To establish timing between our setters and hitters, we use steps. It's a simple, yet effective way to get your athletes on the same page. One of the most common tempos for our pin hitters in volleyball is what we call a 1st step set. This means that the hitter is on their 1st step while the ball (the pass or dig) is landing in the setter's hands.
A 1st-step set is considered a slower tempo set, typically used in medium or bad pass situations, or when a hitter performs better with a higher set.