Quick Tips: A fast fix to your volley or sets...

Most players are familiar with the technique that the sport derives its' name from:  the volley.  Known officially as the overhead pass, the volley is a something that, when done right, evokes instant admiration and immediately raises the level of your game (although it often makes you the default setter on your team, but that's a bittersweet honour if you like to hit).

However, the volley is often an overlooked skill, and is seldom mastered.  This stems from a lack of practice and, in many cases, an inefficient attention to a small but important detail:  your thumbs.

When I was taught how to execute an overhead pass, I was taught to form a triangle or diamond shape with my index fingers and thumbs, spread my fingers wide and flatten out my hands, palms facing the ceiling and positioned over your forehead.  I'm quite certain that I'm not alone.  The issue with the way this is taught is that no one pays attention to the profile of the thumbs.  Too often, the thumbs are pointing away from your forehead, forcing the player to use ONLY their forefingers to volley the ball.  This significantly reduces the surface contact with the ball and the hands and thereby reducing available control on the ball, and it places the mid/balance point of the ball dangerously close to the fingertips resulting in the ball either spinning wildly or flipping backwards off the fingers, resulting in a 'double contact' call.

The quick fix is to simply relax your hands, turn your palms towards each other and position your thumbs pointing to yourself.   This allows the hands to simulate the contour of the ball, and still maintain the 'triangle' shape in your index fingers and thumbs that we've all grown up with.  Additionally, because the thumbs are now being used to contact the ball, this moves the balance point of the ball toward the bridge of the fingers, ensuring a more positive contact with the ball.  If this feels like you're catching the ball, you are. It will feel like that at first.  With practice, you will eventually make it come out of your hands smoothly and effortlessly.



Good Luck and keep those sets up!

Ariel Castromayor
Resident Coach - Victory Volleyball