Tooling the block in volleyball involves intentionally hitting the ball off an opponent's block to score a point, often resulting in the ball going out of bounds.
Method for Tooling a Block on a Tight Set
Based on strategic approaches in volleyball, particularly when dealing with a difficult set, a common method for tooling the block on a tight set is described:
- You can tool the block on a tight set by pushing the ball into the block and then towards the outside of the court.
This technique relies on using the defender's block to redirect the ball. When the set is tight (close to the net), hitting the ball directly for a spike might be difficult or easily blocked. Instead, the attacker can:
- Push the ball into the block: Make contact with the ball and direct it forcefully towards the hands of the blocker.
- Direct it towards the outside of the court: Angle the push or hit so that upon contact with the block, the ball deflects off the blocker's hands and goes out of bounds along the sideline.
Successfully executing this requires adjusting the timing of your attack to meet the ball at the right moment and angle relative to the block and the sideline. This strategic play can be effective when other attacking options are limited by a tight set.
