Good, consistent setting is crucial to the success of any volleyball team! Ideally it should be the second touch after the ball crosses the net, following the pass and preceding the hit or the spike …
In addition, one of the best indicators of the quality of setting is when it is done somewhat softly without a noise!
In this article, I breakdown the best tips I know that you can easily implement to reach this level when it comes to setting a volleyball flawlessly.
Techniques to set the ball softly without noise …
A setter should be ready to move, even before the passer has made contact with the ball, anticipating where they will send it. They then need to get into position under the ball, with the head held back and the hands pointed towards the ceiling.
The knees should be bent and the hands spread a few inches apart, with the thumbs and finger forming a triangle.
Then, when contact is made with the ball, the setter needs to visualise where it needs to end up, having targeted which hitter they intend to find.
In theory, it is nearly impossible to touch a volleyball without making any sound at all, unless the ball is being carried, which is a foul…
However, using quick, soft hands, helps minimise the sound, as does standing still on the court, without moving the feet.
One way, however, to minimise noise is to slightly lean back when setting the ball. This can be a very useful skill if allied with the technique of looking in the opposite direction to where the ball is intended to go.
As blockers get to know the game better, they are able to anticipate better where the ball will go, and are able to cover the spike effectively.
Pro Tip: The setter needs to be able to add an element of deception to their game, by finding a hitter that the opposing side had not anticipated would have received the ball.
For this move to be successful, however, the setter needs to find the intended hitter with accuracy and at the right speed.
It also requires the setter to hold their nerve, waiting until the last possible moment to pass the ball, so that the blocker does not have time to process what is happening.
Quick Recommendation: If you want to learn about other volleyball moves and how you can execute them flawlessly, then I highly recommend checking this helpful resource. You will learn what makes the difference between an average player and a great one.
What volleyball position should learn this the most?
Although the obvious position to learn this technique is the setter, it is also important for the hitter to have a great understanding of it as well. They are going to be on the end of the pass so they need to know where the ball will be delivered, at what speed and at what angle.
This is especially true if it is a tactic that has been agreed upon in advance, in order to deceive the hitter. Although the setter may make no noise when delivering the pass, there is the need to be some sort of signal …
And all the front line players need to be involved in the deception so that the other two can function as decoys, distracting the opposition blockers.
Blockers also need to be aware that this tactic as it could be sued against them. At the top level, volleyball is a game of tactics in which one coach looks to out-think the other…
That means that if one team learns the technique of the soundless pass, it is inevitable that they will find it used against them in the not too distant future.
Learning the technique themselves may enable them to counter it when the tactic is used against them.
Does setting the ball softly mean an efficient set?
Setting the ball softly can mean an efficient set, but it is by no means guaranteed!
In theory, a soft set means that the ball is passed to the hitter at the right time and pace, so that they have time to get in the right position, and to approach the ball correctly in order to strike the ball with the maximum power.
However, a set is only effective if the angle is right and the hitter does not have to adjust themselves in order to be able to strike the ball.
And by definition, an efficient set is one that leads to the point being won!
If the blocker manages to anticipate the subsequent spike and the ball lands ball on the attackers’ side of the net, then the move has failed.
Sometimes, therefore, a harder set may be required to add some speed to the move and to wrest the initiative away from the opposition. Mixing up between soft and hard sets, is also an effective way to keep opponents guessing, provided that team mates also know what is going to happen.
Finally, I highly encourage you to check these other important volleyball skills! You will also learn how to properly practice them …
When should you use a hard ball set?
There are several times when a hard ball set may be required…
In the first case it can be useful to speed the game up. While one of the principal benefits of a soft ball set are that it gives spikers time to get in the right position to hit the ball, by the same token it allows blockers the chance to take up the right position at the net to try and stop the shot when it comes. Speeding the setup is a good way of disrupting this rhythm and seizing the initiative.
It should be also be used, anyway, as a legitimate tactic to confuse the opposition. Some coaches may choreograph this, teaching their side either to alternate hard and soft sets, or putting in the occasional hard set in order to confuse their opponents.
And it must also be recognised that sometimes a setter has no choice. While there is an ideal setting position, a game situation may mean that the ball is received in a difficult position, either just a few feet off the ground or at an odd angle.
To generate the necessary pace on the ball so that it has enough power to reach the hitter, additional force may have to be applied during the setting motion.
At the elite level, the quality of the ball does not matter, although top players all used official balls approved by the FiVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball). Players at that level have the ability to set the ball in various ways, depending on the needs of the situation.
Meanwhile, for those starting out, they will often begin with a softer ball (Check this example here at Amazon) anyway, in order to protect young fingers from damage, meaning that sets will tend to be softer in nature.
It is in the intermediate level that the quality of the ball may have influence. In the first place, this may depend on the nature of materials used in the ball, whether it is made of genuine leather, or composite materials like polyurethane …
And the panelling on the outside of the ball may make a difference as well. While some panels are made with a smooth finish, others come with dimples which help both with control and the feel of the ball.
And then there is also the type of volleyball being played, with the ball used for beach volleyball lighter and generally softer to the touch than its indoor equivalent. Generally, the softer the ball, the easier it is to set gently.
Does a soft set help protect your fingers?
A soft set if executed correctly, will not hurt the fingers! This is particularly relevant for younger players who are just learning the game, and can be put off before they have even started if they have not yet mastered the basic techniques, by the risk of pain.
To help with this, players may want to consider taping the fingers before playing with a criss-cross methodology on the back of the joint.
Another recommendation is to set pressing down into the legs and then straightening the body so that force is applied through the legs and lower back, as opposed to smacking the ball and applying upward force from the arms.
Other Benefits of a soft volleyball set …
One of the main benefits of a soft ball set is that it gives the hitter time to get into position. Necessarily with a soft ball set the ball will spend more time in the air.
This gives the spiker more time to assess its trajectory and position themselves so that they can get themselves in the right starting position to strike the ball in the right way and at an angle which is best calculated to score the point.
And, from the spikers’ point of view, it gives them time also to check on the position of the opposition blockers before addressing the ball.
There is also an advantage for the whole team because it gives them time to get back into their correct positions on court.
Defensive players like liberoes and diggers will often find themselves dragged across court as they scramble to receive the serve …
With a soft set everybody has the time to get back into their right positions, meaning they are best placed to deal with any counter attack from the opposition.
Keep in mind that to set the ball properly you need to keep your composure. You can learn how to stay calm in volleyball!
Final Thoughts …
If you are a beginner, don’t worry too much about producing flawless volleyball setting like pros would do. Trying to do so won’t really help that much (especially at the beginning) …
Instead, I highly recommend that you immerse yourself in the game as a hole and put yourself in situations where you have to set the ball for potential attacks times and times again …
As time goes by, you will find yourself producing higher quality sets that will help your team gain more points.
Finally, it is worth mentionning that if you want to build a great volleyball career, then you probably should opt for the setter position. Indeed, Setter is critical for volleyball position rotations as well as for many other aspects of the sport!