You can tell an experienced hitter from a non-experienced one when the game is tight--when the pressure is on. The experienced hitter knows what the high percentage shots are, she has been watching and exploiting the other team's defensive weaknesses throughout the match, and she knows her own abilities. These are the three most important attributes of a great hitter. Without these skills, you are limited to the pre-game, ball-bouncing MVP.
You should keep in mind when learning the many skills involved in this game that volleyball is a hypocritical game in nature. When you are blocking, you have the advantage. When you are hitting, you have the advantage. This, of course, cannot be true, however, if you are to be successful you must abandon all logical thought when it comes to advantage--you always have it. The real advantage is in your mind--it is not as physical as some might have you believe.
There are so many possible attack angles at the net that you should never feel like you are stuck. There is always a shot. You just have to use it. Like Tim Hovland (USA men's team player) said once: "All of these guys that whine about the set not being exactly where they want it. I just tell them to shut up and hit the d**n ball!" You just can't argue with the Hov.
Let's talk about the shots from the left side. There are a few basic ones that come to mind, and can be used in pure and modified form at your discretion.
BASIC SHOTS FOR DUMMIES
The Hard Angle - A left side attacker should always approach the net with her shoulders lined up with the far corner of the opponents side of the court. This leaves the hard angle shot a feasible option for your shoulder. If you tend to make this shots with less power or a "cutting" type of action with your hand, you may take a look at your approach and make sure that you are facing the correct angle.
The Deep Angle - This is a shot when you are in trouble. It is the highest percentage shot (it is farther to the deep cross-court corner than to anywhere else) and is the most natural considering the biomechanics of the arm swing. If the middle blocker is big, burn her with this shot--either hitting it high and over her inside hand, or high and inside her block.
The Seam Shot - If you watch the middle blocker as you approach and notice that she will be late, try and hit the ball at a high point above the net just inside of the outside blocker. It's better to think of this shot as inside the outside blocker, because chances are, she's not moving much.
The Line Shot - This shot has the potential to be the most powerful. As you approach facing the far corner of your opponents court and see the line open, rotate your hips toward the line and your shoulders will follow. The motion of rotating your hips and swinging and contacting the ball at or before the ball crosses your midline should be one fluid and accelerating motion. Aim the ball two feet inside the court and the ball will almost never go out. Don't try and place the ball on the line.
ACCESSORY SHOTS
Angled Line Shot - This is a cool shot that will probably never get dug. To set this shot up, hit seams, angles, and generally away from the outside blocker. At this point the blocker will be reaching more and more into the middle and will probably not be using her outside hand as strongly as her inside one (you haven't hit that way in a while). Aim above the outside of this blocker to a spot directly behind the blocker in the deep part of the court. More than likely this ball will either land in the last 5 feet of the court 5 to 10 feet inside of the sideline, or will go off the outside blockers outside hand. Either way, you probably just got credit for a kill.
Swiping Shot - Any time you feel like the ball is in a bad spot for you or you just want to make the blockers feel like crap, this shot will be helpful. This shot is executed by swinging at the ball in sort of a side-arm motion. You do not, however, make this shot with a full-fledged side-arm motion. Swing at the ball in such a way that if the block wasn't there, the ball would go out of bounds. The trick here is to actually hit the blockers (either one of them) so that you don't hit your dad over on the bleachers. Most of the time, the ball is being attacked at such an angle that even if the blockers to get good contact on the ball, it will probably go out of bounds.
Sizzling Pits - This is a shot that you will probably have to set up. After swinging high for a while, the blockers should be reaching higher than they normally will and penetrating less. This is a good time to try the straight down shot in the angle, seam, or line. This will be the only time that you will need to hit the ball low to the tape. If you don't set this shot up, you may see the ball again before you're ready--probably before you land.
TROUBLE SHOTS
High and Hard - When you're in trouble, nothing works better than high and hard. Swing high and try and to hit one of the blockers hands (preferably the outside blockers). Make sure that you are putting good top-spin on the ball so that if it gets blocked, it will go up in the air high enough for your team to set up and play it in a controlled manner. This shot works great for balls that are set off the net, or inside or outside your approach line.
Shove-It - Wait for the blockers to drop a little and their hands and arms will have to pull back. As they pull back, with a strong open hand, using the tips of your fingers, push the ball as close to the tape and into their block as possible. The ball will probably get stuck between their body and the net. Push hard. This shot is only effective if the ball is really tight to the net.
Wipe-It - If the set is tight to the net approach and start your swing as if you are going to murder it. Then, instead of murdering it, push the ball into the blockers hand/wrist area and almost throw it out of bounds. Don't be afraid to look at the blockers hands when you do this. If you don't, you'll probably miss.
The Save - If the set is unhitable and is probably inside and tight (the worst kind), roll the ball high and into the blockers hands. If you aim at the middle blocker, you'll probably have to aim almost straight up, and if you're aiming at the outside blocker, you will have to aim it more towards the opponents court. The most common mistake with this shot is being too cautious and not putting any speed on the ball. If you tap it like a wimp to the middle blocker, he will probably throw it down on your setter. Take a swing at the ball and do the best that you can. You should inform your teammates about the "covering phenomenon" that we all neglect and this shot should work well.
GENERAL HITTING TIPS