I can't stop popping!?

Question

Hey I made the middle school team. I'm an awesome setter, passer and hitter for my age and height (13 and 5 ft). I just can't serve! I always pop the ball when I'm serving. Like I don't contact it high enough. And when I try to hit the ball at it's highest point, I still hear the pop, my arm just like goes out to the side, my hand is like parallel with my head when I hit it, and it goes over the net but is usually out. How can I improve on that? I see 6th graders that can serve better than me and I've been playing longer than them. i practiced my serving all summer but i kept popping it. if u dont know what popping is, its like you hit it with your hand not fully extended. like not in the air and high. am i doing something wrong with my hand? is it the toss? please please help me cuz i have a match on the 27th and i wanna be able to serve in the game! btw, i know im popping it when i hear the PLUMP sound. it should make a slight smacking sound because u hit it w/ ur palm but im just struggling w/ that.

Answer 1

I've been playing for a long time and i've never heard that.  Try not concentrating so much on where the ball is when you hit it and more on getting a solid contact.  You are still young.

Not hitting the ball solid and not hitting the ball with your arm extended are two different problems.

You said you are serving long a lot, so i think you are hitting the ball solid. Try hitting it softer or putting some arc on the ball by aiming higher.

Don't go by the sound you hear, go by how if feels off of your hand.

If your at the point that you want to serve harder but it keeps going out too long, top spin is the way to go.  This will make the ball dive down once it goes over

Answer 2

I don't really know what you mean by popping, but I had trouble with my overhand serve all through middle school, then I got to high school, and in about 5 minutes my coach told me the few things I was doing wrong, and now I'm an ace server on my team.

When you serve:

Assuming you are right handed, if not flip the sides...

-Stand in a solid position with your left foot in front of your right, with a pretty wide base.

- Toss your ball up with your left hand, so that it goes like two-three feet above your head, and leave your left hand in the air. (that is so when you hit the ball, you have better aim and control)

- Pull your arm back, so it goes past your ear and hit it when the ball is at it's highest point. Make sure your arm when you finish hitting, is fully extended, and keep your arm solid and tight when you hit it.  

It'll take some practice, so practice hitting it against an ((outdoor)) wall.

Hope this helps =D