How To Dig A Volleyball: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Dig a Volleyball PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Matthew Thibodeaux

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 References

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  • Preparing for the Dig
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  • Executing the Dig
    • |
  • Adapting the Dig
    • |
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  • Expert Interview
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This article was co-authored by Matthew Thibodeaux. Matthew Thibodeaux is a Professional Beach Volleyball Player and Founder of Venice Beach Volleyball Academy in Venice, California. Matthew has over six years of professional coaching experience. He is passionate about helping others learn how to play beach volleyball and empowering people to feel confident on the court. This article has been viewed 351,860 times.

A dig is one of the basic moves in volleyball, but doing it effectively is a challenge, especially when attempting to save a hard spike from hitting the ground (or your face!). Done properly, digging a spike is not simply a defensive maneuver -- preventing the opponent from scoring -- but the transition into your team’s offence. Proper preparation, positioning, and technique are critical to an effective spike dig, but so too is the ability to quickly adapt.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Preparing for the Dig

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 1 Study the opposing hitter(s).[1] Watch him/her in warmups before the game even starts, if you can. Watch his/her hitting motion on spikes and take note of any tendencies that might give you a split-second advantage in knowing where a spike is headed.
    • Keep an eye out for “tells.” Does he strongly favour spiking to his left? Does she exaggerate her backswing when faking a spike?
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 2 Watch the hitter’s motion as you prepare to dig. Even deceptive spikers tend to align their shoulders in the direction they intend to hit.[2] Take an educated guess on where the ball is headed, but also don’t assume it has to go there. (Lean a bit that way, don’t “sell out.”) Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 3 Always expect the ball to come to you. Even if your read on the hitter says you’re in the clear, be prepared to be wrong and to react. Good misdirection spikers are betting on you relaxing.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 4 Be light on your feet. This applies generally to volleyball positioning, but especially for digging. Keep your weight forward on your toes so you can move more quickly. There’s a reason why the phrase “on your heels” has a negative connotation.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Executing the Dig

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 1 Get low and lean forward. Get into a low "ready" position, even lower than you would to receive a serve. It is easier to rise for a high ball than to dip lower for a low one.
    • Keep your knees bent and bend at the waist so that your shoulders are out past your knees. Place your feet wider than your shoulders. Hold your arms out away from your body.[3]
    • Keep your weight balanced on your toes so you can spring forward or to either side to get the ball.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 2 Place your arms in a receiving position. When the spike is imminent, stretch your arms, pressed together from hands to elbows, in front of you. Bend and lock elbows.[4]
    • You are creating a “platform” from wrists to elbows upon which the ball will bounce.[5] You’re not a carpenter but a volleyball player, so don’t make it a level platform unless you want the ball to bounce back over your head (or off your forehead). Keep your wrists lower than your elbows to direct the ball forward.
    • To hold your hands together, place your thumbs side by side and overlap the fingers of your stronger hand over the curled fingers of your weaker hand.[6]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 3 Move to meet the ball. Remember your footwork, and don’t lunge unless you have to. Otherwise, take a quick step or a shuffle and remain in your ready position. Keep low as you relocate.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 4 Aim for your target. Your goal on a dig is not just to get the ball up in the air, but to pass it to a teammate to set up your offensive series.[7] [8] You’ll most likely be aiming for your setter up by the net. Align your body as much as possible towards that target while receiving the spike. Use all that geometry you learned in school to set your platform at the right angle.
    • Aim a little short of your target if necessary to keep from digging the ball back over the net. Don’t give your opponents an easy second chance.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 5 Absorb and redirect the spike. You don’t need to swing at the ball; the spiker has supplied all the necessary power (and then some, most likely) for your purposes. Keep your elbows locked and your angle of deflection the same, but let your shoulders dip to absorb some of the power of the shot.
    • Even though you aren’t swinging at the ball, do follow through with your platform, moving your arms slightly upward and towards your target. Think of it as nudging the ball in the right direction.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Adapting the Dig

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 1 Dive and dig. A good spiker won’t always give you the luxury of properly setting your feet and platform to direct the ball cleanly to your teammate. Sometimes, you’re just going to have to hit the floor (or the sand).
    • To dive for a spike in front of you, bend your knees to get even lower and drive your body forward. Your platform and upper body will be parallel and close to the ground. Slide on your chest as you hit the ball, ideally on your platform but even with your wrist or knuckles.
    • When you need to stretch out as far as possible, you can try a “pancake.” Extend your hands, palms down, while you dive so that the ball bounces off the back of your hand(s). Slide on your palms along with your upper body.
    • Keep your head up as you dive. Do this not only so you can see the ball but also so you don’t smack your chin on the ground as you land.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 2 Sprawl and dig. Similar to a dive, a sprawl is directed more toward one side or the other. If the ball is to your right or left, step out in that direction and extend outward as in a dive. Dip your inside shoulder (the side away from the ball) while keeping your arms together. This will allow you to maintain the angle of your platform in the intended direction.[9]
    • Bend your elbows more or curl your wrists if necessary to keep them off the floor as you stretch and to maintain at least part of your platform at the correct angle.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Dig a Volleyball 3 Get the ball in the air. Proper technique is fantastic and will make you a better and more consistent digger, but in the end, your essential job is to get the ball back up in the air. (They don’t award points for good technique as the ball bounces past you.) Especially on partial blocks or deflections that send the ball on an unexpected trajectory, you may have to lurch your body, flail your arms, and land a little less gracefully. Do what you have to.
    • Unless you’re in the Olympics or something like that, don’t risk injury just to dig a spike, though. Landing awkwardly can cause leg, arm, or even head injuries. Proper equipment, such as knee pads and ankle wraps, will help quite a bit.
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Join the Discussion...

