Contact with ball and follow-through

Articles In This Section:

· The Setup

· Purpose

· Qualities Desired in the Player

· Mechanics of the Setup Position prior to set

· Contact with ball and follow-through

· Over-the-head set

· Other sets

· Technical Aspects and Strategy

· Conclusion

Contact with the ball and follow-through is a co-ordinated muscle movement of wrists and fingers, arms, shoulders, knees and legs, and balls of feet, all designated to clearly bat the ball with a smooth, light touch to the desired height and position in relation to the net. Careful consideration and practice should be devoted to eliminate: (1) jerky muscles causing height and direction errors; (2) lifting the ball— usually caused by allowing ball to strike palms of hands or by late arm reflex; and (3) a spinning ball—caused by too much wrist and finger action.

Great setters such as Rolf Engen and Walter Schiller of the Hollywood YMCA Stars employ a technique emphasizing arms and wrists and fingers. Very little body action is noticeable. "The more big muscles that get into the act, the more inaccurate it may be." ⁵