How to Hit a Roll Shot in Beach Volleyball

When playing volleyball and you are facing a strong blocking team there are two types of hits you can use to take advantage of their aggressiveness. One of these is a dink, and the other is a roll shot. A roll shot can be more challenging but leave the opposition less time to react. A perfectly contacted roll shot will appear as if it is going deep on the other side of the court, but end up in the front third just behind the blockers. This leaves very little time for the back row to react and dig the roll shot. Read on to learn how to hit a roll shot in beach volleyball.

Things You'll Need

  • Timing
  • Balance
  • Vertical leap
  • Strong court vision
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Instructions

    • 1

      Approach the net as if you are going to spike the volleyball. Deception is one of the biggest weapons a beach volleyball player can have when they are facing an opposing player that can block better than they can spike. As an attacking you need to sell the fact that you are going to spike or attack the volleyball in a strong manner.

    • 2

      Bend your legs and get a solid vertical leap into the air. The lift of your legs is essential to an effective roll shot in beach volleyball. You not only need to sell the player blocking at the net, but you need to sell the defender or defenders in the back half of the court.

    • 3

      Watch your opponents, as soon as the players in the back of the court go back onto the heels of their feet, you have them right where you need them.

    • 4

      Cut your back swing short, instead use an upward motion on the volleyball when you strike it. Instead of hitting the top of the volleyball as you would with a spike, you need to hit the bottom half of the volleyball with a roll shot.

    • 5

      Continue your upward thrust of the palm of your hand, instead of a 90-degree motion through the back bottom third of the volleyball, you want your palm of your hand to come back at a 45-degree angle towards your side of the court. This will maximize the top spin on the volleyball. It will give the volleyball enough lift with your roll shot to get over the blockers and then drop like a rock just as it passes over the blocker.

    • 6

      Watch the ball after you hit it, and prepare yourself in case the other team manages to return your roll shot. Watching your own shot without preparing for a return hit can be a critical mistake after making a roll shot in beach volleyball.