The One-Hand Bounce Pass

Articles In This Section:

· Recovery Shots

· Bounce the Ball

· Study Lines of Force

· The Two-Arm Forearm Bounce

· The One-Hand Bounce Pass

· The Foot Bounce

· Net Recovery

· Quicken Your Reactions—Here's How!

The one-hand bounce pass made from an underhand position is often called a dig pass. The principles are the same as in the forearm bounce. The solid surface of either hand (the butt or heel surface) is placed in the path of the ball, with great concentration being exerted to watch the ball closely so that it may be struck squarely in the center. The fingers of the hand are slightly closed in almost the normal position of the relaxed hand. As the ball contacts the butt of the hand, the wrist is snapped upward with the amount of force necessary only to counteract the force of the ball and to bounce the ball into the air. As in fielding almost any ball, the body should be in readiness on the balls of the feet, crouched, with the knees slightly bent to allow straightening of the body simultaneously with contact and to give easy moving grace to the play.

This pass may also be executed with a closed fist. The ball is hit on the combined surface of the heel of the hand and the clenched fingers. Such a pass is one of the safest to use in net recovery shots.

Occasionally, you see players use a two-hand closed fist pass. They hold both fists together and bounce the ball up. The difficulty here is to hit the ball simultaneously with both fists.

Some players use the back of the hand, placing the hand in a position to intercept the ball squarely and giving a flip of the wrist to bounce the ball at contact. If the first two joints of the fingers are flexed but the third joints held straight and in line with the back of the hand, a broad smooth surface is formed which becomes quite effective for bouncing.

In teaching underhand bounce passes, Wickstrom makes the following recommendation: "Attention should be focussed upon the position of the hand or hands at the moment of contact with the ball, so the student may see the proper way of utilizing the full hitting surface." ¹

When the play to be made is at a ball going overhead and dropping behind the player, every effort should be made to backpedal fast to get into position to use the chest pass. Failing in this, the one-hand bounce pass should be used. A ball overhead, as any other ball handled with a recovery shot, should be watched carefully. The butt of the hand should be placed directly behind the center of the ball and a punch with easy wrist action delivered to send it into an arc through the air.