The bump, or forearm pass, may look simple, but it is one of the most important skills in volleyball. And yet I still see so many players making the same mistakes. Even experienced! If your bump isn’t reliable in every situation, your entire game suffers.
In this article, I’ll show you six key techniques to perfect your bump, avoid the most common mistakes, and build an underarm stride like the best players in the world.
By the end you will know how to make every pass cleaner, faster and more accurate.
Lifting versus thumbs to the ground
The first big mistake I see all the time? Players raise their bodies while passing.
Yes, you want to be active and give the ball some energy, but straightening your legs and back during contact completely changes your platform angle. When you stand up, your arms naturally rise as well (sometimes even above your shoulders), causing the ball to fly off in random directions.
👉 Instead:
Keep your thumbs pointed toward the ground when you make contact. This automatically brings your upper body forward and creates space between your arms and your torso – the perfect setup for a clean pass.
If you look at Japanese players, even their youngest athletes practice this: forward, not up.
Your bump should go forward, not high into the air.
Remember: Thumbs down = forward energy.
Shoulder-knee-foot alignment
Body alignment is everything.
From the side, your shoulders should be in front of your knees and your knees in front of your feet. That means your weight is forward, not leaning back and swinging your arms.
💡 Try this simple exercise:
Grab a chair, turn it so the back is facing you, squat above it, extend your arms and pass balls over the chair. You immediately feel what the correct, bent-over position should be.
Never raise your arms above your shoulders
Raising your arms above your shoulders is a mistake 95% of the time.
A ball comes high towards your chest or neck, and you lean back, lift your arms, and… the ball goes everywhere but to your setter. That’s not a good bump.
✅ Use one of the two better options instead:
Step back and play the ball above your head (especially if it’s a high float serve).
Step one foot back – to the left or right – to create space next to your body and hit the ball next to you.
Most high or fast balls should be passed next to your body, not in front of your face. Turn your shoulders toward your target and use your body, not just your arms, to guide the ball.
Shoulder height at lateral transition
When passing across your body, do not keep your shoulders straight; this destroys your control.
As the ball comes to your left side, your left shoulder should be higher.
If it is on your right side, your right shoulder should be higher.
This is how you determine the direction of the ball.
To train this, try wall exercises, where you go back and forth. I use over a hundred of them in my Next-Gen Hitter program — they’ll help you improve your midsection up to 3x faster.
Watch the ball hit your platform
Here’s one of the biggest differences between average and good passers:
They actually see the ball hitting their arms.
Many players look at their goal too early. If you look away during contact, you lose control.
Focus your eyes on the exact point where the ball hits your forearms and then look at your target.
This habit ensures consistency and precision. It’s like aiming for a basketball hoop instead of just throwing in the general direction.
You can always go lower
A mindset tip that changes everything: lower is always possible.
When you play with your legs straight, you have no control over the ball, especially on fast or floating serves.
The lower you go, the more stable and flexible you become.
Being lower means:
Better control over fast or slow balls
Stronger basis for movement
More power and precision with every pass
So the next time you succeed, say to yourself, “I can play lower this way.”
It will immediately make your technique stronger and more reliable.
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