Sport Today

I've dreamed of doing one, though it's not exactly my goal in life, and
practiced when TV is boring, but I have no idea what would be called
and what would be let go.

The ball comes off the fingertips as opposed to knuckles, right?  Is
any flex/recoil allowed, or should the fingers go straight through the
ball in one direction only?  I assume little or no spin is allowed just
as with 2-hand sets.  Are only world-class setters allowed to get away
with it?

---
Lynn Wallace            |The above rantings have nothing to do with anything
Evans & Sutherland  |significant, particularly E&S' stand, position, or
Computer Corp.          |treatment of any issue.
                        I'm in love with Holly McPeak.

I know of two ways to do this.  The first is with four fingers together, but
apart from the thumb.  The ball touches only the fingers, not the palm.  I feel
that this is most useful for a 1- or maybe 2-set.  The other way is to use
your fist, just as if you were trying to "poke" a tight set over a big block.
I feel that this is useful for setting the outside hitter, or even a back
row player.

Eric Hughes

I try to execute one hand sets the same way as soft tips (which are usually
over-used by weak setters to dump/dink on tight sets).  When making a one-
handed set I concentrate on striking the ball like soft tip/dink, but trying
to direct the ball to the middle hitter, NOT over the net.  Describing a tip/
dink is hard, but most players do it fine when hitting...I guess its just
panic when they have to apply it to setting a bad pass.  Basically, its
just an easy open-handed half/swing, almost like a shot-put action, where
you hit the ball with the middle finger pads of a flexed (fairly stiff)
hand.  Spin is not a factor on this type of set (no double contact), but
sometimes carries (lifts) are called; this is usually a case of the setter
trying to do too much with the set.

Note that I am not good enough to one-hand set like this to outside hitters,
without "shooting" the set or getting (rightly) called for a lift.  Just
try to relax and get the ball up a couple of feet up so that your middle
hitter will have a play on it.  In cases where you must go a long distance
to an outside hitter, I rely on the knuckle poke, while others I know use a
high arcing shot off the heel of their palm.  Good luck!
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*       Tim Loesch      *       The more numerous the laws,             *

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The one-hand set to a middle hitter is usually no more than stopping
the forward progress of the ball with a momentary contact.  Rarely does
the setter have to push the ball up or sideways any significant amount;
just stop it in its tracks and it's a perfect quick-set.

OTOH, our informal group doesn't play with quick-hitters, so all of my
one-hand sets have to go high outside.  For such a set, I stiffen my
fingers and thumb into a pentapod.  Imagine holding a volleyball up with
the fingertips of one hand, like a waiter holds a small wine tray on his
fingertips: my hand and fingers slant 45 degrees or so up and backwards,
and curl *outwards* slightly, my forearm points straight up, my palm is
curled into a shallow valley (because I'm squeezing the base of my thumb
and pinky inwards), and the ball sits on the tip pads about half a
finger's length above my palm.  With this hand posture, I can hold a
ball indefinitely; to use it for a one-handed set, I shot-put it firmly
through the ball, pushing primarily with the tip pads of the middle
three fingers and squeezing slightly with the thumb and pinky to keep
the ball centered.  I have to extend my arm fully to impart enough force
to set high outside, so I remain in contact with the ball for 1-2' of
its trajectory, but fingers, hand, and wrist remain completely stiff
throughout the set, and the ball never comes to rest, so it looks (and
feels) very clean.  I can regularly push these sets 3-4m out and arc
them 2-3m up.  Of course, where such a set will actually end up is
anybody's guess, but at least the hitter can usually adjust to it and
salvage the play.

Eric Wang

Tim must be a pretty good setter or only has one hand.

When making a one-handed set, I'm in panic mode.  If I have time to
concentrate, I have time to do a two handed set.  :-)

Jimmy

|> >When making a one-handed set I concentrate...
|>
|> Tim must be a pretty good setter or only has one hand.
|>
|> When making a one-handed set, I'm in panic mode.  If I have time to
|> concentrate, I have time to do a two handed set.  :-)
|>
|> Jimmy

I have actually had many over passes that I was forced to set (quick set)
one-handed which have gone undeffended.  At 5'5" one-handed quick sets are
common for me.  Plenty enough passes go over, and if I can get one hand
on it, it's fun to find a middle hitter attacking and putting that ball
(which I have just squeezed)  away with a thunder.