Page last updated 04/21/2008

Arm Swing

Why do so few players hit the ball properly? Spiking is no different than throwing a baseball from left field to home base; so why don't teenage female athletes do it right? Why do they use the "waitress technique" instead? The reason is, when the volleyball is set high, it is difficult for the hitter to time their swing with the speed of the falling ball. The "waitress technique" solves that problem but creates many more.

The "waitress technique" of spiking consists of the following steps: 1) While jumping for the ball, swing both arms straight up towards the ceiling. 2) Stiffen the hitting hand and press the fingers together creating a "paddle."  3) When the ball comes close to the hitting hand slap at the ball keeping the hand above the elbow- just like a waitress carrying a tray of food. The effect of this swing is to have the ball go into the net, into the block or out of bounds.  One other result of this swing is continuous net touches.

Hitters insist on using the "waitress technique" to avoid a timing problem that is created when taking a full wind up and swing. Want proof? Ask a hitter what type of set they want and she always says, "Low and close to the net." When the ball is set with these parameters the hitter can merely reach up and when the ball comes close to the hitting hand they slap the ball. The "waitress technique" is not a real swing. It is more of a push from a high point to a low point. A "full" swing will allow for more power and elevation.

The player needs to use a  throwing motion if she hopes to achieve a "full swing."  A throwing motion allows the hand to travel a greater distance in the air. Force over distance insures a more powerful hit. The key is achieving the correct "pause position" and throwing motion as described in drill 1 below. It takes four hours of painful work and two weeks of repetition, but then you have a hitter instead of a waitress.

Drill 1: Chair Swing

(A) The athlete stands on a chair about two feet from the the net facing forward. Arms are extended behind her back as though she has just planted her two feet in preparation for the jump.

(B) Swing the arms in a full circle motion and up. Continue the left hand (non-hitting hand) to the ceiling. When the right elbow (hitting hand) reaches the height of the chest, start to pull the elbow back as through drawing a bow.  (If the player waits until the elbow goes above the chest then the momentum of the swinging arm will force the elbow and hand too high and she will be unable to draw the elbow back.) The elbow should pull the hip back.

(C) The "pause position" is now achieved and should be characterized by the left hand pointing straight up at the ball. The right elbow is back. The right forearm is pointed ahead and up to a point where the gym ceiling meets the far wall. (This 45 degree angle is important because, if the the forearm is parallel with the floor, then the hit will be parallel with the floor. This will inhibit a circular arm swing and the ability to attack the ball at its highest point.)

(D) The hitting hand should be completely relaxed ("hang like a willow tree") and be in front of the face slightly above the ear. The hand is not behind the head. To achieve maximum force  the hip has been turned back which is how the hitting hand can be pulled back without going behind the head.

(E) Make sure the hip initiates the swing. This is similar to a golf swing. The elbow pulls the hip back and the hip drives the arm forward. To achieve maximum height at the point of contact with the ball, have the athlete, "replace her hand with her elbow." The arm catches up with the hip at the point of contact.

(F) The hand should be relaxed and the fingers spread apart throughout the entire hitting motion. It is the whip and snap of the hand that produces the top spin and downward trajectory of the ball. Finish the swing. "Throw your fingers to the floor,"  is a good cue word. The palm finishes facing outward as the hand goes by the hip. The finish should have the elbow higher than the hand.  Unlike many coaches this author believes in a complete follow through rather than attempting to snap and stop any follow through. By following through the player actually reduces the chances of hitting the net.

Drill 2: Approach

Attack without the ball. The athlete approaches and jumps. The coach insures that the proper "pause position" is established; i.e.; elbow back, hand forward and relaxed with fingers pointed at the floor, hip back. Be sure to note if the hitting hand is in front of eyes or behind head. If the hand is stiff then it is probably due to having a stiff hand on the approach. Insist that the athlete have a RELAXED hand thoughout the entire approach.

Drill 3: Attack the Ball

Hitters are put in a "spiking line." The players approach the net one at a time, jump, achieve a "pause position," and then hit a quick set tossed by the coach.

