The Volleyball Dig Pass: 5 Types of Digs For Passing A Ball In Defense

Volleyball Dig Pass | Improve Your Volley` ``

The Volleyball Dig Pass: 5 Types of Digs For Passing A Ball In Defense

The volleyball dig pass is a term that describes how to pass a hard driven ball in defense using techniques like the Gator, Flipper, Pancake, Shank and J Stroke

The volleyball dig pass describes how a player passes a hard driven ball attacked by an opposing spiker. These are digging techniques described by terms like gator, jstroke, pancake, shank and nail funny terms that have different definitions outside of volleyball but in volleyball they describe how to dig balls up.The volleyball dig pass describes how a player passes a hard driven ball attacked by an opposing spiker. These are digging techniques described by terms like gator, jstroke, pancake, shank and nail funny terms that have different definitions outside of volleyball but in volleyball they describe how to dig balls up.


A volleyball dig pass or simply a dig, is a defensive technique often used to prevent the ball from hitting the court after being hit powerfully by an opponent.






This technique incorporates using different parts of the body to pass the ball to a teammate without the ball hitting the ground.


What Is The Gator, The JStroke, The Pancake, The Shank and The Nail?


There are 5 slang volleyball terms like gator, jstroke, pancake, shank and nail that have different definitions outside of volleyball but in volleyball they describe how to dig balls up.


gator - is the volleyball dig pass you use when you clamp down on your balls with both hands volleyball shirt. April Chapple, Launches a Hilarious Volleyball T-shirt Line With Fun Tongue-in-Cheek Designs sure to make players and enthusiasts laugh available on Etsy and Amazon in time for Cyber Monday and Christmas. The 'gator" dig is used by advanced beach players who will hold the heels of their hands together to form the shape of an alligator's mouth to dig a hard driven hit back up into the air for their partner to make a play with.gator - is the volleyball dig pass you use when you clamp down on your balls with both hands volleyball shirt. April Chapple, Launches a Hilarious Volleyball T-shirt Line With Fun Tongue-in-Cheek Designs sure to make players and enthusiasts laugh available on Etsy and Amazon in time for Cyber Monday and Christmas. The 'gator" dig is used by advanced beach players who will hold the heels of their hands together to form the shape of an alligator's mouth to dig a hard driven hit back up into the air for their partner to make a play with.

The Gator 
A volleyball dig pass that describes a beach digging technique


The 'gator" dig is a volleyball dig pass used by advanced beach players who will hold the heels of their hands together to form the shape of an alligator's mouth to dig a hard driven hit back up into the air for their partner to make a play with. 

I love the gator dig. In fact I tend to do it too much when I'm fooling around for fun while I'm playing indoor volleyball. 


Gator volleyball shirt. The gator dig is best used when you've moved to where you think an opposing team's hitter is going to attack the ball and once you get to that spot and stop moving you sink your hips and put the heels of your hands together or the sides of your hands together while extending your arms so that on contact "the mouth of the hands" will guide a playable ball back into the air.Gator volleyball shirt. The gator dig is best used when you've moved to where you think an opposing team's hitter is going to attack the ball and once you get to that spot and stop moving you sink your hips and put the heels of your hands together or the sides of your hands together while extending your arms so that on contact "the mouth of the hands" will guide a playable ball back into the air.

The Gator dig is a volleyball dig pass best used when you've moved to where you think an opposing team's hitter is going to attack the ball and once you get to that spot and stop moving you sink your hips and put the heels of your hands together or the sides of your hands together while extending your arms so that on contact "the mouth of the hands" will guide a playable ball back into the air.


The Flipper
A volleyball dig pass that describes how to dig a ball with the back of your hand

flipper purple shirt black print


I personally love the flipper dig because I have really long arms so if I think I may carry or lift a ball that's a little more than a step away from me then I'll turn my hand over and dig a ball with the back of my hand by flicking my wrist up to contact the ball flipping it back up into the air either as a set for a teammate to hit over the net or as a defensive save getting the ball as high in the air as possible so someone else can step in to better the ball in order to continue the play. 

The flipper is usually done while staying on your feet or running through the ball but many players, actually use the flipper motion when they are diving for a ball when their whole body hits the floor after their dig. 

What I think is fun about the flipper dig is that you can wait until the ball is pretty low to play it.

