The Beach Volleyball Forearm Pass
What is the 'forearm pass'?
The forearm pass, or the bump, is the way you start every rally. It's the way you receive the serve. Your arms are out in front of you, you contact the ball, you lift it into the air so that your setter can give you a nice set and you can attack the ball. A forearm pass is very important, because this is how you start the rally. If you have a good forearm pass, you're going to get a good set from your partner. A bad forearm pass means you're not going to get a very good set, and you're going to struggle to put the ball away.
What is the proper technique of a forearm pass?
The first thing you need to do is make sure that you're ready. You start by bending your knees. If you're on the right side of the court, usually your right foot is forward so that your body is facing where you want the ball to go. If you're on the left side of the court, your left foot is forward. Make sure that your knees are bent, facing the net, ready to move in any direction. When the ball comes, your hands come together. It doesn't matter how you hold your hands, as long as they're even. Some people do this, some people do this - it doesn't really matter, as long as your arms are straight and they're even. You contact the ball, stepping into the ball, coming up with your legs and arms, so that the ball is going forward. That's basically how you pass the ball. Contact the ball up on your forearms, up here, not down on your hands, not right on your wrists, just above the wrists in this area, evenly with both arms. Come up with the ball, up with your legs and arms, lifting the ball up to your setter.
Are there any tips to improve your forearm pass?
The most important part of the forearm pass that people forget is that it's all about your feet. It's about moving your feet to get behind the ball. It's important to get underneath the ball and lift the ball so that your partner can get to the ball easily.
Does wind affect a players passing performance?
The wind is the beach volleyball player's nightmare, no matter what part of the game you're doing. But passing, if the opponents are serving a float serve, the ball's moving around, you have to track that ball down, get your arms in the right position, get directly behind the ball, hope it doesn't move again. The wind can really create havoc.
