Hand setting is a valuable skill in both beach volleyball and indoor volleyball. When most people think of setting in beach volleyball, two words typically come to mind:

“Deep Dish”.

So, as an indoor player, do you need to change your setting technique in order to hand set in beach volleyball? Fortunately, the answer is NO. And here’s why…

Over the last few years the FIVB has made a concerted effort to change the style of setting in beach volleyball from the 90’s deep dish to a faster, more “relaxed” way of setting. Officials are more tolerable of rotation on the ball and less lenient with catching, dropping and lifting the ball to set. The “Deep Dish” style has been renamed “CATCH”. Catching the ball occurs when the player drops the ball in his/her hands before releasing it to set. Catching the ball is a fault, resulting in a point for you opponent. For indoor players, this is great news, as the style that most indoor players have learned falls in line with these rule changes.

Rule 9.3.3 CATCH: the ball is caught and/or thrown; it does not rebound from the hit. (Exceptions 9.2.2.1, 9.2.2.2)

So what’s the ideal set? The ideal set in both indoor and beach volleyball is one where the ball contacts the hands and is immediately released by both hands simultaneously, resulting in little to no spin on the ball. If you can master this, then you can be an effective setter on the beach, on the court or even on the moon.

Here’s the link to the FIVB beach volleyball rules (2021-2024):

https://www.fivb.com/en/beachvolleyball/thegame_bvb_glossary/officialrulesofthegames