Volleyball Tips | Pros & Cons of the Goofy Foot Approach (INSIDER TIPS from a Pro Who Uses BOTH!)

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

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[@InvestOrama]

Naturally goofy footed and struggling to become regular, after watching this video I'm definitely going to try to do both

[@averydrost]

I think that's smart! Let your goofy foot approach be a strength and add regular a little at a time so you have no weakness

[@RussFryman]

Thanks! Natural goofy foot here too. Great video

[@BeeliAK]

For me it was easier to switch hands than switch footwork, although my left hand is not as strong as the right. As a kid, the majority of my coaches didnt know how to treat this situation, and were trying to convert me to conventional footwork player. Videos like this are so useful; growing up I felt so totally alone in dealing with this.

[@andrew.tsurkan]

Fixed mine this season. Three step approach regression is key. Also I went through power loss when finally switched to regular. Next step was to train the body to put power back into the left leg. -- One tip at goofy AND having right leg in front ... it helps with joust big time. You're closer to the net, and your right arm feels more power coming from the right leg (feet parallel and right leg slightly in front). -- It's interesting that Phil changed his goofy foot approach, but I had noticed that Stoyanovksiy is goofy footed. He also plays right side, and he keeps feet parallel when jumping. -- Retraining tip, when you practise "in the doorway" trace the "ball" with your eyes (even though there is no ball), don't look at your feet. This is going to make a world of difference. -- Finally, on the right side, if the set is way to the right, you can jump goofy footed and turn back into the court in the air. This oftentimes catches defense by surprise. -- Retraining goofy footed approach to regular is like trying to teach yourself to sneeze up into the ceiling. If you're a coach, try to do it, and you will understand what your student is going through :)

[@adamjacob5482]

Amazing thank you! I have been trying to get rid of my goofy feet for probably a year and I think it finally feels more natural to go regular feet now. I was left side and did feel like it was fine and I could jump higher. But I played an indoor season and experimented with right side and that experience made it very clear I needed to fix my feet because it wasn't working for me any more. I wish I had seen this video 2-3 years ago when I first realised I was doing this!

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

really glad you liked the video!

[@ethanatkinson]

YES been waiting for this

[@liuzeyuan]

good point on doing goofy on the right side. i had that issue before.

[@averydrost]

Same here - it took me a while to understand why it was so tough. Did you end up learning a regular approach for the right?

[@MrPatrizio1983]

Good stuff! Well done!

[@selenium27]

My natural foot approach is goofy af and I'm just glad there are other people like me lmao

[@robbiesam7156]

Great video, I needed this

[@matthewmiller7232]

I was late to volleyball and struggled with hitting timing and an excessive broad jump using the regular footwork pattern. I noticed in videos of myself dunking that I used a left-right plant, and decided to try it out for volleyball. I think having my last step behind my “block/plant” step helps me go more straight up, but it is less about the biomechanics and more about what feels natural.

[@averydrost]

I agree man. If that step close feels natural you can use it and get a lot out of it. In the end I think planting hard, selling a hard hit, and getting up to hit high is more important than which foot leads on the plant.

[@JillRhoads]

Thanks for going through this! I hit with both hands (ok, not as great with my left) and sometimes do goofy without really thinking about it. I think I really tend to hit with my left just like you say @2:26 when the ball gets pushed pass on the left.

[@betteratbeachvolleyball]

nice! glad you liked the video!

[@vbsand5882]

Great video in the topic. I grew up goofy learned regular later… watch some old vids of Karch hitting … you two look similar

[@averydrost]

Appreciate that! Watching Karch was a big part of how I learned to use both approaches - he had it down.

[@kevint4950]

I wonder if you are goofy footed and playing on the right side, whether you should kick out to the right a little more. This means taking a few steps to the right after the pass. What are the pros and cons of doing this? Thanks.

