Get a good overhand serve and a decent spike?

Question

I’ve played volleyball before on my JV team at my school, but now that I’m a senior at a small school, I pretty much have a spot on the Varsity.

However, my overhand serves and spiking suck. (Like I said, VERY small school…) I’ve played JV more than one year, but I never got a chance to work on those since I have a pretty good underhand serve, so the coaches always concentrated on having me in the back to serve and then subbing me out when I got to the front before subbing me back in to serve. Even in practice, they did not let me try to get the hang of overhand serving.

I mean, it’s nice that my serve got me starter positions and more play time, but now I can’t do anything else well.

To give you an idea of how bad I am, I have never had a successful overhand serve, ever. It would be nice to have some variety from my same underhand.

As for spiking, I’m short, and I used to be overweight. So I do not jump very high AT ALL.

Help?

Answer 1

I am a sophomore and currently on varsity. Like you i have trouble with my over hand serve until my coach came up to me and gave me some pointers. The most important part of the over hand serve is the toss. Toss the ball high enough to where after you hit it your elbow should be about the same height as your ears. If you don't like the toss let it drop. The second important thing is where the ball hits your hand. If you serve open handed the ball should hit right above your wrist but still on your hand. When you go to hit the ball, bring your arm straight back from the ball around your shoulder..

I to am short but don't really have trouble spiking. alot of time i have to work a lot harder cause of my height and the fact that i am the only left handed person on the varsity volleyball team :( I just have to jump higher and make sure that the setters set the ball more inside than out..

I hope this give's you some help. sorry if it doesn't .

Good luck this season

Answer 2

for serving my varsity coach tells us to flex our hand and arm and keep your arm straight and bring back and then hit it, but don't stop your arm bring it all the way forward, hit with all ya got!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

all you have to do is practice repitition and foot work. after that it will come easy and you will do good

good luck

Answer 4

lol omg i suck at overhand serves so i cant really help with that but for the spiking.. all you do is do what your normally do and when you jump just swing your arms!! swingin ur arms actually really does help u get higher!! good luck =]

Answer 5

For the serve part, does it just not go over the net or does it go off to the side? Either way, make sure you're hitting the the middle of the ball with the palm of your hand. Also, make sure your arm is straight when you hit it.

As for hitting, my coach always says that if you practice your approach and jump a lot, even without the ball, you will eventually jump higher.

Hope this helps!