Volleyball Serve?

Question

I play a little bit of volleyball, mostly with friends, but I'm looking to get better. I can bump, kind of set (I'm working on that), but...

I CAN NOT serve!!!

Whenever I serve, it goes really softly into the net. It barely ever goes over.

Also, a drill to help us learn to serve (in gym class) was just throwing a ball across the net. I can barely do that!

Does anyone have any tips on how to get better at serving?

Answer 1

Hi.  I play college volleyball and I can teach you a basic serve.  First, when you serve, throw the ball a little in front of you.  Do not reach back to hit the ball.  Throw the ball up with the hand that you are not going to use to hit it.  Step with the foot that is opposite to the hand hitting the ball.  When hitting the ball, make sure that your elbows isn't bent.  This means hit the ball at its highest point.  Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Learn the windmill serve and you will impress everyone.

You can buy a cheap practice volleyball, find a big wall somewhere and practice, practice.

You use a long sweeping motion, where you become some kind of circular catapult. This takes a while to get going, but is well worth learning. It uses your bodyweight, and works best relaxed. It puts tremendous spin on the volleyball, catching many people out, who have not received one before.

I saw the Chinese women olympic team using it - so maybe you can see a video of it somewhere?

You won't tire yourself out with this serve.

Answer 3

pull your fingers back so ther's a lot of tension in your hand and you have a hard hand. I am the worst at serving too, so at practice, i do overhand, but at games i do underhand and oddly enough, that works really well.

Answer 4

Well first you need 2 get stronger in your arms by lifting weights and stuff. Now to serve an underhand if your a righty start with your right foot in front and when you go to hit the ball step out with your left foot and hit the ball with the bottom part of your hand and if your a lefty just do everything vice versa. Remember when you hit the ball, hit it as hard as you can by thinking the ball is the head of the person you absolutely hate. And since you are a beginner don't try overhead till you are really good at underhand.

Answer 5

Just kick the ball over like a goal kick in soccer.

Ok a serious answer.

You must learn to throw the ball not too far or too behind of you,just slightly in front of you and the height of the toss must be at your highest point of contact,which means the height when you fully streach up your hand.Contact the ball at the center and not at the top or the bottom.

Your palm should be firm and straight when you contact the ball.Don't swing your arm down as it may go into the net.Serve straight and your hand should stop halfway and not swing all the way down. Also you must swing your torso when you serve and not just move your arm,this gives you more strength.Directing your weight towards the serve also helps.

If you feel you still need more strength,try taking a few steps before serving as this gives you more momentum but just aviod stepping on the line.

Good luck! (:

Answer 6

Well i had the same problem when i started and it was so frustrating. reallyy it is. Oh i started when i was 12 so i knew i was going to have some problems. But it will come. Just go  in a gym and practice hitting the ball.

So just take the ball (if left handed then do opposite) put the ball in your left hand about stomach length with your left foot forward. Then have your right hand ready to hit and swing fast. Thats the key just make sure that your hand swings fast but not out of control. Take a step and swing(step with left foot) Also keep your hand high so then it wont go all over the place.

A good key to a good serve that barely clears the net is tossing low and swinging really fast and quick. Stop your hand right after contact its called a float serve and sometimes it even moves so when the people try to serve recieve it keeps moving and hard to pass.

Dont give up. It will come with time. good luck!

Answer 7

you need to lift weights! then you can try serving!

Answer 8

with overhand serve try stepping it (if ur right handed step in with ur left foot, and if ur left handed step in with ur right foot). pull ur arm back behind u (if u r doing it correctly u should look kind of like this volleyball trophy:) http://www.martinawards.com/Merchant2/gr...

underhand:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...

Answer 9

When serving,you have to use force. Throw the ball up,then hit it with the palm of you hand...with "FORCE"but make sure to push yourself foward along with the force of your hand so you can get better height of the bal!! that way..It'll go over the net and you'll have a good serve. or you can hit with your hand balled up. This way is harder because you're only working with the hand closed. So you might miss hitting the ball!! Which ever one works for you..You work with it!! Good Luck!!

Answer 10

I used to be really bad at volleyball and I could not serve overhand at all! But now, I can. What I basically did was try to get a bit stronger by doing a few pushups. It also helped me when I, I take a small step with my opposite leg. For example, I serve with my right hand and I take a little step with my left leg when I serve to shift all my weight forward. Hope that it helps!

Email me at [e-mail] if you need more help

Answer 11

THERE ARE STEPS TO SERVING: (RIGHT HANDED) LEFT FOOT IN FRONT OF RIGHT, BODY FACING RIGHT WALL, LEFT ARM STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. REST THE BALL ON YOUR LEFT HAND, AND HAVE YOUR RIGHT HAND BENT BEHIND YOUR HAND. YOUR HAND SHOULD BE FACING DOWN, YOUR FINGERTIPS REACHING YOUR EAR. TOSS THE BALL UP AND STEP FORWARD WITH YOUR RIGHT FOOT. SMACK THE BALL WITH THE PALM OF YOUR HAND, AND FINISH WITH YOUR HAND FACING YOUR TARGET.

TIPS:

-KEEP YOUR BALANCE

-HAVE A NICE, HIGH TOSS, AND IN FRONT OF YOUR BODY SO THAT WHEN YOU HIT THE BALL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BEND BACK

-TURN YOUR BODY WHEN HITTING THE BALL. ALL THE STRENGTH IN YOUR HIT COMES FROM YOU STOMACHE

DRILLS:

-WORK OUT(PUSH UPS AND SIT UPS HELP YOUR ARM STRENGTH AND YOUR ABS WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT)

-PRACTICE YOUR TOSS. WITH A BAD TOSS, YOU MOST DEFINITELY WON'T MAKE A GOOD HIT.

-PRACTICE YOUR FINISH

Answer 12

serve underhand. when u do it, instead of having the wrist facing up, have your hand in a fist, and the side that the thumb is on facing upwards. then, swing your arm back, take a step, serve, and follow through with another step :) hope i helped

Answer 13

well if you not strong enough you should lift weights that will help loads...keep your feet pointed toward the net...get into a rountine [aka bounce the ball 3 times, something to get yourself comfortable with], when you throw the ball up dont throw too high. my coach used to say the less movement you make, that harder it is to s***w up. make sure you keep a strong hand and elbow when you serve, it helps lots. follow through. work on it a lot...it'll get better eventually. believe me. a few years ago i was the only kid on my team to serve underhand...and this year i didnt miss a serve. just keep practicing.

Answer 14

You need to step with your opposite foot as your hitting the ball. So if you're right handed, step with your left foot, and if you're left handed step with your right foot.  Also, make sure you keep your arm almost straight, don't bend your elbow too much.  Keep and open hand and follow all the way through.  Use all of this and lots of practice, and you should get it in no time.  Good luck!