How and Where To Pass

It changes from the Left to Right Sides and Whether You Are Left or Right Handed

Right Handed Players playing the left side of the court on serve receive should pass the ball slightly to their right and two to three feet in front of the net on any serve that is directly at them or to their right, whether the serve comes from the left or right side. (See Diagram Below)

If the serve is down the line and he must move to his left to pass the ball then he should try to pass the ball nearly straight in front him and towards the net. (See Diagram Below)

This allows the right handed player to pass consistently and then make his hitting approach in a somewhat normal manner to maximise his cross-court power.

Right Handed Players playing the right side of the court on serve receive should pass the ball straight in front of themselves and as close to the net as they feel comfortable with. (See Diagram Below)

Do not try to pass the ball to the middle of the court as this will allow you to take a nearly straight ahead approach, letting you hit straight down the line or cross court. If you pass to the middle you will find it nearly impossible to hit down the line with the resulting outside in approach.

A Left Handed player on the left side should also pass straight ahead for all the same reasons. (See Diagram Below)

Left Handed Players playing the right side of the court on serve receive should pass the ball slightly to their left and two to three feet in front of the net on any serve that is directly at them or to their right, whether the serve comes from the left or right side. (See Diagram Below)

If the serve is down the line and he must move to his left to pass the ball then he should try to pass the ball nearly straight in front him and towards the net. (See Diagram Below)

Some players will suggest that you should try to pass the ball to the middle of the court no matter which side you are playing but I believe that is a major mistake.

You want your setter to be as consistent as possible and you want your passes to be the same.

When you pass to the middle and then ask your setter to set the ball outside, you increase the likelihood of errors.

The farther the set or pass has to travel the smaller the margin for error becomes due to simple vector physics.

If you consistently minimize the margin for error when you play, You will win more games.