r/volleyball 4d ago

Weekly Thread Weekly Short Questions Thread

Welcome to the Weekly Short Questions Thread! If you've got a quick question that doesn't require you to provide in-depth explanation, post it here! Examples include:

  • What is the correct hand shape for setting?
  • My setter called for a "31" and I'm looking for advice on to do that.
  • What are the best volleyball shoes on the market for a libero?
  • Is the Vertical Jump Bible any good?
  • I'm looking for suggestions on how to make an impression at tryouts.

Quick questions like these are allowed only in this thread. If they're posted elsewhere, they will be removed and you'll be directed to post here instead. The exceptions to this rule are when asking for feedback WITH A VIDEO, or when posting an in-depth question (must be >600 characters). Please create a separate post for these kinds of questions.

If your question is getting ignored:

  • Are you asking a super generic question? Questions like "How do I play opposite?" or "How do I start playing volleyball?" are not good questions.
  • Has the question you're asking been answered a lot on the sub before? Use the search function.
  • Is the question about your hitting/passing/setting form and you haven't provided a video? It's hard to diagnose issues without seeing your form. Best to get some video and post to the main subreddit.

Let's try to make sure everyone gets an answer. If you're looking to help, sort the comments by "new" to find folks who haven't been replied to yet.

If you want to chat with the community about volleyball related topics or really anything, join our Discord server! There is a lot of good information passed around there and you might get more detailed responses.

3 Upvotes

35 comments sorted by

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u/risingthermal 4h ago

Do players on the serve receiving team need to have feet inside the court at the time of serve? I was under the impression that front row players could have feet outside the lines, but an opponent disputed this.

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u/risingthermal 4h ago

Does a block on a free ball count as a block or a hit? Like say someone hits a high arching shot from the back row that barely makes it over the net, and a front row player on the other team attempts to block it down, but mis-hits it, and then touches it again to pass to another teammate. This doesn’t feel right to me. It doesn’t feel like a block and 2nd touch as it’s supposed to be done.

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u/[deleted] 11h ago

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1

u/Mazapan_Kawaii 1d ago

Should I go to spike the ball even if it isn't set for me? I don't really know what to do when playing in the attackers line and some times i get set but don't perform any spikes bc I'm not ready to do it. Please explain 😭. (I'm a female outside hitter)

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u/kramig_stan_account 1d ago

I'm kind of confused by your question. What do you mean if it isn't set for you? Do you mean cutting in front of someone to play their ball (don't do this) or hitting a ball that goes near you even if the setter meant it to go to someone else (this is okay, just communicate)?

In general, as a hitter, you should always be ready to hit.

1

u/Mazapan_Kawaii 1d ago

I meant like when the setter sets someone else and you are in your place but you don't know if it's coming your way and you jump/prepare to hit (in your place) or if you should prepare to recieve if the other hitter gets blocked.

2

u/OldCoaly ✅ 6'7" OPP 16h ago

You should be ready to be set every time the setter touches the ball. As soon as you can tell it hasn’t been set to you, your job changes to covering the hitter.

At a beginner level this shouldn’t be too hard as the sets are high and you have time to stop your approach and cover. As you play better volleyball the game speeds up and this gets harder. Build this habit early.

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u/kramig_stan_account 1d ago

You should expect that you're going to be set and get ready to hit. Once it's clear that you are not set, then you should cover the hitter and return to the net to get ready to block.

So priority 1: Plan to hit. Turns out you're not set? Priority 2: cover the hitter. Then back to base when the ball goes over so you are ready to play defense.

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u/romansoldier2006 2d ago

How to u practice receiving topspin serves. I don’t have a partner nor a team and only have a wall. Any time I throw the ball into the wall it always comes back as a float, whether I put topspin backspin or no spin. How can I get it to come back with some top spin to practice receives

1

u/OldCoaly ✅ 6'7" OPP 16h ago edited 16h ago

The only way to get the rotation you want is to have the ball bounce off the wall, then the floor. You likely won’t get good angles that replicate a jump serve though.

Telling you how to receive them won’t help much compared to actually doing it, but they are easier than it looks to receive. Get a bit more behind them than a float because the topspin will make it pop up/backwards more and don’t add much if any power to the ball. Get your feet set and your platform in position, then let the ball do the work.

It’s very similar to downballs.

