Do you want to play in a volleyball team but you don't know how to serve? Follow the steps below.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Run a Simple Service from Below
Step 1. Assume the position
Put your feet shoulder-width apart, facing each other.
- You should be able to swing back and forth in this position without fear of falling, as it is the most stable.
- Make sure your feet are firmly on the ground and are not standing on toes.
- You will begin the movement with your weight on your back foot, keeping your front foot firmly on the ground.
Step 2. Take the ball in your hand
You should hold the ball with your non-dominant hand, keeping the other hand on your hip.
- Hold the ball in front of the body, above the hips and just below the waist.
- Don't hold the ball too far from your chest, or you won't be able to hit it with the opposite hand.
- Don't hold the ball too tight, but rather let it rest on your palm using a gentle grip, with your fingers to prevent it from falling.
Step 3. Check your posture
Your upper body and shoulders should be tilted slightly forward, and you should always keep your eyes on the ball.
Step 4. Make your other hand into a fist
Close your hand, with your fingers bent and your thumb to the side.
Step 5. Swing your arm
Using your fisted hand, swing your pendulum arm to hit the ball.
- Move your arm with the palm facing up and the thumb facing out.
- Do not perform an overly loaded movement of the arm; bring it back the same distance you will need to move it after the ball.
- Slightly shift your weight from your rear foot to your front foot, in combination with the movement of your arm.
Step 6. Hit the ball
Try to hit it just below the center, to send it slightly up and over the net.
- Remove the hand holding the ball just before hitting it with the other arm.
- Complete the movement. Do not stop the movement of the arm immediately after hitting the ball, but let it continue forward to hit with more force.
- Always keep your eyes on the ball to hit it better.
Method 2 of 4: Perform a Float Beat from Above
Step 1. Put your feet in position
They should be shoulder-width apart, with the left foot forward.
- Keep your feet and body directly facing where you will be trying to serve the ball. This will serve to align your body, giving you more power to serve.
- Keep your weight on your back foot.
Step 2. Keep your arms open perpendicular to your body
You will hold the ball with your non-dominant hand. Your auxiliary hand is also called.
Step 3. Prepare to throw the ball into the air
You will need to use your auxiliary hand to throw the ball over your head, 30-45cm.
- Release the ball at about eye level, with your arm fully extended forward.
- Make sure you throw the ball straight up, as a side throw would force you to strain to reach it and hit the ball out of balance.
- Don't try to throw the ball, but rather push it into the air. This will avoid too high casts.
- Get ready to hit the ball. Bring the elbow of the arm you use to strike back, so that it is just above your ear.
- Imagine tightening a bow string as you charge your elbow to hit the ball. This will give you a measure of how bent your elbow should be before striking.
- When the ball is at the highest point of its trajectory, move your arm forward to hit it. Use the force generated by your arm and back to give more force to the blow.
Step 4. Hit the ball
Keep your hand open and strike with the palm area closest to the wrist, or close it in a half fist.
- Use the movement of a fist to hit her, stopping the movement immediately after doing it.
- Unlike the serve from below, you will not have to continue the movement after contact with the ball.
- Push forward with your hand to hit the ball without spinning it, which is necessary for a float serve.
Method 3 of 4: Perform a Top Service in Topspin
Step 1. Get into the correct position
Use the same starting position as on a normal float serve, with your feet shoulder-width apart and slightly offset.
- Your weight should be supported by your back foot and your body should be leaning slightly forward.
- You will need to hold the auxiliary arm perpendicular to the body to throw the ball.
- Bring the arm that will strike back, with the elbow pointed behind you at eye level.
Step 2. Throw the ball
Throw the ball into the air as for a float serve, but throw it at least 45 cm higher than the starting point.
- Make sure you throw it perfectly straight, and not to the side, to strike in balance.
- Even if you will be throwing the ball slightly higher than on a float serve, don't overdo it. It would be harder to have the right timing on the ball, and you would hit out of balance.
Step 3. Bring your arm back
Use the same position as the float beat, with the elbow above the ear and behind the head.
Step 4. Move your arm forward to hit the ball
Instead of punching the ball like a float serve, you'll need to hit the ball from top to bottom with your open hand instead.
- As you move your arm, you will need to turn your shoulder so that it faces away from the ball.
- Give your wrist a whip so that your fingers are pointing towards the floor. Do this as soon as you feel contact with the ball to push it down.
- Complete full arm movement for this serve, and bring your hand much lower than the starting position of the ball.
- You will finish the hit with the weight on the front foot.
Method 4 of 4: Perform a Jump Bar
Step 1. Make sure you are prepared
The jump serve is the most advanced serve, and you should only try it if you are sure you are performing the other three perfectly.
Step 2. Position yourself a good distance from the line
If you are playing on a court, you will need to bat from outside the line, although you can fall back into the court after hitting the ball.
Step 3. Assume the position
Place your feet shoulder-width apart so that the leg of the side of the body you won't be hitting with is slightly forward.
- You will need to take a few steps forward, so make sure your position is suitable for this movement.
- Hold the ball in your auxiliary hand, and prepare to charge your arm for the batting motion.
Step 4. Take a run
Take two steps forward, starting with the left foot.
- Don't take too long steps, as you will hit out of balance.
- You can take these steps slowly to practice, but in a game you will need to do a quick run.
Step 5. Throw the ball
At the start of your third step forward, throw the ball into the air 30-45cm with your auxiliary hand.
- Throw the ball directly in front of you and not to the side, to improve the likelihood of hitting it in the center and serving better.
- Make sure you throw the ball slightly forward, not directly above you. This is because you will have to move forward with your jump, and you will not have to look for the ball behind you when hitting it.
Step 6. Jump up and forward, loading your arm back at the same time
You will have to jump with all your strength, to get a more powerful beat.
- Bring your arm up and back, with the elbow just above the ear.
- Use the inertia of the movement to push the body forward at the moment of contact; the ball must be approximately at eye level before hitting it.
Step 7. Hit the ball
You can choose a float or topspin serve, using the techniques outlined above.
- For a float serve, bring your arm back and push forward with your palm open, as if to punch. You may not be able to block movement after contact due to jumping.
- To serve in topspin, hit the ball from top to bottom with a wrist whip. You will continue the movement a lot after contact due to the jump.
Advice
- If you hit the ball too hard you could hit the ceiling or send the ball over the back line.
- You could ask a friend more experienced than you to help you.
- Practice is the key to success, so keep training!
