You want to join the volleyball team but can't hit serve? Follow the steps below.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Making an Underhand Serve
Step 1. Take a position
Spread your feet shoulder-width apart, but stand in an up-and-back position (one leg slightly forward than the other).
- You should be able to rock your body back and forth in this position without fear of falling backwards, as this is the most stable position.
- Make sure your feet are on the surface and that you're not standing on your toes.
- Start by transferring your weight to your back foot, while maintaining a standing position with your front foot fully on the ground.
Step 2. Hold the ball
You should hold the ball in the supporting hand (the hand not used for writing), with the other hand at your side.
- Hold the ball in front of the body, above the hips and slightly below the waist.
- Do not hold the ball too far from the body. Otherwise, you will not be able to hit the ball with the other hand.
- Don't grip the ball too tightly. Just place the ball in the palm of your hand with your fingers gripping it gently as a barrier to prevent it from falling.
Step 3. Check your posture
Your upper body and shoulders should be slightly forward, and your eyes should always be on the ball.
Step 4. Make a fist with the other hand
Close your hands by bending your fingers inward and your thumbs next to your fists.
Step 5. Swing your arms
With clenched fists, swing your arms like a pendulum to hit the ball.
- Swing arms with palms facing up and thumbs pointing out.
- Don't pull your arms too far before swinging; the distance of the pull back is the same as the distance of the swing forward. For example, if you want to swing your arm forward 15 cm, pull your arm back only 15 cm from the starting position.
- Slowly transfer your weight from your back leg to your front leg, as you swing.
Step 6. Hit the ball
Aim to hit the bottom center of the ball, so the ball bounces up and over the net.
- Drop the hand holding the ball just before it makes contact with the swing.
- Follow through with your swing. Do not immediately stop arm movement after hitting the ball. Let your arms continue to swing forward for more power.
- Don't take your eyes off the ball to help make contact.
Method 2 of 4: Performing an Overhand Float Serve
Step 1. Place both feet in the correct position
Feet shoulder width apart, with non-dominant foot in front.
- Point your feet and body where you will aim the serve ball. This will align the body and provide maximum power on the serve.
- Body weight should be on the back foot.
Step 2. Extend your arms in front of you straight away from your body
Hold the ball with the supporting hand – the hand that is not used for writing. Also called shelf hand.
Step 3. Ready to throw the ball up
Use your shelf hand to lift the ball above your head by throwing it up about 30-45 cm.
- Release the ball at about eye level or when your arms are fully extended.
- Make sure to throw the ball straight up, as throwing it sideways will force you to reach out and lose your balance.
- Don't just throw the ball. Instead, lift the ball into the air in a pushing motion. This will help prevent the throw from bouncing too high.
- Get ready to hit the ball. Pull the elbow of the hitting hand back until it is slightly above the ear.
- Imagine pulling the bowstring as you pull your hands back to hit the ball. This is how your elbows should be bent before hitting.
- When the ball reaches its highest point, swing your arms forward to hit the ball. Take advantage of the torsion (twist) of the arms and body to add power to the stroke.
Step 4. Hit the ball
Keep your hands open and strike at the base of your palms, or make fists in half.
- Use a punching motion to hit the ball, stopping the swing as soon as it makes contact with the ball.
- Unlike under serve, there is almost no follow through after hitting the ball.
- Push forward with your hands, so that the ball is hit with almost no twist due to the desired float serve.
Method 3 of 4: Performing an Overhand Topspin Serve
Step 1. Take the correct position
Use the same prepared position as you would for a float serve, with your feet shoulder-width apart and slightly staggered.
- Body weight should be on the back foot and the body leaning slightly forward.
- Extend your shelf arms straight in front of your body to throw the ball.
- Pull the hitting arm with the elbow pointing back, about eye level.
Step 2. Throw the ball
Throw the ball in the air as you would a float serve, but throw it at least 46cm from the starting position.
- Make sure to throw the ball perpendicular, not sideways, so that you can hit with balance.
- Even if the throw to hit the short serve is slightly higher than the float serve, don't throw it too high. You can miscalculate the time to hit him so that the stroke becomes unbalanced.
Step 3. Pull your arms back to get ready to hit
Use the same pose as hitting the float serve, with your elbows over your ears and behind your head.
Step 4. Swing your arms forward to hit the ball
Instead of punching the ball like a floating serve, you're hitting it downwards with your open hand.
- When swinging the arm, the body will rotate, so that the shoulder of the throwing arm will turn away from the ball.
- Snap your wrist down so your fingers are facing the floor. Do this while making contact with the ball to propel it forward.
- The arm fully follows through in this serve, so the hand will stop much lower than the ball's starting position.
- The stroke ends with the weight shifting to the front foot.
Method 4 of 4: Performing a Jump Serve
Step 1. Make sure you are ready
The jump serve is the most difficult of the two serves, and should only be done when you are confident in your ability to perform the other three serves.
Step 2. Position yourself at some distance from the back line
If playing on the court, the jump serve must be done from outside the line, although you can land inside the court after the jump.
Step 3. Take the ready position
Place your feet shoulder-width apart with the feet of the non-hitting hand slightly in front.
- You'll be taking a few steps forward, so make sure you're standing comfortably enough to do that.
- Hold the ball in the shelf's hand, and get ready to pull the hitting arm back to swing.
Step 4. Step forward
Take two steps forward, starting with the left foot.
- Do not go too wide, as this will cause you to lose your balance when you are about to hit.
- In practice, you can practice these steps slowly. However, in a match, you have to do it quickly.
Step 5. Throw the ball
At the start of the third step forward, throw the ball in the air about 30-45 cm with your shelf hand.
- Throw the ball directly in front of you, not to the side, to increase your chances of hitting the center of the ball and serving better.
- Make sure to throw the ball slightly forward, not directly above you. The reason is, you will move forward to jump and don't want to have to reach back to hit.
Step 6. Jump up toward the front, pulling your arms back
You have to jump as hard as you can, to give your punch momentum.
- Lift your arms up toward your back, with your elbows slightly above your ears.
- Use momentum to push your body forward along with the punch; the ball should be at eye level before you swing.
Step 7. Hit the ball
You can choose between a floating serve or a narrow serve to hit. Use the same technique on both, only in the air.
- For a float serve, pull your arms back and push them forward with your arms open, like a punch. You'll probably do a little follow through afterwards as a result of the jump.
- For a jump serve, hit the ball downwards with a flick of the wrist in the process. You'll be doing a lot of follow throughs afterwards as a result of jumping.
Tips
- The key is practice, so keep practicing hard!
- You can ask a friend to help you at school, at home, or at their house.
- If you swing too hard, the ball may hit the ceiling or overshoot.
