Volleyball servingg help!?

Question

okay so i play volleyball and when i serve overhand i use a fist, but then my friend told me that some coaches get mad if you use ure fist when u serve, so i have to learn how to do it with an open hand. but the promblem is i alwways tend to slap it even though im hitting it with my palm and if i actaully hit it right it doesnt go farr enough! can somebody help me pleasee!

Answer 1

my coach told us that you have no control by serving and hitting it with your fist cause it can go in any direction.

try not to swing your arm too early when you serve it overhand.

that might be why it's not going to far. don't toss the ball so high cause that gets a little out of control too. just hold it straight out in front of you and give it a little toss .

Answer 2

i used to have the same problem, but now i spot serve for my JO team and JV team.

here are some tipss:

-use the butt of your hand (the lower part of your palm where it almost hits the wrist).

-ALWAYS think: strong arm, strong hand.

-definately use your back. this is a mistake that many people who serve short make. when you serve, you should feel it in your back and shoulders, and get most of your power from there.

-this will sound corny, but imagine it going over the net. have a target on the other side.

-and you probably dont wanna hear this, but practice! you are so stuck in the habit of using your fist, make using your palm a habit. practice will make this a habit and a success.

good luck(:

Answer 3

i also have the same problem....just when you are going to serve just walk throw the ball up and then hit the ball...u need to have cordination!!!...it will help you a lot...

Answer 4

I'm in high school and i use the floater serve its easy to do all you have to do is put your hand flat or you could close it if you want and you have to hit the ball exactly in the center when you hit you have to stop your arm to give the ball the effect of a floater there are many other kind of serves but the float serve and the jump serve are the most popular. for more info i recommend you to go to www.volleyballfiles.com/serving.htm

Answer 5

OVERHAND SERVE

TEACHING KEYWORDS

ARM TOSS

With firm wrist, arm toss the ball 18 inches - so that the ball falls to the spot just inside of the lead foot and in line with the hitting shoulder.

HAND UP AND BACK BEFORE THE TOSS

Elbow and hand are at shoulder height or above throughout the entire serving motion.

SHIFT

Shift weight to lead foot, or step forward, as you make contact with the ball.

SWING TO TARGET

Wrist firm throughout serve.

Contact with heel of hand through middle back of ball.

The contact should sound like a "thud", not a "slap" sound.

Hand follows ball to target.

Finish with hand alongside or within body line.

PRACTICE IDEAS

Add pressure to the serve by putting on a time limit.

   - How many serves can you serve in one minute?

   - How many good serves can you do in a row?

   - How many serves can you hit onto a target?

Answer 6

I had the same problem. My coach really wanted me to serve with my palm open. So now I can. Obviously you have to practice a lot. And make sure that when you serve, you toss the ball slightly in front of you and keep your arm straight. You should also have a little arch on your back to give more push to the ball.

Answer 7

Well you can work on your underhand serving also, getting your opponents to shank their passes and scoring an ace here and there, then you'll find out that you're overhand serving will come naturally. It's easier to serve a floater with and underhand serve and passing a floater if fairly difficult.

Make sure not to "slap" the ball. Hit it hard with the palm of your hand.

The biggest mistake I see some players making is to toss the ball too high...a high toss adds timing to the equation and that just makes everything more dificult. Start holding the ball at arms length in front of you and with room to take a full step toward the end line. From there in one motion toss the ball about 2' into the air and c**k your arm as you woudl to hit...point your non hitting arm at the ball. Now begin your armswing with your non hitting arm and then hit the ball. At first you will probably be hitting it well above the net and that is fine until you get the hang of what you are doing...when you learn to control the height you can hit the ball lower and harder. Don't snap your wrist through like you would a spike just keep it firm...this shoudl give you a nice floater.

Its not wrong to ask your coach to tell you how to do it.

Good Luck

Answer 8

start with your elbow up and your palm by your ear.if you practice it every day you'll get it down soon. remember it is not about how strong you are just your technique(I've known some pretty weak girls who had killer serves!)

Answer 9

i use to have the same problem

justt try getting a perfect toss and then follow through with you whole arm

Answer 10

It is great that you are going to serve with your open hand.  I am going to assume that you have the correct technique other than the fist instead of the open hand.

Part of your problem is that you think that you can not get the serve over with your open hand.  Start at the 10 foot line.  Serve 5 over the net with your open palm.  Take 1 step back and serve 5 over.  Keep doing this until you are at the back line.  If you have trouble, take 1 step forward until you are getting over more than you are missing.  You need to have success.  Keep doing this every day even after you get it over from the back line regularly.  The problem is mental.  You do not think you can get the serve over using your open hand, so you can not get your serve over with your open hand.

Answer 11

DO NOT USE YOUR BACK TO SERVE!!  Here is exactly what you need to do to improve your overhand serve.

1.  Start at the 10 foot line and simply work on form first!!!  Power will come later.

2.  If you are right-handed, stand with the ball in your left hand and your left foot should be slightly in front of your right foot.  

3.  All of your body weight should be on your back foot.

4.  Draw your right hand back to your ear like you are pulling a bow and arrow.

5.  Gently toss the ball in FRONT of you about 2-3 feet above your head.

6.  Point to the ball with your left hand.

7.  As you swing your right hand to contact the ball, tuck your left arm into your body.  This will allow you to use your upper body strength instead of straining your back and shoulders.

8.  As you are swinging your right hand to contact the ball, you should step forward with your left foot.

9.  Drag your right foot as you contact the ball.  This will allow you to shift your body weight from your right foot to your left foot.  Now you are using your legs and your core to get the ball over the net.

10.  Follow through with your right hand to the point where your dragging right foot and your right arm end parellel to each other.