For some balls a digger has to react to play them when they're still above the waist. But knowing that a ball is coming fast at you and you have the option to flip it in the air then you can let that ball get as low as your kneecaps before you slide the back of your hand underneath the ball to flip it back up into the air. 


The Pancake
A Volleyball Dig Pass Used For An Emergency Digging Technique 

Pancake - when your balls bounce off your hand instead of off the floor volleyball shirt. April Chapple, Launches a Hilarious Volleyball T-shirt Line With Fun Tongue-in-Cheek Designs sure to make players and enthusiasts laugh available on Etsy and Amazon in time for Cyber Monday and Christmas. The pancake dig is used as the last possible option a digger has to keep the ball off the floor by placing their hand on the floor in the exact spot where the ball is going to land so that the ball hits their hand and bounces back into the air before it hits the floor and bounces back up into the air.Pancake - when your balls bounce off your hand instead of off the floor volleyball shirt. April Chapple, Launches a Hilarious Volleyball T-shirt Line With Fun Tongue-in-Cheek Designs sure to make players and enthusiasts laugh available on Etsy and Amazon in time for Cyber Monday and Christmas. The pancake dig is used as the last possible option a digger has to keep the ball off the floor by placing their hand on the floor in the exact spot where the ball is going to land so that the ball hits their hand and bounces back into the air before it hits the floor and bounces back up into the air.

The pancake dig is used as the last possible option a digger has to keep the ball off the floor by placing their hand on the floor in the exact spot where the ball is going to land so that the ball hits their hand and bounces back into the air before it hits the floor and bounces back up into the air. 

By preventing the ball from touching the floor the libero/digger/backcourt specialist has used one of the three allowed contacts each team is allowed to continue to play the ball and get it over the net during a rally. 

j stroke (verb)when you scoop your balls in defense to keep them off the floor volleyball shirt. April Chapple, Launches a Hilarious Volleyball T-shirt Line With Fun Tongue-in-Cheek Designs sure to make players and enthusiasts laugh available on Etsy and Amazon in time for Cyber Monday and Christmas. The J-stroke is primarily used in mens and boys volleyball because they hit harder. The digger has a defensive starting position with their arms shaped like a J as if they're getting ready to scoop up a package with both arms from the floor.While watching the opposing hitters arm swing the digger will extend their arms towards the hard attacked hit so they extend the palms of their hands that're turned up towards the ceiling under the ball keeping their arms in the shape of the letter J (or the letter c depending on how you want to describe the shape) and their hands and arms apart while digging or scooping the ball up before it hits the floor.j stroke (verb)when you scoop your balls in defense to keep them off the floor volleyball shirt. April Chapple, Launches a Hilarious Volleyball T-shirt Line With Fun Tongue-in-Cheek Designs sure to make players and enthusiasts laugh available on Etsy and Amazon in time for Cyber Monday and Christmas.

The J Stroke
The Volleyball Dig Pass Made With Bent Elbows


Primarily used in guys volleyball because they hit harder the digger has a defensive starting position with their arms shaped like a J as if they're getting ready to scoop up a package with both arms from the floor. 

While watching the opposing hitters arm swing the digger will extend their arms towards the hard attacked hit so they extend the palms of their hands that're turned up towards the ceiling under the ball keeping their arms in the shape of the letter J (or the letter c depending on how you want to describe the shape) and their hands and arms apart while digging or scooping the ball up before it hits the floor.

This is different than the traditional dig where you're taught to keep both hands and arms together to form a straight armed platform to use to dig the ball back up into the air. 


Shank - when you cant control your balls volleyball shirt. April Chapple, Launches a Hilarious Volleyball T-shirt Line With Fun Tongue-in-Cheek Designs sure to make players and enthusiasts laugh available on Etsy and Amazon in time for Cyber Monday and Christmas. A shank is actually a digging or passing error so its something you do not want to do in defense or serve receive. You shank a ball when you contact it while passing or digging in a way that no one can make a play out of the ball because it goes out of bounds or hits the floor.Shank - when you cant control your balls volleyball shirt. April Chapple, Launches a Hilarious Volleyball T-shirt Line With Fun Tongue-in-Cheek Designs sure to make players and enthusiasts laugh available on Etsy and Amazon in time for Cyber Monday and Christmas. A shank is actually a digging or passing error so its something you do not want to do in defense or serve receive. You shank a ball when you contact it while passing or digging in a way that no one can make a play out of the ball because it goes out of bounds or hits the floor.

