Volleyball

Overhand Serve

How to Perform a Basic Overhand Serve

Creative Commons - By: druchoy / Andrew Choy

1. Move your feet to be shoulder-width apart. Place the foot opposite to your hitting hand in front of your other foot. Your shoulders and hips should be facing towards the net. Your knees should be bent. Place your weight on your back foot.


2. Hold the ball in front of you at waist level. Your non-dominant hand should be holding the ball wtih a straight but flexible elbow. Your palm should be facing up with the ball on top of it.


3. Ready your hitting hand. Move your serving arm back next to your head. Your elbow should point upwards and your hand should be near or slightly above your ear.


4. Toss the ball into the air. Lift the ball with your palm in the air. Keep the ball aligned with your hitting shoulder. Put your hitting hand at a 90-degree angle behind you.


5. Transfer the weight from your back leg to your front leg. The majority of the power from your serve is gained from transferring your weight between legs. To transfer your weight properly, make sure to have a proper starting position. Add momentum by stepping forward with your dominant foot as you serve, which transfers the weight resulting in a powerful serve.


6. Hit the ball with the heel of your dominant hand. Lead with your elbow to bring your hitting hand forward. Hit the ball with the heel of your hand or the bottom of your palm. Don't hit the ball with your fingers or fist. Make sure your serving hand is slanted slightly upwards as this will help loft the ball over the net. Aim for the middle of the ball to acheive a straight trajectory of the ball. Swing fast at the ball from the shoulder.

With practice, you'll be sure to perform a basic overhand serve in no time!

How to Perform a Top-Spin Jump Serve

1. Set up your stance. Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart facing the net. Your dominant arm should be directly in front of you, palm up, with the ball in your palm.


2. Toss the ball into the air. Step forward with your dominant foot and keep the toss aligned with your hitting shoulder. As you step forward, throw the ball high into the air and slightly forward with your dominant hand. Flick your wrist when tossing the ball to create a spin on the ball.


3. Take three or four quick steps forward. You should speed up from slow to fast so that your last two steps are much quicker. They should appear that they're happening at the same time. On your last step forward, launch yourself into a jump. Use the momentum in order to jump higher in the air. If you're right-handed, your steps will be left-right-left and vice versa. These last two steps are called a "step close" and are the most explosive part of your approach.


4. Prepare your hitting arm. Both arms should swing back to gain power for the jump. As you jump, swing your dominant arm back behind your body at a 90-degree angle. As with the basic overhand serve, your elbow should be pointing upward, with your wrist rigid and near or slightly above your ear. Your non-hitting arm should point at the ball to track it.


5. Learn how to hit the ball properly. Aim to hit the ball just above the center of the ball. However, unlike in a basic overhand serve, don't stop your arm when you hit the ball. Swing through and snap your wrist.


6. Hit the ball Create lots of forward momentum by rotating your hips and body through the serve. At the highest point of your jump, bring your hand down in a snapping motion slightly underneath the ball. This way you can aim upwards, but wrap your wrist over the top, which creates an up-down arc with the serve. This should create a topspin. If you're right-handed, your left hip should lead with your left shoulder. Then your right hip should power through, followed by your right arm, and vice versa.

These are the steps to perforing a top-spin jump serve!

How to Peform a Jump Float Serve

1. Set up the ball. Hold the ball in both hands, straight in front of you between both palms. Keep your elbows straight, but somewhat loose.


2. Toss the ball. Step forward with your dominant foot, then take three quick steps. On the last step of your approach, throw the ball upward and slightly forward. Make sure your toss isn't too high or too low. The ball should be tossed with your strong hand, and the ball should remain in front of the body.


3. Jump. Directly after you loft the ball, jump upward with your next step, using the momentum from your approach. Raise your hitting arm back with the elbow high and by your ear.


4. Hit the ball. Leading with your elbow, hit the ball with the heel of your dominant hand as with the basic overhand serve. Your wrist should remain stiff. After hitting the ball, freeze with your palm towards the target. With any service, but especially jump serves, send the ball in a way where the opponent has to move in order to get the ball. Make sure your feet leave the floor before you cross the line. Then land across the line.

These are the basics to performing a jump float serve!

References Used