Drill 4 Tennis Ball Toss

(A) Hold a tennis ball in the hitting hand. Take a spike approach and throw the ball over the net recreating a spike swing.

(B) Hold a tennis ball in each hand. Take a spike approach, jump and after recreating the "pause position" drop the ball in the non-hitting hand over the net and throw the ball in the hitting hand over the net.

(C) Hold a tennis ball in the hitting hand. Take a spike approach and jump and achieve the "pause position." Instead of throwing the ball over the net have the player continue to hold the ball in her hand and  recreate the spike swing. When the hand goes by the hip throw the ball backwards. This reinforces the idea of following through.

Drill 5 Standing Hit

The player stands at about 15 feet off the net. The coach tosses a ball high at about the attack line (10' feet off the net.) The player walks under the ball while swinging her arms into a "pause position." She then swings at the ball emphasizing snapping her wrist which will add top spin to the ball. Chase your own ball! Achieving top spin is the key to a successful spike and yet it is very difficult to accomplish.

Drill 6 Hitting Slow

Coach tosses ball fifteen feet in the air about three feet off the net. Player approaches, jumps and swings at ball. Each time a player leaves the ground the coach yells, "Pull your elbow back." Players should retreat rapidly all the way to the end of the hitting line after returning to earth. This will insure efficient transition skills during play.

Drill 7 Kneeling and Hitting

Players are on their knees about ten feet from the net and tossing the ball to themselves. Players put their arms in the "pause position" and then hit the ball UP while snapping their wrist, producing top spin.

Drill 8: Timing

A) Have the player stand and hold the ball in the non-hitting hand while holding the hitting arm in the "pause position."  The player tosses the ball to herself  and hits the ball down to the floor and the ball bounces up and hits a nearby wall. Notice how the player rotates her hitting arm to a vertical position as the ball is tossed. If she does this she is destroying half the whip! In fact, she is placing her hand in the "waitress" position so that she can eliminate the timing problem. The correct way to perform this drill is to toss the ball and then wait until the ball has dropped so that the player makes one motion while swinging at the ball. If she insists on rotating her arm upward during the toss then the coach should place her hand on the athlete's hitting arm while it is in the "pause position."  The coach tosses the ball very high but the athlete cannot swing until the coach releases the player's arm. (Be careful; the player might break your hand when she tries to swing early!) In essence, this drill tries to force the player to make one swing on the ball.  The player should not rotate her arm to a "second" "pause position." The swing is one continuous motion.

Drill 9: Review

A) Go back to throwing tennis balls.

B) Go back to hitting lines with the coach tossing high outside sets but this time the players should take a full swing at the ball.

Drill 10: Hitting up

Coach and player stand 20 feet from the net. Coach tosses ball straight up. Player does not take a spike approach but takes a full arm swing to help her jump. She gets her hitting arm in the "pause position" and swings at the ball. The coach keeps tossing ball after ball for one minute. Each time the player swings the coach yells, "swing up." If the ball goes in the net the player is swinging on a downward angle. If the ball goes over the net the ball is being hit UP.

Drill 11: Self Set

Hold a ball in the non-hitting hand, take a spike approach, jump, and then swing at the ball. The "trick" here is to hit the ball out of the hand. The players will attempt to toss the ball when they get to the net but they should just hold it in their non-hitting hand and swing at it. Use this drill against blockers.

Drill 12: Wrist Snap

Only four players are in this drill at a time. Two coaches stand back to back in the setter's position. The coach facing off-side tosses balls ten feet in the air, and the players attack one at a time. Upon landing, each player runs to the middle of the net and without using a spike approach, jumps and hits a ball tossed by the other coach. This should be a low toss, just above the height of the net. The entire hit should be isolated to a quick wrist snap.

No compromising coaches...remember, practice makes permanent.  If the players are using the "waitress" technique when the hitting lines become intense then they will use the same technique in a match. Look for the correct pause position, loose hand, and a full swing that is completed in one motion.

 -Sid Feldman