How to hit on a beach net as a girl
5 simple steps to improve your hitting
Hitting on a beach volleyball net can be daunting, especially if you aren’t a 6’4” dude. I have seen time and time again women dominate at the net, but more often than not I hear my female students say “I’m too short to hit” or “I can’t hit that hard”.
I fully believe that with a few new techniques and the right mindset any woman can feel confident in her ability to play amazing offense on a beach net. If you’re ready to bring your play to the next level, I’m here to show you a new approach and 5 simple steps to help you get started.
Net Height
women’s indoor vs. beach: an 8 inch difference
Traditionally women’s indoor nets which are 8 inches shorter than beach volleyball nets which are the same heigh as a men’s indoor net, which can be intimidating but don’t let that stop you.
A lot of people make their way from indoor to beach volleyball, including myself. In my experience, the transition had quite the learning curve. Not only is it a different jump style, you’re also competing with the elements (sun and wind are real my friend).
However if you’re a woman coming from indoor to beach, you have another element - the height of the net. To help compensate for the height of the net, I advise my students to ask to get set 5 feet off the net. If you’re set a little more off the net it will change the trajectory of your hit and make it easier to get the ball over the net.
If you take nothing else from this blog, next time you’re on the beach ask to get set off the net and see what happens. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Jumping in Sand
Sand: your best friend or your worst enemy. Its all about perception
Most sports aren’t played in sand. Whether it is soccer, indoor volleyball, tennis, or basketball, playing on a hard surface makes it easier to jump high. If you’re a female playing on a higher net, being able to jump in the sand is crucial to creating a strong offense.
Now you won’t be able to hit strait down as you could in indoor unless you are 5’8 plus with a good jump, but you can still make the sand your best friend. Try using the high ground on the outsides and the front corners of the court. You will be higher up and it’s easier to jump out of.
When you are jumping in sand, you shouldn’t squat any lower than you would when you are passing. Try getting as low as possible while passing and then come around for your hit without standing up. From there use that same knee bend to lift off the sand upwards. All the force will be used to leap upward out the sand.
5 Tips To Improve Your Hitting
1. Get under the ball & Jump straight up
When going to hit, most people jump forward however this isn’t the best way to get the ball over the net because you aren’t achieving the highest (and most effective) point of contact.
Instead, try getting directly under the ball and jumping straight up. This will help you hit up on the ball giving it an easier trajectory to clear the net.
After approaching the ball try to jump up and attempt to punch the ball with your opposite swinging arm. If that feels like too much to start try approaching the ball, getting directly under it and as the ball is coming down hit the ball with your swinging arm (with no jump). Over time this will start to feel more natural and you’ll be able to add the jump in.
Either way (jump of no jump) if you are trying to learn to hit on a beach net, ask to get set 5 feet off and focus on getting directly under the ball.
2. Hit to the 45: hitting up to hit down
One of the first things I teach my students is to hit to the 45. This means when you swing at the ball instead of trying to hit down you are actually trying to hit UP at a 45 degree angle.
Hitting up to hit down is a weird feeling for most beach volleyball players. Especially new players. It may feel like hitting up at the ball will make it go out of bounds or be to easy to return but the opposite is actually true.
When you hit up to the 45 it actually keeps you from hitting it into the net, making it easier to get over. To give it a try, next time you go to hit, imagine there is a bird in the sky above the court and play with trying to hit the bird with the ball. While you are learning this I would rather you hit the ball out of bounds than into the net since the opposite team has to decide whether the ball will be in or out. If you hit the ball into the net the play is automatically over.
When you aren’t over 6’0 you don’t have the same angles or trajectory. By learning how to hit up on the ball so you can use the whole court, you will drastically improve your offensive game.
4. Aim for the deep corners
Many players just starting out learn to hit the ball strait ahead of them since it is easier to learn how to do. The problem with this is the court becomes much shorter, so when they begin to hit the ball harder, shorter girls tend to hit the ball out of bounds consistently. Try hitting the ball to the corners to give yourself more court to hit at. The figure below shows the difference.
5. Believe you can
As in any sport you can have the entire guide book of how to play, you can know how to do everything to perfection in your mind, yet many still struggle to execute what they know. Why is this, and why do some girls get this idea that they can’t spike on a men’s beach net?
Time and time again seeing girls start in this sport, they are enthusiastic about playing, but over time as they have trouble siding out against better players, they tend to try to hit harder (which causes the ball to go out or into the net) or they quit all together.
I want all of you out there struggling with this to know that there is certainly a way to hit/spike on a men’s net. You just have to believe in yourself and use a couple tricks to make it happen.
Now you see that it is possible with the correct technique and practice to spike on a high net. I have seen a 5ft girl beat guys on a men’s net by using these techniques. I hope you have a splendid time on the beach this coming up season. Your opponents won’t know what hit them.
See you on the beach!
Matthew
