Spiking A Volleyball: What Is The Cutty, The Cross Court and The Line Shot



Posted: Saturday, June 12, 2010

by April Chapple
Volleyball Voices Inc.

Here are some volleyball hitting terms that spikers should learn in order to increase their attacking options.

cut shot - The cut shot or the "cutty" is used by a player who is in zone 2 on their court and attacks the ball with an off-speed shot to zone 2 of the opposing team's court. The player can also hit a cut shot if they are in zone 4 on one side and contact the ball so it crosses the net and/or over the block to zone 4 of the opposing team's court. This shot is primarily used in beach volleyball and is very effective as a hitting option for players, especially those who are shorter and may be confronted with a big block or those who are looking for another option to just hitting the ball hard all the time.

To hit the "cutty" (aka cut shot) a player goes up as if they are going to spike the ball, then at the last moment they slow their arm swing down and contact the ball on either of its side panels, either the left one if the player is in or near zone 4 or the right side of the ball if the hitter is in or around zone 2 which should direct the ball diagonally and within ten feet from the net inside the opposing team's sideline.

cross court shot - The difference between a cut shot and a cross court shot is that a cut shot falls within three meters or ten feet from the net whereas a cross court shot falls anywhere along that opposite sideline.

cross court hit - A cross court hit is a hard driven spike or hit directed at an angle that lands in the area within the opposite sideline of the opposing team's court. So if a player on team A is hitting from zone 4 on her side and her hard driven spike lands anywhere in or around zone 4 or zone 5 in the opposing team's court, then she scored a point or a sideout with her cross court hit. The same is valid if the team A player is a right side hitter who is spiking the ball from zone 2 on her side to zone 2 or zone 1 on the opposing team's side then she made a cross court hit

line shot - The line shot is another hitting or shot option for the spiker which requires the hitter to contact the ball so it travels parallel to and within the sideline closest to them. A player hitting from zone 4 is hitting line or making a line shot if they spike the ball or hit an offspeed shot to zone 5 in the opposing team's court, or if they are hitting from zone 2 then they are making the line shot if their spiked ball or offspeed shot goes in or near zone 4 or zone 5 in the opposing team's court.

And now you're invited to peep these stories and news on national team and collegiate outside hitters. Also, sign up right now to get free video instruction and learn indoor and beach volleyball skills that you can use right away from Olympic gold medalists on how to become a volleyball hitter. From April Chapple, creator of the volleyball news hub Volleyball Voices.com and author of the new ebook "86 Girls Indoor Volleyball Tips:How To Gain Confidence On the Volleyball Court."

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