Perfect Your Bump: Stop Doing These 6 Volleyball Mistakes

The bump, or forearm pass, might look simple — but it’s one of the most important skills in volleyball. And yet, I still see so many players making the same mistakes. Even experienced ones! If your bump isn’t reliable in every situation, your whole game suffers.

In this article, I’ll show you 6 key techniques to perfect your bump, avoid the most common mistakes, and build a forearm pass like the best players in the world.
By the end, you’ll know how to make every pass cleaner, faster, and more accurate.

Lifting Up vs. Thumbs Down to the Floor

The first big mistake I see all the time? Players lifting their bodies when passing.
Yes, you want to be active and give the ball some energy — but if you straighten your legs and back during contact, your platform angle changes completely. When you rise up, your arms naturally go up too (sometimes even above your shoulders), and that sends the ball flying off in random directions.

???? Instead:
Keep your thumbs pointed down to the floor when making 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 watch Japanese players, even their youngest athletes practice this: move 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 sitting back and swinging your arms.

???? Try this simple drill:
Grab a chair, turn it so the backrest faces you, squat above it, extend your arms, and pass balls over the chair. You’ll immediately feel what the correct, forward-leaning posture should be.

Never Bring Your Arms Above Your Shoulders

If you’re bringing your arms above your shoulders — 95% of the time, it’s a mistake.
A ball comes high toward your chest or neck, and you lean back, lift your arms, and… the ball goes anywhere but to your setter. That’s not a good bump.

✅ Instead, use one of two better options:
Step back and play the ball overhead (especially if it’s a high float serve).
Step one foot back — left or right — to create space beside your body and bump the ball next to you.
Most high or fast balls should be passed beside your body, not in front of your face. Rotate your shoulders toward your target and use your body, not just your arms, to guide the ball.

Shoulder Height When Passing to the Side

When you’re passing beside your body, don’t keep your shoulders level — it kills your control.
If the ball comes to your left side, your left shoulder should be higher.
If it’s to your right, your right shoulder should be higher.
That’s how you control the ball’s direction.
To train this, try wall drills, passing side to side. I use over a hundred of these in my Next-Gen Hitter program — they’ll help you improve your bump up to 3× faster.

Watch the Ball Hit Your Platform

Here’s one of the biggest differences between average and great passers:
They actually watch the ball hit their arms.
Many players look toward their target too early. When you look away during contact, you lose control.
Focus your eyes on the exact point where the ball meets your forearms — then look toward your target.
This habit builds 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: you can always go lower.
When you play with straight legs, you can’t control the ball — especially against fast or floating serves.
The lower you go, the more stable and flexible you become.
Being lower means:
Better control of fast or slow balls
Stronger base for movement
More power and precision on every pass
So next time you pass, tell yourself: “I can play this lower.”
It will instantly make your technique stronger and more reliable.

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