VB ADDICTION! November 2013: Serving Tough
Serving Tough
Tips for serving aces
In soccer, they have free kicks. In basketball, they have free throws. In volleyball, we have serves. What do they all have in common? These are opportunities to score a point without a defender standing in your way. It's just you, the ball, and the court. Before you even have to outplay your opponents, take away their first opportunity for offense by serving a tough ball. There are many strategies for serving tough.
Develop a hard & speedy float serve:
This serve should have lots of velocity and no spin, making it hard to pass.
Toss, step, hit. Make sure to contact the ball with a flat hand and stiff wrist.
Contact the ball at the moment your arm reaches its highest point and follow through with your feet and arms aiming towards your target
Serve hard and deep, aiming for the deep corners.
If balls are soaring out, do not dial down the power, but take a step back. Corner to corner serves will give you the most distance to work with.
Develop a consistent, mindful, float serve:
This serve should be smart and limiting the opponents attack.
Serve towards clusters of players
Serve into setters' or middle hitters' paths to make them take a different route
Serve to your wing attackers and make them move towards the inside of the court to pass the ball and limit their approach pattern.
Develop an attack jump serve:
This serve should have lots of velocity and lots of top spin, making it very hard to pass.
Toss the ball high. Flick your wrists as you release the ball to put top spin on the ball.
Take an approach and hit the ball high and in front of you.
Make sure to follow through with a long arm.
Aim for deep corners.
Check out our "Training & Coaching" page for access to more tips and information about volleyball.