Dominate the Net – 5 Must-Try Drills for Pin Hitters

• By Sam DeJoseph

Swing to Deep Corners 

What You’ll Need: 

A regulation volleyball court, net, volleyballs, and a partner to toss or set for you. Get ready to bring the heat! 

Let’s Get Into It: 

Mark off each deep corner of the court using tape, cones, hula-hoops—whatever you’ve got!  These are your target zones, your bullseye. 

Start at one pin and crush the ball into the opposite deep corner. Then move to the other pin and do it again—back and forth, like a machine. As you get comfortable, ramp up the power with every swing. Your goal? Precision and power, from both sides of the court. 

Want to spice it up? 

Set a personal challenge—maybe 10 perfect hits in a row. Or better yet, go head-to-head with a teammate and race to see who can nail the most hits into the corners first. Winner gets bragging rights (and maybe the loser does pushups). 

This drill will sharpen your control, boost your accuracy, and build your confidence on both pins—so you can become a more balanced, dangerous, and unstoppable player. 

Game on.  

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High Ball Out of System Hitting 

One of the main things that pin hitters are tasked with is getting kills in bad situations and ending long rallies! This drill caters to that need by giving players a chance to gain the ability to hit high out-of-system sets to gain ball control and power to be a terminal player. 

What You’ll Need: 

A regulation volleyball court, net, volleyballs, and a partner to toss or set for you. Let’s Get Into It: 

Time to turn tough situations into point-scoring opportunities! Your setter starts in the middle back, launching a high ball out to the pin. As the hitter, your job is to wait it out, close to the set with control, and then bring the heat with a high, powerful swing—even when it’s not the perfect setup. 

This drill is all about making something out of nothing. Master your timing, adjust your footwork, and become the kind of hitter who scores when it really counts. DON’T HIT TO  ZONE 6!!! 

 Level Up the Challenge: 

Dial in your accuracy—pick a zone before you swing and hit it with purpose! Want even more of a test? Throw a blocker in your face and learn to tool the block, hit around it, or go high hands to make your shot count.

Being great isn’t about perfect sets—it’s about what you do when things get tough. This drill builds your confidence, your vision, and your ability to deliver under pressure. Become your team’s go-to in the chaos.

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Transition Hitting 

Every hitter will need to be able to be effective in transition to be great, This fast-paced drill will prepare you for in-game action! 

What You’ll Need: 

A regulation volleyball court, net, volleyballs, and a partner to toss or set for you.  

Let’s Get Into It: 

Start up at the net like you're about to shut down a hitter—hands up, eyes locked in. The moment you hear the smack of the ball on the other side, explode off the net with three quick,  powerful steps backward—this is your backwards approach into attack mode. 

Your setter is waiting. As you plant, they’ll toss or set the ball—then it’s go time. Swing hard,  swing smart, and keep moving. The drill is fast-paced—reps come one after another, so stay light on your feet and ready to fly!

This drill sharpens your transition footwork and builds your ability to hit effectively off the net, just like in a real game. 

Level Up the Challenge: 

Aim to hit every zone on the court—line, cross, deep corner, and short tip. Make it a game: 

- 3 clean kills in a row 

- Hit all 6 zones before you stop 

- Race a teammate to complete the challenge first 

Push your speed, precision, and power. Become the transition hitter no defense wants to face.

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3 Shot Sequence 

All hitters need to have a deep bag of tricks that they can go into throughout a game. Whether this is crushing a ball, tipping it short over the block, or having a super good roll shot, there are many ways that great pin hitters will score. The aim of this drill is to develop your ability to score in many ways. 

What You’ll Need:

A regulation volleyball court, net, volleyballs, and a partner to toss or set for you. 

Let’s Get Into It: 

Start in your normal attacking position, locked in and ready to strike. Your setter will toss or set you a ball—go off! Choose any attack you want: a full-power swing, a sneaky tip, a crafty roll shot, or even a bold opposite-hand smack. Once you land, don’t stop—the next two balls are coming fast! 

You’ll get three attacks in a row, and each one should be a different shot. Mix it up, keep it unpredictable, and work on being the kind of hitter defenders hate to read.

 Level Up the Challenge:

Make it tougher (and more fun!) by setting up target zones on the court—cones, hoops, tape,  whatever works. Try to land each of your three attacks in a different target. This pushes your accuracy, creativity, and court awareness to the next level. 

This drill trains you to get your feet to the ball and build a killer arsenal of shots, so you can score from anywhere, at any time. Get versatile, get dangerous, and get ready to dominate the net! 

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Pass/Dig to Swing 

One of the BIGGEST keys to being an elite all-around pin attacker is mastering the art of transitioning from passer to powerful hitter — and this drill is your ticket to leveling up!

What You’ll Need: 

A regulation volleyball court, net, a few volleyballs, court tape, and a partner to toss or set to you. Bonus points if you’ve got a block or full defense to test your skills! 

Drill Breakdown: Let’s Get Moving! 

Start by taping out your transition pathway on the court:

- Straight line for your shuffle after the pass. 

- Slanted line for your explosive approach into the hit. 

Think of it like a runway for your attack!

After each pass, explode off the line, plant, and attack with INTENT — whether it’s a high-powered swing, a deceptive tip, or a cheeky roll shot. Gradually increase the tempo of both your approach and the set to simulate real game speed! 

 Crank Up the Challenge: 

- Pick your target zones and try to nail them consistently — don’t just hit, place with purpose. 

- Add a blocker and practice hitting around or tooling the block like a boss. • Have extra players?

Run it live with a defense and test your decision-making under pressure! 

Why It Matters: 

This drill is your game-changer. It trains your body to react quickly and efficiently, helping you become a lethal threat on the pin. With clean footwork and killer shot selection, you’ll be unstoppable from both serve, receive, and defense. 

Now go own that court and turn every pass into a point!

If you want to level up your game as a hitter or want more volleyball drills, check out Play Better Volleyball Hitting featuring Coach Santiago Restrepo! This is a great clinic that will allow any player or coach to up their game to the next level!