What makes it tough?
The over the shoulder set is the toughest set of all to hit. This is the set that comes from a player in the back row to a player in the front row. The pass or the dig was not ideal and a player who may or may not be a setter is trying to get the ball up to the front row where someone can take a good swing.
What makes this the toughest ball to hit is that it is very difficult to judge just where this ball will end up and thus difficult to get proper positioning or to time your approach appropriately. Also complicating matters is that the hitter is required to look backwards and upwards which makes it virtually impossible to see the block that is forming in front of you. Here are some things to keep in mind when hitting a ball that is coming over your shoulder.
- Assess Ball Position
The ball is coming from behind you and it may have to cross your body to arrive at your hitting arm. You must do your best to assess where the ball will end up even from this awkward angle. There is no easy way to do this. The ball could be coming at various speeds at various heights and it is your job to get your feet under it. Try hitting a few in practice to hone your assessment skills. - Keep the Ball in Front and Jump Straight Up
Once you decide where the ball will come down, use your approach to put yourself in position to hit the ball well. This means keeping the ball slightly in front of your hitting shoulder and hitting the ball at the top of your reach. Try not to put yourself in a position where you have to drift in the air to reach the ball because that leads to errors. Be patient and wait for the ball to cross to your hitting arm and then you’re your swing. - Aim Deep
Because you will have to look behind you in order to assess the set that is coming from the back row, you will not have a good look at the block. It is more important to keep your eye on the ball since it is coming at you so awkwardly and it is difficult to time. Beginning players should just reach high and aim deep into the court. This is a good time to try a roll shot or an off-speed shot instead of swinging hard. Advanced players may be able to assess the ball, adjust their approach and while in the air take a quick look at the block to see what you are dealing with. It is still a good choice to take the heat off of this one because you are not in great position to pound the ball. In this case, it is much better to keep the ball in play and make your opponent handle it than giving them an easy point by trying to hit the ball hard and making an error.
