How to Serve a Volleyball

By Peter-Daniel

    Serve - The first shot the starts a rally. It is preferable to make it an offensive hit and be used to your benefit.

These are the first simple steps to serve a ball for a Right-handed person, if you are a lefty, do the opposite.

Step #1: Line up both of your feet about shoulder width apart with your right foot ahead of your left. Your shoulders and hips should be pointing at the net.

Step #2: Let the volleyball rest on the palm of your left hand. (Your elbow and arm shouldn't touch any other part of your body).

Step #3: Bring your serving arm back next to your head and toss the volleyball up with the palm of your left hand (not fingers) approximately 3 feet in the air, step forward with your left foot, and whack the bottom of the volleyball with the palm of your right hand (this will give it spin causing it to go higher and farther). Your hand should be open and wrist straight.

Step 4: After hitting the volleyball use your momentum and move to your defensive position.

Practice makes better(no one's perfect), so practice this a ton!

Do not punch the volleyball ("shot put"), swing at it.

If you're having difficulty with your serve, try practicing just the toss. If you toss the ball up and just let it drop, it should land just a bit in front of your right foot, which should still be in the position in front of your right foot, before the step. Practice this fifty times a day and your serve should greatly improve.

Using your momentum will help a lot especially if you have a small body. Really just whail on the ball. It requires a lot of strength to get your serve over the net.

Make sure not to "slap" the volleyball. Hit it hard with the palm of your hand.

Get comfortable with how the volleyball will go when you toss it. For example, when you toss the ball far out in front, the ball will travel flat. In order to serve a nice loopy, short ball, toss the ball a little closer to your shoulder. Serves that drop inside the 10-foot line is extremely deadly for the opposing team.

Make sure you follow through, sometimes if you don't the ball may travel a different direction.

Taking a big step will really increase the power of your serve.

If you are having trouble, ask a coach or older, more skilled volleyball player to help you and critique your serve.

It may take a while to get your serve over, in the long run it'll work out and you're serve will be deadly

For stronger serving work on your chest shoulders and triceps, strength in these muscles can be gained by doing push-ups.