How do I get better at volleyball? Itsss Amyyyy! Itsss Amyyyy! I really want to improve on my volleyball skills like serving it, diving and passing. How do I improve and practice at home? How can I be better? Read More Matthew Thibodeaux Matthew Thibodeaux Professional Beach Volleyball Player One good way to practice volleyball is just passing it to yourself a hundred times just trying to keep the ball up in the air to develop good ball control. Find a wall so you can practice passing straight on and with either side facing the wall. If you have a court near you, draw a square in the middle of the court that goes about seven feet in from each side and five feet off the net. Toss the volleyball up to yourself and then pass it to that box. This helps you get better at aiming and controlling the ball.When you're serving, aim for a smaller spot in the middle of the court so that your serve stays in bounds. Another good target is 3 feet inside the line. That way, it gives you a target rather than trying to just get the ball over the net. For your serves, aim high, hit the ball up into the sky, and let gravity bring it down on the other side. A lot of times if you try to hit the ball straight, you'll hit it too short and it'll go into the net. Read More Destinyluvsjustinn Destinyluvsjustinn heyyy girly so a good way to start practicing serving (I've done volleyball for 3 years) is going to like parks or beaches and trying to get ur serve over the net or just buy a net and use it in your backyard for passing you could hit the ball 3 high passes and 3 low passes like on 1 knee you could also practice off a wall so serving the ball on the wall then passe it or pepper with somebody also clubs are a great way to start but they are pretty expensive or the y if u have one around u you could also practice there but you could also look up tut on YouTube,TikTok,Pinterest or even lemon8 but that is the best advice I do have I wish u the best luck have an amazing day or rest of your week!! Read More See all 3 Replies and Read Discussion

Play Volleyball Like a Pro with this Expert Series

Volleyball is an incredibly fun sport, and it's great exercise too. But there are some essential skills you need to master in order to become an effective player. Learn them all with this expert series! 1 - Play Volleyball 1 Play Volleyball 2 - How to Score Points in Volleybvall 2 How to Score Points in Volleybvall 3 - Set a Volleyball 3 Set a Volleyball 4 - Hit a Volleyball 4 Hit a Volleyball 5 - Serve a Volleyball 5 Serve a Volleyball 6 - Spike a Volleyball 6 Spike a Volleyball

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  • Question Where is the ball supposed to hit my arm? Community Answer Community Answer The ideal spot for the ball to hit your arm is around halfway between your wrist and elbow. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 41 Helpful 81
  • Question How does it not break your wrist? Emily Newton Emily Newton Community Answer You don’t hit the ball with your wrist. It hits on your platform, which is the part of your arms from right above your wrist to halfway to your elbow. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 33 Helpful 57
  • Question Can someone provide a few more examples to help me understand stance and positions in volleyball? Community Answer Community Answer Back row: looking at the court from the back is left back, middle back and right back (one of these players is usually replaced with a libero). The front is outside, middle and right side. Right back or right front is usually the setter. Stay low when playing back row, but be tall and powerful when playing front row. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 33 Helpful 32
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Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about playing volleyball, check out our in-depth interview with Matthew Thibodeaux.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.strength-and-power-for-volleyball.com/volleyball-strategies-digging.html
  2. ↑ http://www.strength-and-power-for-volleyball.com/volleyball-strategies-digging.html
  3. ↑ Matthew Thibodeaux. Professional Beach Volleyball Player. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ Matthew Thibodeaux. Professional Beach Volleyball Player. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ http://www.volleyballadvisors.com/volleyball-digging.html
  6. ↑ http://woman.thenest.com/return-spiked-volleyball-17228.html
  7. ↑ Matthew Thibodeaux. Professional Beach Volleyball Player. Expert Interview
  8. ↑ http://www.volleyballadvisors.com/volleyball-digging-skills.html
  9. ↑ http://www.strength-and-power-for-volleyball.com/volleyball-skills-digging.html

About This Article

Matthew Thibodeaux Co-authored by: Matthew Thibodeaux Professional Beach Volleyball Player This article was co-authored by Matthew Thibodeaux. Matthew Thibodeaux is a Professional Beach Volleyball Player and Founder of Venice Beach Volleyball Academy in Venice, California. Matthew has over six years of professional coaching experience. He is passionate about helping others learn how to play beach volleyball and empowering people to feel confident on the court. This article has been viewed 351,860 times. 26 votes - 72% Co-authors: 50 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 351,860 Categories: Volleyball Article SummaryX

To dig a volleyball, plant your feet wider than your shoulders, bend your knees, and be ready to move quickly by shifting your weight forward on your toes. Next, get into a receiving position by stretching both arms out in front of you and pressing them together from hands to elbows. Then, shuffle your feet quickly to meet the ball, aligning your body as much as possible towards your target as you receive the spike. Finally, keep your elbows locked, absorb the spike, and redirect it to your target. For more tips on getting into the ready position, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Matthew Thibodeaux Co-authored by: Matthew Thibodeaux Professional Beach Volleyball Player 26 votes - 72% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 50 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 351,860 Peter Collins

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"This helped me a lot with my biomechanics class where I had to study a shot of my choice. Also, this helped me with..." more Jean Beni Mbonyumugenzi

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