From: MULLEN@scorpion.ag.uiuc.edu (Evil Twin)
Subject: Re: Spiking
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20
Organization: Tony's Most Excellent NewsReader
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 21:20:29 GMT

In <1992Sep3.142213.8327@ll.mit.edu> serge@ll.mit.edu writes:
> In article <5071@news.duke.edu> lees@acpub.duke.edu (Steve Lee) writes:
> >timing, you don't have to jump haphazardly to get up.  I use a two step
> >approach - I start with my right foot (i'm right handed) then left and
> >then bring my right foot up to the left.  
> 
> From what you say, and please forgive me if i misunderstood, your last
> two steps are left/right?  IF this is so, i will not recommend this for
> a right handed person. For a righty, the last two steps are right/left.

Let me try and clarify this spike footwork stuff.

First off the wrong way.  When you throw something with your right hand think
about which foot is forward.  If you're a normal human being the left foot
should be forward of your right.  This thought transfers to spiking footwork,
thus a right foot forward (called goofy footed) jump is bad.

Next off the right way, but not the best way.  Start with your right foot back. 
Step through with the right, hop off the left, and then the right foot drags
behind and contacts the floor just behind the left foot.  This is known as a
"step-close" approach.  I've seen this in older vball books, and I've seen
people (specifically one German) hit with this approach.  Because of the
biomechanics this approach will not give you your highest jump.  This is
probably the approach Steve Lee was describing.

Last of all is the best concluding footwork to use in your spike approach. 
Left foot back, step through with the left, hop off the right, and carry the
left foot through so that it contacts the floor in front of the right foot.  If
you're still with me then you'll understand why I will refer to this as the
"step-through" approach.  You'll soar over the block to pound the ball to the
floor and create divots.  You'll be the envy of your opponents, and scantily
clad members of the opposite sex will drap themselves all over you.  Or
something like that !-)

In <1992Sep3.142213.8327@ll.mit.edu> serge@ll.mit.edu writes:
> In article <5071@news.duke.edu> lees@acpub.duke.edu (Steve Lee) writes:
> >the swing
> >now you're up in the air with arms up. now make like you're pulling a
> >bow and arrow except that the thumb of your hitting hand in pointing to
> >the ground. As you're cocking back in one continuous motion pound the
> >ball.
> 
> One thing you want to keep in mind is never to drop your elbow below
> your ear. Keep the motion high, bend your arm at the elbow and then swing
> away....

Good points by Serge and several other things.  The hand should be above the
elbow.  This will help preserve keeping the elbow high.  Lead the forward
motion of the swing with the elbow, with the elbow pointing in the direction of
where you want to hit the ball.  You can do tricky things with your wrist to
redirect your shots later.  But the power in crushing the ball through an
opponents ribs will come from keeping your swing in one plane, kind of like a
rotating bicycle tire (kinda' lame but evokes a good image of what I mean).

Tony "The Judicious Followup Editing Poster Also Commonly Known As"

Evil Twin -                                                       one_spike
	the Man, the Myth, the Legend in His Own Mind -         //~____/  ~\\
		mullen@scorpion.ag.uiuc.edu                     \\~    \  ~//
                                                                  one_kill!