If you're keeping your wrists together with your arms straight and pointed to the ground at an angle, what basic hit are you most likely doing?

• A. The forearm pass
• B. The serve
• C. The set
• D. The spike

Answer: (A)

You’re describing the forearm pass. When the wrists are kept together and the arms are straight, you create a flat, solid platform with the forearms to contact the ball. Pointing that surface toward the ground at an angle lets you direct the ball accurately to a teammate, usually the setter, after receiving a serve or a low ball. This technique relies on a locked-elbow, rigid forearm contact and a brief leg drive to absorb the impact. The other options involve different contact methods: a spike is an overhead, downward strike; a set uses fingertip push to lift the ball upward; a serve involves striking the ball to start the rally, not a flat forearm platform.