The Shank
An Unsuccessful Volleyball Dig Pass Attempt In Defense  


A shank is actually a digging or passing error so its something you do not want to do in defense or serve receive. 

You know what happens when you're digging a ball and you think its coming at you pretty easily so instead of keeping your hips low and underneath the oncoming ball you rise up out of your squat and at the same time this action brings your platform digging arms up to a higher position too?

This is usually all it takes to shank a ball meaning the ball skips off your arms which are no longer low and angled towards your intended target so now the ball skids or skips off your arms and you watch it hurl its way off the court where no one can play it up or save it. 

That my friend is a digging error and goes down in the stat books as your defensive error, the other team gets rewarded a point and the right to serve...because they were able to sideout because of your error. 



Gator

Flipper

Pancake

J Stroke

Shank


Quiz Time! Test Your Skills: Interactive Volleyball Quiz Section


Ready to test your knowledge about one of the most essential moves in volleyball, the volleyball dig pass?

This quiz will challenge your understanding of digging techniques while revealing something about your personality on the court.

Whether you are a seasoned libero or a beginner working on your defense skills, this quiz is designed to be both informative and fun.

So, let's jump right in it!


1. Which type of volleyball dig pass is named after an alligator?


a) Pancake

b) Gator

c) Flipper



2. Which technique allows you to dig a ball using the back of your hand?


a) Six Pack

b) Flipper

c) Pancake



3. The 'Pancake' is a technique often used when:


a) The ball is hit above the waist level

b) The ball is just about to hit the floor

c) The ball is too high to reach


4. The 'J Stroke' dig is performed with arms shaped like which letter?


a) L

b) J

c) U


5. If you made a 'Shank', it means you have:


a) Successfully dug a hard hit

b) Made a digging error

c) Performed a great flipper dig


6. The 'Gator' dig is usually used by which type of players?


a) Beginner players

b) Advanced beach players

c) Male players only


7. Which digging technique allows you to dig a ball even when it gets as low as your kneecaps?


a) Flipper

b) J stroke

c) Shank


8. The 'Chester' slang would be used when:


a) A player is nailed in the chest by a hard spike

b) A player scoops up a ball

c) A player hits the ball above the waist


9. The 'Chicken Wing' is a technique that allows you to:

a) Defend a ball aimed towards your head by using a bent elbow
b) Swoop under the ball to save it
c) Jump and hit the ball with extra power


10. Who uses the 'Pancake' volleyball dig pass as the last possible option to keep the ball off the floor?


a) Libero/digger/backcourt specialist
b) Spiker
c) Setter


11. When you 'shank' a ball, it means you...

a) Passed it to the setter perfectly
b) Served the ball powerfully
c) Made an error in passing, causing the ball to go out of bounds


12.  In the 'Gator' dig pass, how are your hands positioned?

a) Apart, forming an 'X' with your wrists
b) Heels of hands together, forming the shape of an alligator's mouth
c) One hand is flat on top of the other


Remember, these quizzes are all for fun! There's no need to worry if you find some answers tricky.

The most important thing is to enjoy the challenge and learn more about the wonderful sport of volleyball.

Share your answers with friends and challenge them to beat your score! Are you ready to dig deep and explore the fun of volleyball? Let's play!


Quiz Answer Key:

1. b) Gator
2. b) Flipper
3. b) The ball is just about to hit the floor
4. b) J
5. b) Made a digging error
6. b) Advanced beach players
7. a) Flipper
8. a) A player is nailed in the chest by a hard spike
9. a) Defend a ball aimed towards your head by using a bent elbow
10. a) Libero/digger/backcourt specialist
11. c) Made an error in passing, causing the ball to go out of bounds
12. b) Heels of hands together, forming the shape of an alligator's mouth


We hope you enjoyed this quiz and learned something new!

Whether you're playing in the school team or practicing your skills on the beach, understanding the volleyball dig pass and its different types can take your game to new heights.

Remember, practice makes perfect!

Keep digging and improving those volleyball skills and techniques, and don't forget to have fun along the way!


Volleyball Dig Pass 
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Check out more volleyball dig pass techniques in my Volleybragswag volleyball t-shirt collection on these pages.



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  2. Words Used In Volleyball: Basic Terms, Slang, Phrases, Jargon, Lingo
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