Which of the following does NOT describe an objective when performing a spike hit?

• A. Hitting the ball into your opponent's court
• B. Hitting the ball down the line
• C. Hitting the ball directly at a back row player
• D. Hitting the ball between an opponent's arms spaced too widely apart

Answer: (C)

When spiking, the goal is to terminate the rally by attacking the ball into the opponent’s court, using angles and power to beat blockers and defenders. Hitting the ball into the opponent’s court is exactly what you’re aiming for, as it puts pressure on the other team to make a play.

Hitting the ball down the line is a common and effective target because it steers the ball away from blockers and toward the sideline, increasing the chance it lands in bounds. Hitting the ball between an opponent’s arms spaced too widely apart takes advantage of a gap in the defense, another typical objective of a well-placed spike.

Hitting the ball directly at a back row player isn’t a standard objective of a spike. Spikes are designed to score points by getting the ball into the court or through openings in the block, not to target a specific defender. The aim is to place the ball in a difficult spot for the defense to handle, not to aim at one player.