I don't have enough power to serve overhand in vball! what should i do?

Question

i can do underhand very well, but now that im in competitive league, no one uses underhand. i'm like a stick and i don't have much arm strength. is there anything i can do?

Answer 1

I'm so glad you're perservering, it is such a good skill to have! Here are some tips that might improve your technique:

1. TAKE YOUR TIME

The official rule is that you have 8 seconds to perform your serve. This is actually an eternity. Rushing your serve will only s***w up your routine, and cause you to lose serve and lose the point! So wait for the whistle!

2. CREATE A ROUTINE

Your routine is perhaps the most important aspect of your “pre-serve”.Decide how many bounces, slaps, etc. you will do before going into the serving motions.This will give you some familiarity and make your serve consistent.

This also includes knowing how far you are from the service line (“serves go over, feet don’t!”)

3. CHOOSE YOUR VICTIM

Picking a target on the floor will keep you from serving “out”.

Avoid good back row players, such as the libero as your victim. Find a possible hole on the floor (ex. in the middle of a cup formation)

4. THE TOSS

This is the most important aspect of the actual serve.

Bring the ball in both hands in front of your body.

Toss with both hands and do not toss between your legs!

5. FANCY FOOTWORK

Stand so that your feet are about shoulder width apart, with your foot the same side as your hitting arm slightly ahead of the opposite foot. Check: Are your feet/body facing your victim? Are your feet far enough from the service line?

6.THE TOSS CONTINUEDThrow the ball about 4 feet to double your height. Toss straight up- too far ahead/behind will throw off your serve.

7. CONTACTING THE BALL

Lead with your elbow.

Make solid contact on the top of the ball.

Don’t poke the ball-put some muscle into it!

NEVER, EVER fist the ball. Cast your palm as open as possible for the most surface area.

While contacting the ball, step with the foot opposite your hitting arm.

8. BODY MOVEMENTS

This will give you the most balance and propel your body.

Pull your non-hitting arm down, and let your hips twist when you hit the ball.

9. FOLLOW THROUGH

After hitting the ball, snap your wrist.

This will give you the top spin you want to make your serve difficult to receive. Drag your foot -the same side as your hitting arm-because you cannot take 2 steps.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

I had the same prob! If you don't have much power you should swing at it faster. Thats what helped me serve 23 in a row.

Answer 3

I have the same problem rite now, but im practicing push ups for arm strength, and keep trying bcuz practice always makes perfect

Answer 4

Over hand serving is not the muscle that gets it over so do not blame that. to hit the ball over you need to wait for the ball to come down enough for your hand to extend upward  and whale on the ball and it could help taking a extra step forward. I am not strong at all, probably one of the weakest on my team but i have the best serve on my team. good luck

Answer 5

Break it down into steps first you position your feet left foot foward right foot back.

Second step put your arm on the ball.

Third pull back you arm all the way back to the side behind your head.

Fourth follow through all the way over your head and at the same time transfer the weight on your right foot to your left.

Keep in mind as you do these steps that you wont make it the first time through so you need to keep practicing and you will get better at surving garenteed.

    Good Luck  : )

Answer 6

i went to a foot ball field and practiced serving into the field goal poles even though they are taller than the net.if u can serve over the poles u can serve over anything!!. it really helped me. also try doing push ups

Good luck

Answer 7

A great way to practice is get in the overhand position, with your bottom hand pull the ball up, let it bounce, and do it over again. Or, if you have time after vball practice, you could constantly serve the ball to the wall, and try to get it over the bleachers. This makes you look very high up which will cause your ball to go higher up. Good luck! (:

Answer 8

No matter how small u are, u can still hit overhand, believe me! All you gotta do is completely follow through and make sure you step into the Ball!

Answer 9

Princess is right, its about arm speed, not how many times you go to the gym.  Although, being strong can help you improve your arm speed thats really not the only way.  One option...popular among highschool and college volleyball players that i know of, is the jump float serve.  It is done by getting a running start and tossing the ball a tiny bit above your forehead and hitting it with a quick, short arm swing.  This allows practically anyone to serve the ball overhand, with some sort of action, and is relatively easy to master.

Answer 10

lift weights

Answer 11

i had the same problem...and your strength doesnt matter too much....you just have to practice.....and hit the ball higher to get it over the net....not necessarily harder.....also...if your underhand is good you might wanna stick to that.....u kno whatever works for you

Answer 12

u can hit the ball wif ur fist and overhand, u can hit underhand 2

Answer 13

Start hitting the weights!  That will help your upper body strength.  Overhead presses and arm curls are a good way to start.

Answer 14

well all of these are good things to remember. but there is one thing u can do... when you hand is about to hit the ball at the same time you should contract you abbs but dot hit the ball down. the contraction is to get that extra push on the ball to make it land at the back row's feet. and remember to do push ups too!!!

Answer 15

i know what you mean i was the same way! but its not really in the strength of your arm its where you hit it.  your fingers should be spread apart and your hand should be stiff.  before you serve hit the ball against the ground so that you can practice hitting it with your palm.  they put one hand under the ball and one hand on top and just pop it up a little bit above your head, pull your hitting arm back (like you were shooting a bow and arrow, this is where all of your strength comes from) and swing at the ball DONT GET UNDERNEATH IT! hope i helped.

Answer 16

Arm strength helps, but it isn't everything when serving. You need to get your body involved. Think of it as a long spike except you're aiming higher.

After the toss you need to draw your hitting arm back and twist at the waist to bring your shoulder back as if you are going to spike the ball. As the ball comes down you need to time the point of contact starting with the untwisting of your waist. You want to contact the ball slightly ahead of your shoulder. Making contact behind your shoulder can lead to a shoulder injury.  

There is more to it than can be explained clearly here. You may want to watch players with a strong serve to see how they use their body to generate power.

Answer 17

Anyone who know's anything about volleyball would tell you:

"Its not about strength, its about arm speed and follow throughs."

Speed up the arm swing, and follow through with your arm.