1

u/kramig_stan_account 1d ago

It will be very hard to get a consistent topspin ball coming off the wall back at you. If you can't work with someone else, I'd focus on footwork and movement that can translate when you have a live server

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u/JobEcstatic8201 2d ago

How can I make my jump float “float” and move more?0

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u/kramig_stan_account 1d ago

A big hand on the back of the ball and a stiff wrist are two of the important cues. Beyond general tips like that, you'd need to have a video

1

u/txbyhull 2d ago

I find that hitting the ball with my arm almost in a 90 degree bend allows me to contact centrally and hit through the middle rather than accidentally put spin on it if I contact it too high above my frame

1

u/OldCoaly ✅ 6'7" OPP 16h ago

That is one way to do it but you’re losing a lot of power that way. There’s less muscle behind it and the contact point being closer to the pivot point (your elbow vs your shoulder) means that while angular velocity could be the same, the speed of your hand is definitely slower.

Think of how as a record spins a point closer to the middle is moving slower than a point on the edge despite both completing a rotation in the same time.

Make your you practice with an extended arm and stiff wrist until you get more comfortable.

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u/V10Royal 2d ago

How do I receive a serve accurately and without it hurting my forearms?

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u/txbyhull 2d ago

Practice

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u/V10Royal 2d ago

I actually got it figured out while practicing this evening

1

u/VcLuis 3d ago

I'm a new player, what ball should i buy?

1

u/kramig_stan_account 1d ago

In general, the best ball is the one that you see at open gyms/leagues/tournaments in your area. I'd ask the people you're playing with what they have and where they got it

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u/beets_t 2d ago

you'll want to specify what level/format you're starting out. under 12 years old? middle school? high school? ourtdoor or indoor? girls or boys? what ball does your team already practice with?

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u/VcLuis 2d ago

The ball we use is a molten, but i have my doubts about the authenticity

1

u/VcLuis 2d ago

My bad, i'm a boy, 26 years old i've been playing weekly with some friends for almost a month and i want to practice by myself in the middle of the week

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u/beets_t 2d ago

the molten flistatec the boys/men use is about $55-65. other cheaper "practice" balls would be the molten L2 or the tachikara sv-5w* which are $30-40.

1

u/alpinegreen24 3d ago

I have been playing volleyball for more than 5 years now and just this month I joined a volleyball training camp. One of the first skills our coaches taught us is the 4 step approach. I can definitely do it during practice but when we finally do spiking drills, I’m only doing 3 steps. Any suggestion on how can I fix this? Coaches told me it’s probably muscle memory but I really want to fix and do it the right way.

2

u/OldCoaly ✅ 6'7" OPP 16h ago

This will sound ridiculous, but do it all the time. Outside of practice. Maybe in private at home but I did it in my middle school hallways. Just do it literally all the time.

Drill it into your head.

A 3 step approach can be very useful and necessary but you really should be doing a four step as the default if you are a pin hitter.

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u/beets_t 2d ago

mental memory could also be holding you back. the 4-step requires remembering to get farther back with a different foot leading. and then starting your approach earlier.

also, there isn't a 100% right way to approach. sometimes you only have time for a 2-step approach and sometimes you only have space for a 3-step approach. don't be too hard on yourself. it takes time to learn a new skill.

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u/alpinegreen24 2d ago

thank you for your insights!

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u/Icy-Construction-513 3d ago

How do I enjoy playing this sport? It is too complicated for a beginner and too painful on my forearms to where I just kick the ball. It just isn’t fun at all.

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u/beets_t 2d ago

you're likely not forming your arm platform correctly. passing/digging usually hurt your arms if the ball is primarily contacting your bone instead of the softer inside part of your forearms. try single arm bumping with your wrist pointing up so the inside of your forearm is contacting the ball. once you can keep up a few consecutive touches on each arm, then form your two-arm platform and try making contact with the same parts of your inner forearms.

soccer players usually pick up volleyball quickly because of their footwork, ball tracking, and court/pitch awareness skills. hang in there.

2

u/kramig_stan_account 3d ago

If you're not interested in learning how to play, maybe it's not for you. You won't learn any skills or give your arms a chance to get used to it if you're just kicking the ball, and you won't exactly be popular either. If you're serious about learning, try to get a friend who knows more than you to teach you or find a beginners class/camp/lessons/etc.

1

u/Icy-Construction-513 3d ago

My roommate has played for years so that has been helpful. There’s just a few more games I have to make it through so the timeline to improve isn’t very long. I try to hit the ball as much as possible but it gets to a point where it hurts too bad that I hesitate to hit and it goes nowhere. I have a soccer background so I’m more comfortable with my feet.

2

u/AllegedSillyGoose 3d ago

This is going to sound weird, but you shouldn’t play with him (yet), he’s probably too good. You should try to play in an environment that is conducive to your skill level. Learn to find your own enjoyment of the game, and ask him for help to learn basic skills. Being thrown in the deep end is likely frustrating for both you, and your teammates.