Are you ready to elevate your volleyball game to new heights? It all starts with one crucial skill – the volleyball serves.
Many beginners often struggle with the complexities of serving in volleyball. This guide is your ticket to success.
Discover how to serve in volleyball for beginners, unlock the secrets to making your overhand serve more powerful, and follow a step-by-step guide to ensure you serve like a pro.
Table of Contents
Volleyball Serving 101
When it comes to serving a volleyball like a pro, understanding the basics is your first step towards success. These fundamental rules and techniques are the building blocks of a powerful serve.
So, let’s dive into the essentials before we unleash your inner serving ace!
Basic Serve Rules
- Stand Your Ground – Position yourself confidently behind the end line. This is your starting point, your launching pad for an epic serve that will make your opponents sweat.
- Over the Net it Goes – Your serve’s mission? To conquer the net. Every serve must gracefully clear the net, navigating its way to the other side.
- Don’t Cross the Line – Maintain your stance behind the end line until you make contact with the ball. Stepping over that line before the ball takes flight is not allowed.
- In Their Court It Must Land – Your opponents are waiting, but they won’t stand a chance if your serve lands outside their court. Keep it in, and victory will be within reach.
What You Need
To embark on your serving journey, gather the following essentials:
- 1 Volleyball – The star of the show, your trusty volleyball, is your best friend on the court.
- 2 Functional Arms – Well, that’s a given! You’ll need both your arms to serve effectively.
- 1 Volleyball Net (Optional) – If you’re practicing at home or in your backyard, a net isn’t a must, but it does add that authentic volleyball feel.
- Persistence – Serving isn’t always a breeze, but with perseverance, you’ll conquer even the most challenging serves.
- Maybe a Friend – Unless you’re up for a lot of running, having a buddy around to retrieve your stray balls is a smart move.
Toss, Step, Hit
As you step onto the court, remember these three words: toss, step, hit. These are the keystones of a remarkable serve, the rhythmic beat of your volleyball symphony.
- Toss – The serve begins with a toss. Learn how to execute a good, consistent toss. It’s your way of setting the stage for the perfect serve.
- Step – Positioning matters. Make sure your footwork is on point. The way you step into the serve can make all the difference.
- Hit – Finally, the moment of truth. Learn the art of connecting with the ball. It’s where power and precision collide to create a serve that keeps your opponents guessing.
7 Methods to Make a Good Volleyball Serve
In the world of volleyball, serving is more than just getting the ball into play; it’s an art form. Let’s delve into six distinct types of volleyball serving that can elevate your game and confound your opponents.
Method 1: How to Do a Basic Volleyball Underhand Serve
Step 1: Begin with your standing posture. If you’re right-handed, place your left foot in front, with your right foot behind. Slightly bend both knees, shifting your center of gravity toward the back foot.
Step 2: Hold the ball in your left hand, positioned in front of your stomach. Let the ball descend naturally or throw the ball about one ball height in front of your body (if right-handed, about 20 inches above hand height).
Step 3: As the ball descends, focus on your hand gesture, using a half-fist and the base of your palm to hit the center and lower part of the ball.
Training method: To address issues like inaccurate strike position and hitting the ball off the lower back, practice timing and coordination. Two useful exercises are hitting a fixed ball and unarmed batting, which help you fine-tune your batting action and establish a smooth rhythm.
Pro tips: Remember this mantra: “Throw the ball in place, hit the ball accurately.” Each toss should land on the right side of your body, near the toe of your left foot.
Method 2: How to Do a Side Underhand Serve
Step 1: Begin by leaning forward and turning your body sideways to the net. If you’re right-handed, position your left shoulder toward the vertical volleyball net; for left-handed players, it’s the right shoulder. Keep your legs slightly curved, ready to spring into action.
Step 2: Separate your right and left feet slightly wider than your shoulders, ensuring a stable stance.
Step 3: Hold the ball in your left hand and toss it to an appropriate height, about one and a half volleyballs high. Simultaneously, your right-hand swings back, tense and clenched, poised for action.
Step 4: As the ball descends to the desired area, strike the lower part of the ball with precision, sending
Training method: For beginners struggling to synchronize their toss and hit, try swaying your body back and forth. Use your body’s inertia to propel the ball forward.
Pro tips: Deliver the toss with authority and aim to hit the ball at a 45-degree angle. This angle increases your chances of clearing the net with style.
Method 3: How to Do a Stepping Overhand Float Serve
Step 1: Position your fingers together and tense, ready to make contact with the ball’s lower center using the base of your palm.
Step 2: Stand with your weight evenly distributed between your front and back feet. Hold the ball in your left hand (opposite for left-handed players) with your arm extended flat.
