Wall setting
Solo. Repeated sets against a wall to groove hand shape and contact.
Volleyball Setting Drills
Setting improves fastest with lots of short, clean contacts. Start at a wall to fix hand shape and get dozens of touches a minute, then set with a partner, and finally set passed balls to a hitter's spot during game-like drills. Every player should practice setting, not only the team's setter, because anyone may need to take the second ball.
- Contact
- Both hands, at the same time
- Hand position
- Above the forehead
- Drills here
- 2 core + 3 related
- Best solo drill
- Wall setting
What good setting practice looks like
- Same hand shape every rep. Thumbs and index fingers form a “window” above the forehead; the ball meets the pads of the fingers, not the palms.
- Legs do the work. Players bend and extend their legs through the set so the arms don't have to push hard.
- Square to the target. Feet and shoulders face where the ball should go.
- Clean contact. Under the rules, a set must not be caught or thrown; practice short, quick contacts. See Rules for Beginners.
Technique details: Setting.
Core setting drills
Pepper
Partner. The set is the middle contact of every pass-set-hit sequence.
Watch it
Video: The Art of Coaching Volleyball on YouTube. Learn Volley is not affiliated with this channel.
Related drills from other categories
Butterfly passing
Swap the "catch" at the target for a set to a catcher in zone 4.
Hitting lines
Setters get many reps setting to the left or right side.
Free ball transition
Setters practice running in from defense to set.
Choosing a setting drill
- Learning hand shape: Wall setting, close to the wall, low sets.
- Building consistency: Wall setting to a taped target, then pepper.
- Game-like: Set passed balls to zone 4 during hitting lines.
Frequently asked questions
How can I practice setting alone?
Set against a wall or straight up to yourself. Both give many contacts in a short time; see the Wall Setting drill.
Why does my set spin?
Spin usually means the hands touched the ball at different times or with uneven force. Slow down and focus on both hands meeting the ball together.
Should non-setters practice setting?
Yes. Any player may need to make the second contact when the setter digs the first ball.
How high should a set be?
For beginners, a high set gives hitters more time to approach. Faster, lower sets come later once the passing and setting are steady.