Setting a Volleyball
Techniques, Skills, and Methods

There are many different techniques to setting a volleyball.

What's most important is developing a consistent setting style. 

When you hand set, you want to train your hands to contact the ball the same way every time. 

When first learning setting position, to start, make a triangle with your fingers. 

Your goal should be to position your hands so that the volleyball would hit you right between the eyes if you were to let the ball go through your hands.

Deceptive Moves (Coaching Video)

Hand Positioning and Technique

1. Bring your hands together.
   
2. Put your hands together with your finger tips touching.
   
3. Open up your hands, forming a triangle with your index fingers and thumbs.
   
4. Bring your fingers apart to a distance that would be perfect for placing a ball.
   

This is the position you want to get your hands in just before you contact the ball setting.

Finding the Hand Position

To find your volleyball setting position, put your hands above your head with your index fingers and your thumbs together.

1. Bring Hands Together

You should be able to place a ball into this hand position and let the ball just sit there comfortably.

2. Open Up Your Hands

3. Fingers to Shape of Ball

4. Final Position

When setting a volleyball, the ball should only be contacted by your fingers and never the palms of your hands.

The points of contact on your fingers should be close to the same contact points as when you formed the triangle (basically, you want your finger tips on the ball).

The ball should contact your thumbs and first two fingers with an equal amount of force, while your last two fingers on both hands contact the ball with much less force.

Setting Tip

The ball spinning after you set is a good indication you aren't contacting the ball cleanly.

Watch your sets and see whether they spin or not. Get in the habit of setting without putting spin on the ball and you will likely never be called for a double contact.

Typically, volleyball setters that set the ball much slower will tend to contact the ball with more fingers on the ball.

This extra prolonged contact allows for greater control for more accurate setting placement. Also, with a longer contact, you can take more spin off the ball which can be good for avoiding double hit ball handling calls.

On the other hand, the more fingers on the ball, possibly the greater chance of double contacting the ball.

A shorter contact time also keeps you from being called for lifting the ball.

Both a quick setting style and slow setting style have their advantages and disadvantages. It may be best to experiment with setting at different speeds and styles to see what you are most comfortable with.

Setting a Back-Set to the Weak Side Attack

Typically, volleyball setters that set the ball much slower will tend to contact the ball with more fingers on the ball.

This extra prolonged contact allows for greater control for more accurate setting placement. Also, with a longer contact, you can take more spin off the ball which can be good for avoiding double hit ball handling calls.

On the other hand, the more fingers on the ball, possibly the greater chance of double contacting the ball.

A shorter contact time also keeps you from being called for lifting the ball.

Both a quick setting style and slow setting style have their advantages and disadvantages. It may be best to experiment with setting at different speeds and styles to see what you are most comfortable with.

Setting Motion for Setting a Volleyball

When you perform the volleyball set, you want to use both your arms and wrists to some degree.

Your elbows should be slightly bent at the time of contact and your hands should be in the ready position as the ball contacts your fingers.

You can practice setting a volleyball at home by lying down on the floor and setting the ball straight up toward the ceiling.

This is a good volleyball setting drill because you can focus on... 

1. Setting the ball without spin.

2. Setting the ball in a way so it falls to the same spot repeatedly.

3. Learning to set using quiet hands.

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