Volleyball Serving Advice?

Question

Okay, well I'm fairly new to volleyball. It's a great sport and it's quite enjoyable. I am good at passing, bumping, setting, spiking, but I can't get the serve down. My coach would prefer that we use the overhand serve because it's harder for the other team to receive. I really need help with this! I cannot serve at all. Please give me advice on how I should serve it!!

Answer 1

Okay well first of all, you are not alone. There are many people who cannot do that. My coach taught me to use my knee when I'm hitting the ball. It helps me build momentum and power. Make sure you aren't throwing the ball up too high. Stepping into the serve will also help you boost your power. If you can't throw the ball straight up when using one hand you may want to start off using two. Your coach may not agree with that so I'd most deffinitley talk to her about accuracy and more tips. I hope this has helped you.

Answer 2

You need help with the power it looks like so hit it your hardest and if that dosent help here are a few sug. go to a gym and lift weights and do you have an enemy if you do then pretend the ball is her face! Work out and lift weights!

Answer 3

this was the hardest skill for me to master. throw the ball up in the air & i mean straight up while keeping the other armbent elbow in the air and hand by the ear . take teh hand that you want to strike the ball with  reac back not moving the elbow then rech up to strike the ball.

sorry this may be a bit confusing.

hope i helped

Answer 4

Let`s well first of all don`t toss the ball to high or too low. Don`t toss it forward or backwards, toss it staight up. Start with tossing the ball and throw your non-serving hand forward like your poiting to someone, but don`t point. Anyways Throw your serving hand back and pretend to spike the ball without actually doing it. When you spike the ball, use all your might. Make sure your serving hand comes all the down, don`t stop in mid-air. This will make the ball length time short. Do this several times. and keep practicing. You can do it, believe in yourself.

Answer 5

what i do is i first warm up my arm by going to net and bouncing the ball as hard as i can so it goes over. then i throw from behing the line.

then throw the ball about two feet above ur head. as ur doing this take a step forward with the leg that is on the same side that ur tossing the ball. then swing at the ball as hard as u can so it hits the heel of ur hand. another way to practice serve it against the wall. i couldn't serve at first, but it took me a year to get it down. by next season u could serve

Answer 6

If youy are doing under hand you pretend it is a golf ball on the tea and you are getting ready to swing hit it as hard as you can if you formaly played tennis or still are and do and overhead serve

you put your none dominate foot in front throw the ball up in the air and whip it hit it with the heel of you hand put your body into it

and hit the center of the ball.

good luck,

jen

Answer 7

For a right handed overhand serve, try the following. Start with your left foot slightly forward, but not touching the line for you will need to step. Hold the ball out in front of you at about eye level with your left hand. Draw back your right hand with a "bow and arrow" effect level with the ball. When you are ready to serve, you'll need to toss the ball up into the air so it is about as high as your right hand could reach in the air. You'll want to get the farthest extension possible on your body, which is from your left toe to your right hand. When the ball comes down to where your right hand can reach, step forward with your left foot and drag your right foot behind you, the drag is important, don't ignore it, it gives you momentum. While you are stepping, swing your right hand through, don't just stop when you hit the ball. Try to hit the ball with the flat of your hand, not your fingers or a closed fist, this gives you best control. Follow through in the direction you want the ball to go. The most important thing in serving is power and speed while swinging, otherwise it will not make it over. This will take practice, lots and lots of practice, but it will be worth it in the end, it truly is harder to receive a straight flat overhand than it is to receive a high arched underhand.

Answer 8

Well, I can say that I have a killer (and I mean KILLER) serve. If you are in 7th grade, you better get an overhand serve down, because, no offense, but I think I served underhand in, like, 3rd grade. You won't be scoring any points with a g*y underhand serve.

  You can try and try and try serving, but truth is, it can only come naturally. To some, it does, others, it doesnt. Me? Setting dosen't come natuarally. Serving? h**l yes, it does. But PRACTICEPRECTICEPRACTICE!!!

Answer 9

Well one way to make the ball go farther is to put your hand into a fist and hit the ball with your arm outstretched...only use this as a last resort because you have little control over the ball.

Answer 10

always keep your serving arm high and remember that less motion of the arms/body is actually beneficial. complicated movements and jerks make you less consistent. keep it simple, but other than that all of the other answers provide some pretty useful tips. keep working hard.

Answer 11

this is how my coach taught me:

start with your right hand back

hit the ball when its at its highest point

and swing your arm all the way through

im not sure if that was much help, im not very good at explaining things. good luck!

