Incidence of spike execution on beach volleyball performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the way the spike is executed on spike efficacy and on the rally in beach volleyball. A total of 428 spikes from men’s games and 480 spikes from women’s games from 24 sets of the 2003 World Championship and 2004 Olympic Games were analyzed. The variables studied were: type of spike (spike or non-standard spike), zone of execution (zone 2, 3 or 4), spike efficacy, result of the rally, and gender. The results demonstrate that the non-standard spike was the spike that was most used for both genders, and it presented the same efficacy as the standard spike. The lateral zones of the court were the ones that were most used by the men, while the women used zones 2 and 3 more. For men, the zone where the most points were obtained with the spike was zone 4, and for the non-standard spike it was zone 2. For women, the spike was most efficacious and most used in zones 2 and 3. The non-standard spike was most efficacious in zone 3. In regard to the destination, the spike was most efficacious when it was directed to lateral and deep zones of the court.