execution when it arises in an actual game.

An effective drill to address this challenge involves executing a block jump at the net, promptly retreating beyond the attack line, and having the setter toss a set.

The set should be delivered swiftly, allowing minimal time for transitioning out before moving in for the spike.

11. Practice Hitting The Pipe

For great outside hitters, the ability to effectively attack the ball from the back row is a crucial skill set.

While beginners may not initially need to consider this aspect, as you progress in the sport, becoming an offensive threat from behind the attack line becomes essential.

Practicing this skill is straightforward in training. Direct the setter to deliver a down ball in the 6 position, execute a dig back to them, and focus on refining your swings from the back row.

During these practice sessions, aim for precision by targeting the last foot of the court just before the baseline.

12. Use Side Spin When Spiking

For beginners, the concept of sidespin is more advanced and may not be a primary concern.

However, as you progress in the game of volleyball, understanding and implementing side spin becomes significant in spiking.

Mastering the ability to slice or chop at the ball proves to be an excellent technique for enhancing ball control, particularly when faced with a formidable block.

The key is to make contact with the side of the ball and wrap your hand around it during the follow-through, while still incorporating top spin to ensure the ball descends but adding a subtle hint of side spin to guide it toward the desired angle.

13. Identify Weaknesses & Exploit Aggressively

Smart outside hitters possess the ability to identify weaknesses in the opposing team, whether it’s a slower middle blocker or an opposite player who doesn’t effectively penetrate the net during blocking.

These weaknesses might be subtle but can be crucial in gaining an advantage.

The most effective outside hitters are skilled at discerning these flaws and exploiting them relentlessly during a match.

To capitalize on these opportunities, communication with your setter becomes pivotal.

Inform them when approaching a rotation where you believe there is a chance to exploit a weaker player, urging them to prioritize setting you up during that phase of play.

14. Aspire To Be Extremely Consistent

How do you envision the type of volleyball player you aim to be recognized as?

As the amazing warm-up spiker, one would embody incredible athleticism and power, occasionally stringing together great plays that captivate the audience.

Alternatively, as the silent killer, one excels in executing fundamentals with utmost efficiency, strategically aiming for the deep corners during spikes. Remarkably, this player boasts the highest hitting percentage on the team and demonstrates unparalleled accuracy in passing, surpassing even the libero.

While one might assume that the former athlete is more exciting to watch, my perspective differs, and I would disagree.

While some may find the former athlete more exciting to watch, there is a unique awe-inspiring quality in observing someone who is fundamentally sound simply going about their business.

Undoubtedly, coaches would prefer having the latter player on their team, appreciating the consistent excellence in fundamental skills and strategic play.

15. Improve Your Transition Footwork

To succeed as an outside hitter, proficiency in swiftly transitioning from receiving a pass to executing a spike is crucial.

Executing this effectively demands efficient transition footwork, seamlessly moving from serve-reception into the jump approach.

Understand that, when you’re the one passing the serve, there might not be sufficient time for a complete approach, necessitating a more deliberate choice in the footwork you employ.

16. Wear The Right Shoes

Last on my list for a reason is the consideration of volleyball shoes, and surprisingly, it holds importance for outside hitters.

The choice of footwear differs for outside hitters compared to liberos and middle blockers, for example.

Given that outside hitters engage in a diverse range of activities, including passing, hitting, and blocking, selecting volleyball shoes tailored to these specific needs becomes crucial.

For effective passing, outside hitters should opt for a highly responsive shoe that maintains a low profile to the ground and offers exceptional traction.

Simultaneously, it becomes essential for them to choose footwear with a balance of bounce and sufficient impact protection. This helps safeguard their joints from the considerable strain imposed by the frequent and intense jumping involved in their role.

Parting Words Of Advice by Volleyball Outside Hitter Tips

Becoming a more proficient outside hitter often boils down to outpacing your competition through an increased volume of repetitions. 

Engage in more frequent ball-passing and hitting exercises, as this constitutes the 20% effort that yields 80% of the desired outcomes.

To achieve this, consider dedicating extra time to practice by arriving an hour early and staying an hour later. 

Focusing on simple drills during these extended practice sessions will reinforce fundamental skills through repeated, deliberate practice.

Also Read: 5 Simple But Effective Volleyball Outside Hitter Drills