Top Volleyball Drills to Improve Your Spiking and Passing

Posted by Nivia Sports Australia | Volleyball

Spiking and passing are two of the most important volleyball skills. A powerful spike can end a rally and shift the momentum of an entire match, while a clean pass sets up everything your team does on offense. The good news? Both skills can be sharpened dramatically with the right drills and consistent practice.

Whether you're a beginner trying to nail the basics or an experienced player looking to add more power and precision, here are the best volleyball drills to take your spiking and passing to the next level.

Why Spiking and Passing Matter

Before diving into the drills, it helps to understand why these two skills are so critical.

Passing is the foundation of every offensive play. A bad pass forces your setter to scramble, limits your attacking options, and often leads to a weak return. A good pass, on the other hand, gives your team time, options, and confidence.

Spiking is how most points are won. A well-timed, well-placed spike is nearly impossible to defend. But spiking isn't just about jumping high or hitting hard, it's about timing, approach, arm swing, and reading the defense.

Master both, and you become the kind of player every coach wants on the court.

Top Drills to Improve Your Passing

1. Wall Passing Drill

This is one of the simplest and most effective drills for developing consistent forearm passing.

How to do it:

• Stand 5 to 8 feet from a wall.
• Pass the ball repeatedly against the wall using proper forearm technique.
• Focus on a stable platform, bent knees, and absorbing the ball with your legs not your arms.
• Aim for 50 to 100 consecutive passes without losing control.

What it improves: Platform consistency, ball control, and reaction time.

2. Partner Passing Drill

A classic drill that builds accuracy and communication.

How to do it:

• Stand 10 to 15 feet from a partner.
• Pass the ball back and forth using forearm passes.
• Focus on directing the ball to your partner's chest or forehead with a smooth, controlled motion.
• Progress by increasing the distance or adding movement.

What it improves: Accuracy, footwork, and the muscle memory of a clean pass.

3. Shuffle and Pass Drill

Real game situations rarely let you stand still. This drill mimics that reality.

How to do it:

• Have a coach or partner toss the ball to your left, then your right.
• Shuffle to the ball, square your shoulders to your target, and pass.
• Reset to the middle and repeat.

What it improves: Footwork, body positioning, and passing under movement.

4. Serve Receive Drill

The most realistic passing drill — and one of the most important.

How to do it:

• Have a partner serve from across the net.
• Receive the serve and pass it to a target (a setter or a designated spot).
• Rotate positions after a set number of passes.

What it improves: Reading serves, judging speed and trajectory, and passing under pressure.

Top Drills to Improve Your Spiking

1. Approach and Jump Drill (No Ball)

Before you can spike well, you need a strong, repeatable approach.

How to do it:

• Practice your four-step approach (left-right-left-right for right-handed hitters): slow, fast, plant, jump.
• Focus on a powerful arm swing during the jump — both arms back, then up explosively.
• Repeat 15 to 20 times without a ball.

What it improves: Timing, footwork, and vertical jump.

2. Toss and Hit Drill

A simple way to work on contact and arm swing.

How to do it:

• Stand near the net with a partner, tossing balls just above the net.
• Approach, jump, and hit the ball down into the court.
• Focus on contacting the ball at the highest point with a fast, snapping wrist.

What it improves: Ball contact, wrist snap, and downward hitting angle.

3. Spike Approach with Set

This drill brings everything together.

How to do it:

• Have a setter deliver a set from the middle of the court.
• Time your approach so you reach peak height as the ball arrives.
• Hit the ball with full power and proper form.
• Repeat from different positions (outside, middle, opposite).

What it improves: Timing with the setter, attack variety, and game-realistic hitting.

4. Target Hitting Drill

Power means nothing if you can't place the ball.

How to do it:

• Place cones or markers at different spots on the opposite court deep corners, sharp angles, and the seam between defenders.
• Approach, jump, and try to hit each target during your spike.
• Track how many you hit out of 10 attempts.

What it improves: Accuracy, shot selection, and the ability to hit around blockers.

5. Block-and-Hit Drill

Real spikes happen against real defenders. This drill adds that pressure.

How to do it:

• Have one or two players block at the net.
• Practice hitting around the block, using the block's hands to score off it, or tipping over it.
• Switch up the angles and timing.

What it improves: Reading the block, shot variety, and decision-making under pressure.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of These Drills

• Quality over quantity. Ten clean reps are worth more than fifty sloppy ones.
• Warm up properly. Spiking and passing both put stress on your shoulders, knees, and lower back. Always warm up first.
• Film yourself. Watching your own technique reveals issues you can't feel in the moment.
• Train both sides. Don't just spike from the outside or pass from one spot. Mix it up.
• Stay consistent. Skills like passing and spiking improve through repetition over weeks and months, not in a single practice.

The Bottom Line

Becoming a great spiker and passer doesn't require fancy equipment or hours of conditioning. It requires focused, repeated practice on the right drills. Start with the basics, master your form, and then build complexity as you improve.

Show up consistently, work on your weak spots, and trust the process. Before long, you'll notice cleaner passes, more powerful spikes, and a much bigger impact on every match you play.