Breaking Goofy Foot Habit?

Question

Okay, so last year, my club coach tried to get me to do the left-right-left approach all year. I felt like I was doing it right and after a while he never said anything so I thought it was right. In high school my coach never said anything but just today my club coach said I was goofy footed. I am not a very powerful hitter and it must be because of this. When I practice with out the ball I can do it perfect, it's just when the ball comes into play I don't seem to be doing it right. How can I break my habit? Also, how can I know if I'm doing it right when I can't see my feet? Thanks!

Answer 1

I dont think that being goofy footed really has anything to do with your hitting ability... I'm a volleyball player and I'm goofy-footed too... being goofy-footed hasnt really done anyting with my hittting ability (since i havnt really seen anyone pass my hits well).. my club coach told me that i should just do what im comfortable with... also... if you really want to break your habit.. i would recomend not thinking about doing your approach.. the more you think about it the more likely you will to do it wrong.. you mentioned that you think your not a powerful hitter because of your approach.. i would recomend asking someone to video tape you so that you can see how fast your armswing is and if your wrist snap is high enough...(extend and snap your wrist for the ball to go down)

Answer 2

Go back to "no approach", then one-step (small step) approach to make sure you can still coordinate your swing-up. The bottom line is that you have to jump off BOTH feet.

Your vertical would suffer a little but your goofy foot could stop. After a while you can go back to three-step approach while keeping your other "good habits" not affected.

Answer 3

huh

Answer 4

well if your doing it right without the ball then just don't use a ball when your playing and viola! problem solved. [: or you could DiTCH GOLF!! [;

Answer 5

never heard of goofy foot

Answer 6

find a dance room or a full length mirror and spend an hour or two working on your foot work by being able to see it it will help you change it and possibily make you a better hitter

Answer 7

Well im usually very quick-footed and i've been trying to break that habit, and what seems to help me the most is slowing my approach down a bit so i get the fundamentals of not only the left-right-left move ment but also measure where my jump should be from, and when to c**k my arms back as i plant my feet so i can spring up for a kill. Also when you're up in the air i suggest a sort of superman flying pose i know it sounds weird but you pull back the arm your hitting with as if you were serving or about to punch someone and with the other hand reach, not stretch, into the air, then as your pulling down the hand that your reaching with you're bringing your hitting hand down on the ball. This will help you get a feel for controlling your arm movements while in mid-air. But yeah i just hope this helps you because its helped me. :)

Answer 8

You just have to keep thinking in your head, left-right/left jump. Think about this everytime you do your approach, practice at home.

Left

RIGHT/LEFT

JUMP

When you do goofy foot work you tend to turn your hips and your shoulders automatically turn with your hips, so you have less control over everything. Just keep practicing you will get it. You have to get it!

Answer 9

It is very hard to break a goofy foot approach.  You are right about the goofy foot approach taking away from your power.  I have only seen one player with a goofy foot approach that was an effective hitter.  

You need to work every day away from volleyball.  You can not work on your approach and try to hit a volleyball.  

Go slowly.  I recommend you start with your left foot in the air.  Stand only on your right foot.  Slowly, take a big step with your left, a big step with your right and then the small closure step with your left.  Go back and do the same thing.  Do about 50 at the very slow walking pace.  Then try the same thing just a little quicker.  Stay at that pace for about 50.  Speed it up a little and do 50.  Do not be in a hurry.  If you start going back to your old approach, go back to the slower approach.  You do not want to practice the wrong thing.  Keep practicing the correct approach no matter how slow it is.  

Good luck.  It is easier to break bad hitting or passing habits.

Answer 10

we always used video tapes to record our footing because then you can see what your doing wrong, why your timing may be off, and why your not hitting as well as you hoped. make sure when you do your footing, take a long step first, then two short steps. just keep practicing at home agains a wall and then maybe have your mom or dad help outside against a garage door or something. they can toss the ball up for you and you can do your steps.