Wall Setting Drill

Wall setting is a solo drill where you set the ball against a wall again and again, catching nothing. Because the ball comes straight back, you get many more contacts per minute than in almost any team drill, which makes it the quickest way to fix hand shape and get soft, even contact on both hands.

Skill

Setting

Level

Beginner

Players

1 (or 1 per ball)

Time

5–10 min

Equipment

Ball, wall, tape

Print this drill

Purpose

Repeat the setting motion many times to build the same hand shape, finger contact and leg drive on every set.

Players & equipment

• 1 player per ball. A team can line up along a gym wall with a ball each.
• A flat wall, one volleyball, masking tape or chalk.

Setup

Mark a horizontal line on the wall about 3 m high (roughly the height of a set above the net for adults; lower it for kids). Stand about 1 m from the wall, feet shoulder-width apart, right foot slightly forward, knees bent.

Step by step

1. Hold your hands above your forehead in a “window”: thumbs and index fingers make a triangle, fingers spread and relaxed.
2. Toss the ball to yourself into the window.
3. Set it to the wall so it hits above the line. Contact with the pads of your fingers, both hands at the same time.
4. As the ball comes back, bend your knees and get your hands back into the window before the ball arrives.
5. Keep setting continuously. Count your best streak above the line.
6. Do 3–4 rounds of 30–60 seconds with a short rest.

Watch it

Video: The Art of Coaching Volleyball on YouTube. Wall setting starts about halfway through; the first half is wall passing. Learn Volley is not affiliated with this channel.

Coaching cues

• “Window above your forehead.” Hands get set early, before the ball arrives.
• “Legs, then arms.” Push up from your legs and extend through the ball.
• “Quiet hands.” The contact should make little sound.
• “Finish to the target.” Arms extend toward the spot on the wall, thumbs pointing up and forward at the end.

Common mistakes

• Ball spins. The hands are uneven. Fix: slow down, set lower, focus on both hands at the same time.
• Using the palms. The ball slaps and may be judged as caught. Fix: spread the fingers and make a bigger “bowl” shape.
• Hands too low (at the chin). Fix: start every rep with the window above the forehead.
• Locked knees. The arms do all the work. Fix: bend and extend with every set.

Progressions & regressions

• Easier: Toss-set-catch: set once, catch, reset your hands.
• Easier: Stand closer and set lower.
• Harder: Step back to 2 m and set higher.
• Harder: Alternate a set to the wall with a set straight up to yourself.
• Harder: Shuffle one step left or right between sets.
• Harder: Turn: set to the wall, then make a quarter turn and set the next one at a spot to your side (practices back-and-front awareness).
• Harder: Back set: set high to yourself, turn your back to the wall, and set backward over your head.

Time

5–10 minutes. Short daily sessions work better than one long one.

Safety

Use a wall with no windows or fragile objects nearby, and clear the floor around you. Ask before using school or building walls. Stop if your fingers or wrists hurt; see Common Injuries.

Frequently asked questions