How do i learn how to set in volleyball?

Question

Hey, i've been playing volleyball for a few months, mostly at school with my friends. I'm not on a team or anything. But in the past few months, I've gotten much better at serving and bumping (we don't spike much), but my sets are HORRIBLE!

My wrist is always sore after i set, and sometimes the ball comes down on my thumb, hurting the thumb joint or something. I just don't really know how to set. Does anyone have a way for me to start practicing?

Answer 1

make a triangle with your hands (thumbs &index finger touching on opposite hands), & spread it apart. when the ball comes to you, gently move your hands away from each other in a fan motion. practice setting against a wall or something. sometimes the ball will hit your hand in a wierd way & hurt your thumb. Dont worry it happens to everyone.

The Link Might Help

Answer 2

Ahaha, I really suck at setting.

Answer 3

your sets shouldnt really be affecting your wrists. you want to try and only use your fingertips. try and get under the ball and push through with your legs. to position your hands you make a triangl like shape with your thumbs and index fingers. god luck!

Answer 4

well what you do is you make like a window with your fingers but not touching and you use your fingertips and don tset if its below you shoulders

Answer 5

I get a volleyball and then line my hands up to the seams of the ball so my thumb and index fingers kind of make a diamond.  Then just push up and catch it again in that position.  Keep doing it and speeding it up and it becomes setting.  It's a lot of practice.

Answer 6

well you would do push ups on your finger tips.

[if you're strong enough]

and that will strenghten your wrists and fingers too.

so they won't be sore and they won't jam as easily.

if you're not then just do exercisees to strenghten them.

Answer 7

Try this link that might give you some more detailed descriptions, in addition to all those good answers above mine.

http://volleyball.about.com/cs/setting/h...

You can click around from there to see how a setter deals with all different requirements and shank pass, etc.

Have fun playing volleyball.

Answer 8

make a trianglle with your hands together. (with thumbs and pointer fingers. have ball shaped hands. try and think light as possible get under neath the ball and let it come to ur hands don't try and jab at it. try and use as much knees as possible. don't worry i suck at setting too! my coach made me set for ever every day to try and get better. just set against a wall for a while or what ever.

good luck!

Answer 9

That used to happen to me all the time.  There are a couple of tricks I've used, but this one works the best.

Put your fingers in the shape that they would be if you were drinking from one of those GIANT Gatorade bottles. DO NOT point your thumbs inside of your hands.  Remember to watch the ball while you are setting it.

Good Luck!

P.S. The other way is "Bullwinkle to Superman", but that never really helped me out.

Answer 10

keep your hands above your head, making a triangle with your thumb and pointing finger, other fingers spread wide.  position yourself so that if your remove you hands the ball will hit you in the forehead.  Raise your hands to meet the ball, on contact with the ball start following the ball downward. braking your wrists and elbows.  Before the ball hits your forehead change the direction of the ball by extending your arms and flick your fingers in the direction you want the ball to go.

Things to remember, the more fingers you use in "catching" the ball, the more control you will have over the ball.  Secondly use your legs to put power behind set (bend + extend your legs) making all one fluid motion, this you can add after you feel comfortable with hand/arm setting.  

three drills to help.  1) Stand close to a wall and set into the wall.  2)  Lay on the floor and set the ball strait up, when the ball comes down "catch" and repeat the set.  Continue until the time you "hold" is shortened and the feel becomes more natural.  3)  Throw a ball in the air let it bounce once, get under the ball after the bouce and set it to a basket ball net.  Move the ball around so you have to move changing direction and distance to the net.

All these drills will strengthen you muscle and setting will feel more natural and less painful.

Answer 11

Look at professional volleyball players and look at there arm techniques and how they use there body. also when you set make sure the volleyball is like inlined with your forehead. i don't know I basically learnt to set by watching other people who are good. and setting whenever i can, like in front of the tv, or something...

Answer 12

that has been my main problem for a couple of months it is getting a whole lot better!!! i know what you mean about the thumb OW!

so i was told with both hands open form a triangle w/ your 2 thumbs and pointer fingerss and when you set that should be above your forehead

but what helped me is YOU USE YOUR FINGERTIPS and just think you are pushing the ball it is not hitting you hah it helped me!! well goodluck!

Answer 13

All I can say is "antlers superman" Put your fingers at your forehead like antlers and then push them forward (like superman) This is how I learned how to set =)