Hitting Help?!?

Question

I'm 14, playing on my high school volleyball team. I play setter and right-side hitter. I'd consider myself a pretty decent hitter, but I'm looking to take it to the next level. When I hit sometimes I have trouble hitting the ball down with force. I can hit down but not very hard. Sometimes I time my approach wrong and hit the ball with my fingers. I want help to improve my accuracy, consistency and power. I'm about 5'7'' and my vertical with my approach is around 23 inches.

Answer 1

Here are some tips

-before doing your approach make sure you transition back so your approach will not be awkward and wrong (right foot step, left foot step, quick right left step)

-make sure your arm swing is right also (start arms out in front of you 1st step-arms in front 2- arms begin to go back 3rd step- pull arms all the way back then straight up)

-watch the ball carefully try to give the ball topspin by hitting the top of the ball, by keeping your eyes on the ball and hitting the top it will most likely keep you from hitting the ball with your fingers

-follow through although you said you can get it down a good full follow through can also help with power

-flick you wrist after hitting the ball make part of your follow through flicking your wrist this will also help with power and getting it down (which i know you already said you can do)

-really the only other thing i can think of is in a way get mad at the ball take everything out on it and hit it hard (with the down of course)

Answer 2

I'm the same height and my jump is about the same as yours.  Make sure you sight the ball with your opposite hand and then drop it when you hit.  This will twist your shoulders and give you more power.  Also make sure you snap on the ball.  I snap with both my back and wrist.  Your timing will come with time.  You're lucky to be a hitter.  I only got to play the backrow in high school because we had several six footers on the team.

Answer 3

You need to approach the bal when it is at its peak.  Always snap your wrist and follow-through.  Consider some jump training if it is available in your area (to help with the power).

Answer 4

First tip I'd give you is to solidify your approach.  If you can ensure you'll get there every time exactly the same and hit the ball at the right position then it's a start.  Opposite's a little trickier to hit as a right hander but it's still about timing.  Once you have the timing down, work on just hitting it down.  When you do that consistently start increasing how fast you swing your arm which will add power and speed.

Answer 5

it sounds like you have a good technique, so I will give you some food for thought.

You get "power" from your back, arm speed, and snap in the wrist.  Improve an one of these things and you will increase the "power" of your hit.

First make sure you arch your back when hitting and thrust it forward at the top of your jump.  (in timing with your swing)

Snapping your wrist over the ball at top of you jump will give you more power and the downward angle.

Arm speed,  The faster your arm speed the more force you put behind you swing.  Force = Mass (ball) x acceleration (arm swing).  A fast arm swing makes you harder to read from a defensive perspective.  

As you change any and all of these item you timing will be off.  Give yourself a chance to adjust to the changes you are making...