Step 3: When tossing the ball, aim for a vertical upward trajectory, roughly one arm’s length from your body, Raise your right hand, elbow above the ear, and naturally turn the palm outward. Step forward and make it powerful through the inertia of the body.Simultaneously, rotate your shoulders and hips towards the back of your head.
Step 4: When hitting the ball, take a step forward with your left foot, follow with your right foot. The arm is thrown out in a smooth manner, the elbow is straightened, and the point of impact is in front of the top of the forehead
Method 4: How to Do a Standing Overhand Float Serve
Compared to the stepping overhand float serve, the stepping changes on steps.
Key action: As you toss the ball, don’t step forward.
While throwing the ball, you don’t need to take a step forward with your left foot, or follow with your right foot.
Then the left action is the same as the stepping overhand float serve.
Training method: Practice is key. Begin with unarmed drills and then progress to drills with the ball once your movements are fixed. This will help you learn the serve more quickly.
Pro tips: Pay close attention to a sharp stop when hitting the ball. This technique enhances the serve’s drift, making it a formidable weapon in your arsenal.
Now, let’s explore advanced serving techniques that will not only take your game to the next level but will also make you a formidable force on the court.
Method 5: How to Do a Jump Float Serve
Step 1: Start by choosing from three toss styles: the left-handed toss, two-handed toss, or right-handed toss. You have the freedom to select the toss that suits your personal preference.
Step 2: The jumping ball step-up action mirrors the approach used for spiking. Take two steps to build momentum for your jump. The precise running distance can be tailored to your habits.
Step 3: The contact action for this serve is akin to the standing overhand float serve. Don’t swing forward the hand after contact with the ball, just stop after contact.
Training method: Practice tossing the ball while running. Since you’re tossing the ball during your approach, make sure it’s thrown in front of and above your forehead.
Pro tips: Focus on mastering the timing of your jump. Practice this crucial aspect several times to ensure you jump at just the right moment, neither too early nor too late.
Method 6: How to Do an Overhand Topspin Serve
Step 1: The striking motion for the overhand topspin serve resembles a spike.
Begin with your preparation posture: face the net, feet positioned open front and back, and your center of gravity leaning backward.
Step 2: When throwing the ball and swinging your arm, aim to toss the ball to a height of 4-5 balls in front of and above your right shoulder. As you toss the ball, bend your right elbow and extend your arm to the right rear. Ensure that the elbow joint aligns with or is slightly higher than your shoulder. Simultaneously, your upper body turns slightly to the right, your head lifts, your chest expands, and your waist spreads out.
Step 3: When it’s time for contact, strike the ball with both feet stomping on the ground. Swiftly turn your upper body to the left and engage your abdominal muscles.
Step 4: Hit the ball with the palm of your hand in the middle and back of the ball. Keep your arm fully during the strike, and observe the palm and wrist’s distinct pushing and pressing movements.
Method 7: How to Do an Overhand Jump Serve
Step 1: The jump shot imitates the snap action. You have the flexibility to choose the number of steps for your approach. A simpler approach is to mimic a two-step jump for the ball.
Step 2: Choose between a left or right toss, one-handed or two-handed toss. A one-handed toss allows you to utilize wrist strength, imparting full topspin to the ball, resulting in a downward force when hitting the ball, reducing the chances of it going out of bounds. In contrast, a two-handed toss imparts less spin, giving the ball a longer trajectory and making it easier to control.
Step 3: Focus on the timing of the toss. Opt for a high toss and a separate step-up if you seek a powerful serve, a strategy often employed by professional athletes. Alternatively, go for a low toss and a simultaneous step-up for a lower trajectory and a quicker drop.
Step 4: Regardless of your chosen toss, the serve’s execution remains mostly the same. Using a right-hand high toss as an example: first, run the ball high in front of the right side of your body. Simultaneously, swing your arms back while running and then jump with your legs.
Step 4: Emulate the motion of dunking a basketball: open and relax your hands, and send the ball soaring.
Training method: Practice the timing of throwing and jumping repeatedly. Aim to catch the ball at its highest point when you jump, keeping your knees slightly bent to cushion the landing. This practice will help you establish a deep connection between yourself and the ball.
With these advanced serving techniques in your repertoire, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with on the volleyball court. Dedicate yourself to practice, refine your skills, and become a serving virtuoso.
The Bottom Line
With our guide, you’ve delved into the fundamentals, from the basic serve rules that set the stage to the nuanced techniques that can turn your serve into a weapon.
But here’s the kicker: It’s not enough to merely read about these techniques. To truly grasp the essence of serving, you must step onto the court and feel the ball in your hands. It’s about tossing, stepping, hitting, and finding that rhythm that’s uniquely yours.
So, here’s your call to action: Choose a technique that resonates with you and do it.
Remember, every great player started as a beginner, and every powerful serve began with a desire to learn and improve.
