A forearm pass should always be used when receiving a serve or a volley and is often the first touch of the ball. The forearm pass allows the player to contact the ball lower to the floor giving valuable time to get into position and make a better pass. The platform created by the forearms also provides greater stability and control of the ball. A good first pass is crucial to setup an effective attacking play.
If necessary, the player can provide additional arm or leg movement to push the ball further. Often, however, the momentum from a hard serve or volley alone is sufficient to reach the target without any additional movements from the player. A player only needs to form a strong platform and let the ball rebound. A player’s position, posture and stance along with the arm angle contribute to the accuracy and effectiveness of the pass.