Answer 12

okay so im in 7th grade and i do an overhand serve that my coach loves, first dont throw the ball soooo high in the air, follow through, and make sure you step, the foot work can change everything,, if these dont help ask your coach for some advice if you havent already.

Answer 13

watch your stance. step and trust your hip forward as you swing through. your power needs to come not only from your arm but also from the whole motion of your body trusting forward. also keep your elbow up, this will prevent any 'chicken arms' as my coach would call them. finish with a strong follow through and just try try again. good luck!

Answer 14

i play volleyball on club so im pretty good myself.

you dont want to give yourself too high of a toos, but you would want it to fall right by your foot and IN FRONT OF YOU. practice your toss a couple of times. Then as you bring the hand with the ball down your other arm goes by your head as if you would shoot a bowen arrow. then toss, hit it at the highest point with the palm of your hand. I ususally step into the serve so my toss is a little more in front of me to get more powver.

Good luck!

Answer 15

start farther back. throw it up. step towards it. try ur best to hit it straight on palm of ur hand angled to towards the floor. it will take time to be able to judge distance and force but it will be a clean cut sevre. good luck

Answer 16

hun.....this is what happened 2 me. think of it this way if u can get a long hard under hand serve then why would u go over hand??? well for under if u r right handed then u need to put it in ur left hand and hit it over. but for over hand u want to hit it 0over ur hand don't worry just keep practicing and u'll eventually get it. i did

Good luck!!!

Answer 17

Practice this. Take the ball, and put your hand as flat as you can. Take the ball, and dribble it really hard, like you were slapping someone in the face. Also do it with all your strength. After you do this for at least two minutes, Try serving until you at least hit the net. Just act like it was that person's face(the one you hate), and hit the ball.

Extra: Try giving most of the force with the palm of your hand and not the fingers.

Answer 18

ok yeah im in 7th grade and just started so i totally know how u feel.  just today i practiced overhand serving.  heres some things to remember:

*follow through

*hit the ball with your arm fully extended

*take a step for more power

*do the same thing everytime

*LOOK UP!  it really helps believe me.

ok well i think thats it.  i hope i was of some help!

Answer 19

Make sure your feet are straight and aren't pointing out of the court because most likely that is where the ball will go unless you have your feet straight.  Make sure you arm that is holding the ball isn't clear of to you left or right just right in the middle try to line it up with the foot that is a little forward than the other. The hand that you hit the ball with should be flat, not curved or it shouldn't be to straight other wise you might as well say bye bye to volleyball for a while.  Make sure you have high enough toss you don't want it to high because then you hit the ball with your fingers and not your palm, you don't want it to low otherwise the ball will go into the net instead of over.  Good luck. by the way I'm on a pro's volleyball team!! ;)

Answer 20

You don't necessarily have to step into it. Keeping your feet planted give you a base to push off of. Here's my best advice.

1. Keep your eye on the ball.

2. Get your hand wide open, exposing the palm.

3. Contact the ball with your arm extended, not down by your head. An extended artm will generate more power through the ball.

Answer 21

ok. first of all. concentrate only on the ball and nothing else. block out the fans, teammates and your coach. toss it up, never look away from the ball, and hit.

-try taking one or two steps before tossing

-dont stop in mid-swing after you hit the ball, follow all the way through.

-yes it sounds funny, but when you hit the ball, grunt, it works.

mainly concentrate though.

good luck.

Answer 22

I like to pretend the ball is something I really don't like.  Then it makes me feel better that I am hurting that thing, and I will do well.  That wasn't very good advice.. haha.. but I hope it helps!

Answer 23

well..i can not sever overhand.....for starters.it depends on if you are a righty or lifty...for underhand you put the ball in your opposit hand that you write with and you hit the ball out of your hand.......for overhand......you tose it  in the air with the opposit hand and aim for over the net so that you can get the ball there...in other word just try your best to serve.....it took me along time so learn how to serve!!

i hope my advice works.......bye!!

Answer 24

dont throw the ball too high. leave the right foot out. when throwing the ball try to throw it straight infront of you. the less you move the better the service will be. open your hand as if ur going to slap someone in the face :P and when you hit theball leave all your weight on your right foot

Answer 25

you should just make sure that you throw your ball high enough above your head and have a complete swing through the ball...when you begin, you shouldnt worry about serving hard or to a specific spot, but more concentrating on getting it over and in play!

Answer 26

i would help you but i don't do overhand.

sorry i will give you a star for trying so hard to do good for your coach and you seem nice.

Missy