Effect of Two Volleyball Arm Swings on Post-Impact Ball Velocity

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences exist between post-impact ball velocities generated by the bow-and-arrow arm swing (BAS) and circular arm swing (CS) in volleyball spiking. Ten female collegiate volleyball players were videotaped using two-dimensional cinematography. Markers were placed at the hip, shoulder, elbow wrist, end of the fingers, and the ball. Three videotaped trials of the BAS and the CS techniques for each subject were analyzed with Peak 5 Performance Analysis System. The mean post-impact ball velocity for the BAS was 12.72 m/s (SD = 1.30, SE = 0.41). The mean post-impact ball velocity for the CS was 13.26 m/s (SD = 1.49, SE = 0.47). A dependent t-test (t_(9) = -3.131) revealed significant differences (p = 0.012) between the CS and BAS post-impact ball velocity. No significant difference between CS and BAS pre-impact hand speed was found, which suggests that other factors (the time of contact between the hand and the ball and the transfer of angular momentum) affect ball velocity.