[@averydrost]

I think if you're jumping goofy footed on the right you are better off kicking out and approaching out to in like you said - that will keep you from opening up so far off the court in the end. I think it's still really tough to step close goofy on the right and keep all your vision and your options - and I would honestly mess with a regular approach too. But in the meantime - I like your idea!

[@agentjesmith]

Thanks so much for making this video. I’m naturally goofy-footed and so much so that I’ve been reluctant to attend camps or get lessons because I thought the focus would be on getting me to change. Just not sure I want to spend the effort focusing on that when so many other aspects of my game could use help.

[@averydrost]

I really think you can do a lot with a goofy foot approach - so many good players have done it. If Karch used it his whole career, I think it's worth doing! But Karch also used regular feet in trans on the right and when he played indoors. Keep building your whole game - and mess with regular feet too as part of the big picture. But I don't think you need to drop everything else until you switch your approach

[@robertbucks5537]

I started goofy footed and then changed but I occasionally do a goofy footed approach when I have to adjust for off sets. Conventional still doesn't feel 100% natural, more like 70%. Maybe I should switch back. Lol

[@averydrost]

In an emergency I usually find myself planting and jumping goofy footed too - but I almost always have a chance to think about it for that split second and step close whichever way works best for the broken play. I really think if you keep practicing regular they will both feel 100% natural eventually - and that can only help!

[@kevint4950]

As one with a goofy approach, I noticed that I actually have a 3-1/2 step approach instead of 4 step approach. Waiting for the set with left foot forward, I basically just put down the left foot when the setting touches the ball. This results is the first step not really being a full step. With a normal approach, starting with the same left foot forward, a hitter would take the first (full) step with the right foot. I think with a 3-1/2 step approach, I get less momentum so less height on the jump. What are the pro and cons with waiting for the set with the right foot forward so I can get a full 4 step approach? Thx.

[@johnmccarthy5192]

If you’re a left handed, right side indoor player also is it still considered “goofy footed”?

[@averydrost]

If you're lefty and you step close left-right with your right foot ending up in front, that's a regular approach for a left handed player. Goofy would be if you lead with your right foot and planted it in front of your left foot in the end. Kinda confusing to type that out does that make sense!??

[@johnmccarthy5192]

@@averydrost Yes, it makes sense. I asked the question for my son who’s 20 y/o, 6’5” sophmore at college. Plays both beach and indoor and one of his teammates told him he was goofy footed but he’s embraced it just didn’t completely understand it. Thanks a lot and please keep up the great videos.👍🏻

[@MufasaAri]

I didn’t even know this was a thing until I noticed that professional right handed hitters hand a right foot penultimate step

[@bjoernfischer]

2:52 I actually totally disagree here. When you play left und you jump with a regular right-left approach, you should end up in a position with your body facing into the court, because your left food is in front, so you should be able to hit diagonally very well. I actually play on the left all the time and I jump incorrectly with a right-left aproach. This makes it hard for me to hit diagonally, cause my body wants to turn left naturally, but I can do great hard hits over the shoulder on the left line.

[@brandonjoyner6046]

I agree with what you are saying but one thing Avery focuses on is the position of his feet when he still goes goofy. It sounds like your problem is your feet are closing your body off to the set, Avery still lands with his body open to the set. I think this allows him to still be a dominant force for hitting cross court.

[@bjoernfischer]

@@brandonjoyner6046 that's true, I noticed that as well when I rewatched the video. My thought process would probably make more sense if you think about an indoor jump approach where your feet are wider apart and angled, if you know what i mean. (english is not my first language) :D

[@averydrost]

@@bjoernfischer It is confusing I know! The important thing, like Brandon mentioned, is that even goofy-footed my left foot plants in front of my right foot in the end. The left foot leads but both feet come down at about the same time with the left one in front. If the right foot ended up in front, it would be really hard to do anything!! I hope this makes sense!

[@antohoss]

I also agree with Bjorn here: on the right side when jumping as goofy you are more open to the court. Also it's important to adjust the approach and ways of finding the hitting shoulder if you are a goofy